Dow Water & Process Solutions (DW&PS), a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW), has entered into a collaboration agreement with Ahlstrom, a global high-performance fiber-based materials company, to use Ahlstrom Disruptor® technology for drinking water applications. The agreement combines DW&PS industry-leading market, R&D, and manufacturing expertise with Ahlstrom’s innovative nonwoven fiber technology to address an unmet need in drinking water applications.

According to the United Nations, nearly one billion of the Earth’s seven billion-plus people do not have access to clean water and our world’s population is expected to grow by another 3 billion people within the next 40 years. In order to keep up with rising populations, affluence and demand, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) estimates that our world will need 30 percent more water, 40 percent more energy and 50 percent more food by 2030.

For these reasons, and more, the United Nations has designated 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation, and has embarked on a campaign to encourage and nurture water cooperation.

“Global trends such as population growth and urbanization put pressure on already strained water sources,” said Snehal Desai, global business director for DW&PS. “We see a real need for new innovations to expand access to clean safe drinking water in an easy, effective and sustainable way.”

“One of the key goals in our product development is to create products that purify air and liquids in a sustainable way. We see a wealth of opportunities in our collaboration with Dow for providing pure water solutions through combining our expertise with Dow’s industry-leading product portfolio,” says Fulvio Capussotti, Executive Vice President, Advanced Filtration, Ahlstrom.

DW&PS will incorporate Ahlstrom’s high-performance, break-through filter medium into a new set of drinking water purification products that offer excellent pathogen rejection while operating at high flow and low pressure. The main benefits are:

Health and safety: Virtual removes microorganisms that can cause sickness by removing 99.9999 percent of all bacteria, 99.99 percent of all viruses and 99.9 percent of all cysts in a water stream.

High performance: Operation at a high flow rate even at low pressure for drinking water applications.

Sustainable: Suitable for use in areas with no electricity, requires zero chemicals, and does not generate waste water.

“This technology can be applied to a number of drinking water applications including under-the-sink purification, post filtration for reverse osmosis, a counter top or pitcher unit or a unit internal to a refrigerator,” said Desai. “The combination of DW&PS capabilities, scale and expertise with Ahlstrom’s Disruptor® technology is the right one to expand our product portfolio, which includes reverse osmosis, ion exchange, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and fine particle filtration."

About Dow Water & Process Solutions

The global leader in sustainable separation and purification technology, Dow Water & Process Solutions is making a clear impact in the world. We’re helping to make water safer and more accessible, food taste better, pharmaceuticals more effective and industries more efficient and spearheading the development of sustainable technologies that integrate water and energy requirements. 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, industrial processes, pharmaceuticals, power, residential water and waste and water reuse. More information about Dow Water & Process Solutions can be found at www.dowwaterandprocess.com.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology 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 2012, Dow had annual sales of $57 billion and employed approximately 54,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 36 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.

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.