Dr. Tayler Hedtke to lead VVater’s new research lab, advancing the next generation of water treatment solutions
AUSTIN, Texas, April 15, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– VVater, a next-generation water technology company revolutionizing water treatment through its innovative Farady Reactors, today announced the launch of The VVater Research Institute (VRI) VVater’s state-of-the-art research and development laboratory. This key milestone will enhance the company’s ability to innovate, refine, and scale its breakthrough water treatment technology.
The VVater Research Institute in Austin provides the company with dedicated resources for rapid internal testing, accelerated R&D cycles, and immediate analytical capabilities. This empowers VVater to expedite technology advancements and customer solution validation. While VVater will continue to utilize accredited, independent laboratories for third-party validation of results, the VRI dramatically shortens the internal feedback loop for optimizing its proprietary, award-winning Farady Reactor technology for diverse customer needs.
“This lab is a critical investment in VVater’s future and a powerful engine for innovation,” said Kevin Gast, Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of VVater. “Having these advanced capabilities allows us to accelerate our R&D at an unprecedented pace, generate deeper technical insights, and provide clients with rapid, tailored analysis for their specific water challenges in real-time. We are solidifying our position as the leader in sustainable water treatment, and this research facility will drive the next phase of our company’s growth and our mission to provide Clean Water for Humankind.”
Beyond R&D acceleration, the lab will redefine how VVater engages with potential customers. Instead of waiting weeks for third-party lab results, customers can now send water samples directly to VVater. There, they will receive immediate insights on contamination levels and see, in real time, how VVater’s technology can solve their most pressing water treatment concerns.
The lab will be spearheaded by Dr. Tayler Hedtke, a globally recognized expert in advanced water treatment techniques. Dr. Hedtke, who spent five years at Yale University specializing in electrode disinfection, oxidative purification, and materials design, brings unparalleled expertise in advancing electrically driven water treatment technologies.
“This facility represents a significant step forward, centralizing and enhancing our advanced research capabilities to push the boundaries of water purification,” said Dr. Hedtke, VVater’s Research Engineer. “This allows us to iterate our designs faster and rapidly refine configurations based on direct analysis of real-world customer samples. We can continue developing world-class technologies that eliminate contaminants at a molecular level using advanced electro-chemical techniques.”
VVater’s Farady Reactor technology has already made headlines for its disruptive, chemical-free approach to water treatment, recently earning the CES 2025 Best of Innovation Award. The opening of the VVater Research Institute further cements the company’s status as an industry leader, offering scalable, efficient, and sustainable water treatment solutions for commercial, municipal, and residential applications.
If you live in the District or Northern Virginia, your water might smell funny this spring. That’s because of an annual change to the water purification process in those areas — a sort of “spring cleaning” for your pipes.
If you live in the District or Northern Virginia, your water might start to smell funny on Monday. That’s because of an annual change to the water purification process — a sort of “spring cleaning” for your pipes.
The Washington Aqueduct, which is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and serves D.C., Arlington County and northeastern Fairfax County, will adjust their water treatment process starting Monday. The disinfectant chloramine — which is used year-round — will be temporarily swapped out with chlorine.
The purification process is expected to last until May 6.
This process happens every year to make sure water mains are clean and flowing smoothly, Virginia’s Arlington County said in a news release.
Service will not be interrupted during this process, but customers might notice that their tap water tastes and smells different. This water is still safe to drink and use as normal, according to county officials, and staff will be monitoring the chlorine levels to ensure they’re up to standard.
To combat any chlorine smell or taste coming from your tap, the county recommends running the cold-water line for five to 10 minutes. Alternatively, residents can install a filter system or let the water sit in a container for an hour or two.
Any customers who take special precautions to filter chloramine out of their tap water during the rest of the year should keep up with these methods during the switch to chlorine, the county said. Those with health concerns are advised to contact their doctors.
Residents can also expect to see open fire hydrants as part of the water purification routine. The county said it’s possible that the process of flushing these fire hydrants can lead to discolored water, which might stain clothes being washed in nearby homes.
