California approves Microvi’s commercial nitrate treatment technology for potable water

State Water Resources Control Board of California in the US has conditionally approved Microvi’s nitrate removal technology for drinking water treatment.

The approval follows a series of extensive testing of the technology on potable water and will see the US based biotechnology firm install a full-scale biological nitrate treatment system for drinking water for the first time in the country.

Microvi CEO Dr Fatemeh Shirazi said: "We look forward to bringing Microvi’s revolutionary, sustainable solutions to the market to help alleviate the unprecedented water shortages experienced across the state."

Demonstration tests conducted for Microvi’s MB-N2 technology, which has been developed through the company’s proprietary MicroNiche Engineering platform, indicated it to be successful in bringing down the nitrate content in potable water from 35-54 parts per million (ppm) to less than 5 ppm.

The safe limit or maximum contaminant level (MCL),for nitrates in drinking water specified by US Environmental Protection Agency for drinking water is 10 ppm.

Infant health is jeopardised through consumption of drinking water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL. Symptoms include shortness of breath and Methemoglobinemia or ‘blue baby syndrome’, which can lead to death if not treated.

According to EPA estimates, an average of 6% of the US has groundwater nitrate contaminations over 5ppm.

California, which faces a shortage of water supply due to prolonged drought, is estimated to have 10% of its groundwater affected by nitrate contamination with levels being over 5 ppm.

Microvi has received certifications to treat drinking water in Australia, and has other installations around the world as well.

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Image: Nasa Grace satellite data showing severity of California’s drought on water resources and trend in water storage between September 2011 and September 2014. Photo: courtesy of Nasa.