Blue Water Technologies Inc., a Coeur dAlene-based developer of waste-water treatment technologies, has acquired a small Texas company that makes filtration equipment for that industry.


Blue Water recently bought Applied Process Technology Inc., of Conroe, Texas, and for now will operate that company in its current location as a wholly owned subsidiary, says Tom Daugherty, Blue Waters president. The 13-year-old Texas company, located near Houston, employs four people, all of whom have been retained, Daugherty says. He declines to disclose the purchase price.


Applied Process Technology sells its Centra-flo filters through 24 manufacturers representatives around the country, and has installed more than 220 of its filter systems in 25 states and Canadian provinces, Blue Water says. Daugherty says the patented filter has been granted whats known as a Title 22 designation, which is granted by the state of California but is recognized in most states for waste-water reclamation uses.


The Centra-flo filter also is a key component in Blue Waters Blue PRO phosphorus removal process, which it began marketing to municipal, industrial, and residential development customers last year.


This acquisition provides Blue Water with many years of experience with high-performance waste-water treatment solutions and proven system installations, the Coeur dAlene company says.


Adds Jay Stevens, general manager of Applied Process Technology, The combined forces of our companies will allow significant growth opportunities in the expanding water-treatment marketplace.


Blue Water is a privately held, 4-year-old company that currently employs 14 people at its headquarters and research facility located at the Hayden Area Regional Sewer Boards waste-water treatment facility, near the Coeur dAlene Airport.


Having its research facility there gives Blue Water access to 1 million gallons per day of domestic effluent for further product research.


Daugherty says the company hasnt made a sale of its technology yet, other than under small testing contracts, but hopes to nail down this month its first order, to a private residential development in Idaho that wants to convert from septic systems to a waste-water reclamation system.


Blue Water has expanded its reach in the past year beyond marketing just its phosphorus removal process to promoting other waste-water treatment applications, including reclamation, in which treated water would be re-used for such things as irrigation, he says.


The residential development the company is working with would use that type of system, but currently is seeking regulatory approval for the project, Daugherty says.


Contact Paul Read at (509) 344-1262 or via e-mail at paulr@spokanejournal.com.