Flushing will occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The county encouraged residents doing laundry during this window to “plan ahead” — it will also provide a special detergent to remove these stains upon request. Residents with questions can call 703-228-5000 for more information.
Many of the 50 million Americans who suffer from allergies don’t realize that changes to their home environment can ease their discomfort. Most of the messaging they see – especially the countless advertisements – focuses on medication. There are other options, and they generally don’t come with potential health-related side effects. I interviewed three experts by email to get the latest wellness design solutions for people who suffer from allergies and sensitivities.
Recent Trends
“The prevalence of allergies and asthma has increased during the past decades,” observes Paula Henao, M.D., assistant professor of allergy, asthma and immunology at Penn State’s Hershey Medical Center. “Industrialization and pollution worldwide have increased dramatically in the past decades, and there is a possible link between air pollution and respiratory diseases,” she notes. Chemicals in our air may also be interacting with traditional airborne allergens, she adds, and other air pollution issues like the smoke and ash from wildfires can also contribute.
Tracey Stephens, a Northern New Jersey area kitchen and bath designer focused on sustainability and wellness, agrees, citing research she’s seen, “A Harvard School of Public Health study from this past April found that extreme weather conditions like heat, drought and flooding are causing allergy season to start earlier and last longer.” There are a number of effects from heat and pollution, she comments, contributing to her emphasis on indoor air quality for homeowner health and comfort.
“For every project and every client, as much as is possible I reduce the amount the amount of off-gassing toxins, basically anything that would irritate someone’s respiratory system.” That includes specifying materials with low and no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) and recommending induction cooking appliances over gas models. The latter have been shown to exacerbate health problems for people with respiratory issues like asthma, as well as contributing to other serious health conditions.
Wellness Technology
One of the trends we’ve seen in recent years is technology supporting wellness design, especially indoor air quality, a focus of New York-based technology educator and design engineer Joey Feldman. “Advanced air purification solutions are recommended within the home,” he advises, noting that there are different types, some requiring professional design and installation.
These are the ones that are going to be most continuous and work most smartly with your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. The best versions will address the smallest virus particles, as well as allergens and pollutants, he adds. Pointing to a University of Buffalo study on one popular smart system, he says, “Air velocity, production quality, leakage and bypass all play a critical role in device efficiency versus filter testing alone.” Having HEPA filtration is great. Tying it into a smart home system is potentially greater, especially one designed to integrate into an automated platform that will monitor all facets of your home’s health, safety and comfort performance.
Respiratory Allergies and Issues
Respiratory reactions to allergens can be caused by dust mites, animal dander, mold and, even more unpleasant to contemplate, observes Henao, cockroaches. While hay fever is typically associated with outdoor activities during the warmer months, “because people spend more time indoors in the winter, they tend to be most affected by indoor allergens during the winter season,” she points out. Those are present throughout the year, she cautions.
For those with central heating and air systems, Stephens instructs, “Clean your HVAC system every few years and install a UV light in it, which helps control mold in the air handler coil.” Those without such a system can benefit from a room air purifier. “I got one for our bedroom recently and I’m amazed at what a difference it has made,” the designer shares. “I no longer wake up congested and my husband isn’t snoring!”
Managing mold and pests like roaches is also essential, Henao advises. Good ventilation is the key to the former, Stephens comments. “Use a powerful exhaust fan either on a humidity sensor or timer and make sure to run the fan for at least 30 minutes after turning off the shower.”
Parental Notes
Henao also comments that it’s impossible to completely eliminate indoor allergens, much to many people’s frustration. “This helps convey to parents that, even if they are perfect in all avoidance measures, allergens will still be present in our daily environment.” Dust mites are ubiquitous in our bedding, upholstery, carpeting, draperies and other textiles and they prefer humid environments, she shares. That may be good news for Arizonans, and bad for Alabamians. But even households with dehumidifiers should know that they are impossible to get rid of altogether, Henao reminds us.
