A Sylvan Source filter

West Coast companies are leading the market for residential water filtration technologies, according to a May 2007 report from Red Herring Research. Report authors identified the market as a major growth sector and advised investors to keep an eye on a handful of companies, more than half of which are based on the West Coast.

AbTech Industries, Miox, Novazone, Pionetics and Sylvan Source are among the picks-to-watch.

The majority are focused on improving filters and membranes to remove contaminants from water and aid in desalination [see “Water world,” Sustainable Industries, July 2007]. Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Sylvan Source, however, has developed a proprietary technology that removes filters and membranes from the water purification process, which reduces maintenance, the number of parts involved and the amount of wastewater produced as a by-product of the purification process, according to Laura Demmons, the company’s CEO.

The company says such technologies are poised for success due to increased awareness and rising global affluence.

“In China and India, they’ve always known that the water is of poor quality, but they had no disposable income to do anything about it,” says Demmons. “Now, with the emerging middle class in those countries, they’ve got the money to buy these products.”

Sylvan also recently formed TriVan, a joint venture with TriLateral Energy, to commercialize Sylvan’s technology for use in industrial and municipal water projects, including desalination.