Dow Water Solutions has said its Filmtec reverse osmosis membranes is helping the Middle East meet basic human need in areas with extremely dry conditions and limited fresh water sources.

The company, a business unit of the The Dow Chemical Company, said the technology is currently being used to managing water resources for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

'Dow Water Solutions provides millions of people in the Middle East with a sustainable source of fresh water,' said Zuhair Allawi, commercial director for Dow Chemical India, Middle East & Africa (IMEA).

'Our innovative technology and best-in-class product portfolio offer an affordable solution to the region's water shortage crisis.'

Dow Water Solutions high-performance Filmtec membranes are operational in some of the most water-challenged areas of the world including the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

In partnership with Wetico Saudi Berkefeld, the recently-launched Shoaiba Barge SeaWater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) plant in Saudi Arabia is projected to be the country's first large-scale reverse osmosis seawater desalination plant and the world's largest sea-based desalination plant.

Shoaiba is expected to produce more than 50,000 m3/day using Filmtec membrane elements.

The Filmtec reverse osmosis membranes have been installed at three wastewater reclamation and reuse facilities in conjunction with the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The 2008 Olympics will be the second time that Dow membrane technology would help manage water resources for the games after the 2000 Sydney Games.

The city of Beijing has undertaken massive projects to provide an adequate and safe water supply for the Olympic Games.

In keeping with its commitment to organise a 'green' Olympics, three water reuse projects at Beijing employ more than 5,000 Filmtec 8-inch diametre reverse osmosis membrane elements.

The membranes are helping treat 45,000 m3/day of water in the three sites - BeiXiaoHe Wastewater Treatment Plant, Beijing International Airport and the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area.

This would help the city realise its goal to reuse 50 per cent of its water.

Filmtec reverse osmosis membranes are made from a thin-film composite polyamide material and have a high resistance to bio-fouling (i.e., the build-up of biological matter inside the membrane element).

With excellent membrane performance and automated precision fabrication, Filmtec elements enable higher solids and organics rejection,lower energy usage and higher performance consistency.

The optimal design and reliability of Filmtec elements significantly reduces system capital and operating costs. - TradeArabia News service