A world-first chemical filter system targeting PFAS which protects people from contaminated water, is among ten projects to share in $3.7 million in funding from the Morrison Government.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the Accelerating Commercialisation grants will fast track the development and commercialisation of innovative products with strong local and export market potential.
“The Morrison Government is committed to backing Australian businesses that boost our economy, contribute to our reputation as a global industrial leader, and create more jobs,” Minister Andrews said.
“Investing in businesses and technology is vital to ensuring Australia builds on its record of 27 years of uninterrupted economic growth.
“This funding will support these businesses through their product lifecycle, from product trials and development to market testing, with the aim of going global.”
WA based Environmental Water Solutions wins $292K federal government Accelerating Commercialisation grant
Perth-based water filtration company Environmental Water Solutions Pty Ltd has been awarded a $291,961 matching grant from the federal government’s Accelerating Commercialisation fund. They are the only WA-based company to win such an award in the latest round of announcements.
Established in early 2018, EWS trades under the brand ‘Complete Home Filtration’ and operates from its new offices in Landsdale.
The company has pioneered a patent protected point of entry product that filters unwanted contaminants (such as fluorides and residue) from water supplies. It is using the grant funds to commercialise a per- and poly-fluoroalkyl [PFAS] reducing version.
PFAS chemicals have been banned in products for many years, but were commonly found in firefighting foam (as used at some Defence sites and airports) and in some furniture stain repellents. In places, PFAS was released into the air, soil and water, including sources of drinking water.
PFAS are contaminants of emerging concern, exposure to which has been linked to serious adverse health effects in humans, including cancers. Up to now, no one has been able to develop a water filter that can reduce PFAS to healthy consumable levels.
Based on estimates publicised in the US media, over 110 million Americans might be drinking municipal drinking water contaminated with unhealthy levels of PFAS.
In Australia, a report showed that “at least 90 sites across Australia are under investigation for elevated levels of PFAS chemicals.” [EPA, NSW Fire and Rescue, 2018.]
“This funding will enable us to build on our research work and commercialise a world-first PFAS-reducing point of entry water filtration product,”
Founder and Managing Director of Environmental Water Solutions Suzanne Dodds said.
“This is important, not just to us as a business, but also to all homes and families currently dealing with PFAS impacted water, such as in nearby Bullsbrook.”
Some Bullsbrook residents are having to drink bottled water due to PFAS contamination surrounding RAAF Pearce base.
“We are absolutely delighted to be gaining this funding from the Commonwealth government through their Accelerating Commercialisation program which came shortly after another massive win in securing seed capital from RAC’s BetterLabs Venture fund.”
A project of trials with various organisations will be run over the next 18 months to test out the new product and prove out the technology.
By the end of the trials, EWS plans to have a patented and NSF-certified PFAS / fluoride compound removing filtration system for point of entry application. This would be a world first product of its kind.
Find out more about our PFAS filter product here
