Global population continues to soar. By 2050, it’s expected to exceed at least 7 billion, putting an alarming amount of pressure on one of the world’s most sacred resources – water. Each year, Stockholm World Water Week brings together thought leaders from across the globe who collaborate to address such pressing issues related to water quality and quantity. As a leader in advancing global sustainability through constructive collaboration, including with governments, industry and academia, The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) is participating in this year’s conference, taking place August 21 to August 27, themed: “Responding to Global Changes – Water in an Urbanising World.” Dow is partnering with experts from leading institutions, think tanks and industry to direct a seminar: “The Water-Energy-Security Nexus: Implications for Urban Settlements,” which will explore connections between water and energy, and their impact on security.

“Today, more than 1 billion people, nearly one in eight worldwide, lack access to clean, safe drinking water and it is the responsibility of companies, NGOs, governments and other leaders to create solutions that confront this gap, delivering clean and safe drinking water to every region in the world,” said Ian Barbour, general manager of Dow Water & Process Solutions, a Dow business unit. “Dow technologies make water more plentiful and affordable, making the undrinkable drinkable. Companies must continue to seek new ways to purify water and reduce energy that are cost-effective and environmentally sound.”

Solving Pressing Water Challenges
Dow supports the United Nations Millennium Development Goal to halve the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water by 2015. One powerful way Dow is helping to meet this goal is through continued development of technologies that enable the global population to have access to drinkable water. DOW™ FILMTEC™ solutions produce billions of gallons of clean water each day, and decrease the volume of chemicals, resources and maintenance required to do so. As a way to address the scarcity of safe drinking water in Australia, FILMTEC™ Reverse Osmosis membrane technology is being used at three desalination plants to treat seawater and provide approximately 15 percent of Australia’s clean water supply.

Partners for Change

While population growth continues to put a strain on global water supplies, it impacts energy reserves on a parallel trajectory. This interconnectivity, known as the water-energy nexus, is fast becoming one of the greatest resource challenges globally.

In addition to participation at the Stockholm World Water Week, Dow recently spearheaded a series of initiatives across the globe that seek to create an international dialogue and platform for collaboration to help bring solutions to the water-energy nexus to life: 

• The nexus was a key discussion point during Dow’s The Future of Water virtual conference, which convened 60 thought leaders through an online platform to encourage greater collaboration and move the crucial water crisis conversation forward.
• In July, Dow convened a panel for the TED Global conference that addressed the water-energy nexus challenge. The panel, which included David Klanecky, global business director for Dow Energy Materials and co-author of “Meeting the Needs of the Water Energy Nexus,” brought together experts to explore timely solutions to maximize the water supply while minimizing the demand for energy.

Strategic Research Collaborations Accelerate Innovation
One way Dow is helping to meet the water needs of global communities is by engaging with an extensive network of partners worldwide through research collaborations that accelerate innovation and the pace at which sustainable technologies are developed. Dow recently furthered its partnership with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia through a research agreement that furthers Dow and KAUST’s collaboration towards breakthrough solutions in the areas of seawater desalination and water reuse.

For more information about Dow’s sustainability goals and global water commitments, visit Dow online.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2010, Dow had annual sales of $53.7 billion and employed approximately 50,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 35 countries across the globe. 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.

About Dow Water & Process Solutions

Dow Water & Process Solutions has a 50 year legacy of providing innovative water and process solutions to both communities and industries alike. A differentiated business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, Dow Water & Process Solutions offers a broad portfolio of ion exchange resins, reverse osmosis membranes, ultrafiltration membranes and electrodeionization products, with strong positions in a number of major application areas, including industrial and municipal water, chemical processes, pharmaceuticals, power, residential water and waste and water reuse. More information about Dow Water & Process Solutions can be found at www.dowwatersolutions.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.