MIDLAND, Mich., March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Water is the single most important chemical compound for the preservation of human life and is one of the key enablers of the creation of wealth. Yet today, more than a billion people do not have access to safe drinking water and essential production processes are impacted by water scarcity. Against this backdrop The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) was proud to collaborate with IBM on their Global Innovation Outlook (GIO) on Water - a series of brainstorming sessions around the world, which brought together hundreds of the world's leading water management experts to discuss strategies for improving the efficiency of the world’s water systems. The end report was published March 16, 2009.

"Dow believes that providing sustainable resolution to the global water challenge requires a collaborative approach from governments, businesses and humanitarian organizations," said Neil C. Hawkins, Dow vice president, Sustainability."Participating in IBM’s multi-stakeholder GIO process certainly allowed us to learn the perspectives from other key stakeholders and exchange ideas on how technology can help address the challenges we face."

"The sessions revealed that society and business are facing some complex challenges when it comes to understanding and managing water resources on this planet. Without sufficient insight into factors affecting water supply and usage you increasingly run the risk of failure," said Sharon Nunes, Vice President for Big Green Innovations at IBM. "Technology will play an important role in supplying water to the billions of future urban dwellers. Smart infrastructure will provide solutions to address urbanization."

Dow's commitment to Water
At Dow, the commitment to water is translated into concrete activities around the development of products and solutions to increase affordability, ensuring quality and access to drinking water and optimization of the company’s own water use.

These activities are in part driven by the company's 2015 Sustainability Goals:

• Drive a 35 percent reduction in the cost of water reuse and desalination, through component technology advances.


• Be a key enabler of low-cost technologies and business models for small water treatment systems in the developing world.


• Develop and implement minimal discharge plant designs while continuously improving Dow's water use efficiency.


• Catalyze awareness and action on the global safe water crisis through leading innovative partnerships with corporations, NGOs and government agencies.

Since 1994, Dow has reduced waste water globally by 38 percent "“ despite production rising by 32 percent.

For more information on the IBM Global Innovation Outlook on Water
http://www.ibm.com/ibm/gio/water.html

About Dow Water Solutions
Dow Water Solutions is a performance-based business unit comprised of leading world-class brands and enabling component technologies designed to advance the science of water purification around the world, including seawater desalination, contaminant removal and water reuse. With more than 1,000 employees worldwide, the business maintains five production facilities globally to manufacture, market and sell reverse osmosis membranes, ion exchange resins, titanium-based arsenic removal media, ultrafiltration, and electrodeionization components. Dow Water Solutions also manufactures, markets and sells premier water purification systems in China. For additional information about Dow Water Solutions products, visit www.dowwatersolutions.com.

About Dow
With annual sales of $58 billion and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

OLD - Dow Chemical Company

OLD - Dow Chemical Company

With annual sales of $54 billion and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.