“That said, I discuss with parents strategies to decrease the concentration of mites, including washing bedding regularly and keeping home clean (but with the child not present when sweeping is done, as that can aggravate symptoms).” For pet dander allergens, she advises keeping the dog or cat outside of the child’s bedroom. She also recommends having a HEPA filter, (particularly in the bedroom or areas where the allergy sufferer will be more frequently present). “These can be expensive, but can be helpful for more airborne indoor allergens, like animal dander.”
Skin-related Allergies and Sensitivities
Skin-related allergies typically show up in rashes a few days after exposure, Henao says. The most common causes of this contact dermatitis are lotions, perfumes, nickel jewelry and some topical antibiotic ointments, including neomycin. These are distinct from the types of skin issues that arise from other irritants. These can be uncomfortable and possibly unsightly, but outside of the allergy specialization.
Stephens suggest for anyone suffering from these issues: “With skin irritation, I find it’s not the kitchen and bath building materials per se, but the cleaning products used after. I rely on the Environmental Working Group’s research, which rates thousands of products for their safety for people and the environment.” She advises looking for the simplest cleaning products possible and avoiding those with unnecessary fragrances. That might require reading quite a few labels before putting items in your cart.
Water-borne Issues
The good news from a medical perspective is that there are no water-borne allergens in public drinking water, Henao observes. (There are definitely other issues, as noted here.) “However, water damage in the home can lead to development of mold, [and] this can cause issues in mold allergic patients,” she advises. Fortunately, there are leak detectors available to sound the alarm when something is releasing water where and when it shouldn’t. (In addition to the health benefits, there may be incentives from your insurance company for adding connected leak detectors.)
Stephens says she’s been recommending whole house water filtration systems lately. “It’s great to have fresh, safe, good tasting water from every tap,” she notes. It’s also great to have fewer irritations on your skin and hair.
Final Thoughts
Stephens also proposes one additional warning when it comes to the health of older homes’ occupants: “In more than a few projects, we’ve discovered asbestos – in floor tiles, in insulation around the furnace or steam heating pipes, and even as an additive in plaster walls from work done in the 1940s. It’s probably a good idea to hire a company to test a patch of the proposed renovation area before any demolition in any home built before 1989 when the EPA banned asbestos.”
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Author’s Note:
Contributors Feldman, Henao and Stephens will be sharing more allergy and sensitivity insights in an hour-long Clubhouse conversation tomorrow afternoon (August 16, 2023) at 4 pm Eastern/1 pm Pacific. You can save the date and join this WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS discussion here. If you’re unable to attend, you can catch the recording via Clubhouse Replays here or the Gold Notes design blog here next Wednesday.
Neat Jug is the new system to purify free stream water while hiking or camping. The system is now available for pre-order.
Press Release –
updated: Nov 28, 2018
HAMILTON, Ontario, November 28, 2018 (Newswire.com)
– Calling all outdoor enthusiasts, weekend warriors, world travelers and nature adventurers: Neat Jug, a revolutionary water purification system, has been officially released on Kickstarter today.
By utilizing a self-charging mechanism and UV technology, each Neat Jug is NSF Class A system-compliant and can effectively produce up to 20,000 liters of clean and safe purified water. Here’s how it works: By turning the handle for about 180 seconds, the device will be ready to discharge UVC light for 90 seconds (1 cycle) and purify 750 milliliters of water (about the same amount in a typical bottle of wine).
“Every detail of Neat Jug has been intricately designed with efficiency in mind,” says Neat Jug founder David Lee. “We wanted to offer a better way for adventurers to purify water while out in nature – without having to locate a power source or lug around unnecessary equipment.”
The backpack-friendly bottle is developed and ready to go to mass manufacturing. However, to bring the product to the market, Neat Jug is seeking funding on Kickstarter.
In addition to being used for hiking, camping, traveling and disaster-prepping, Neat Jug also offers an opportunity to help those in need. The company is collaborating with Aid for Africa and ARDSO to donate water purifying bottles to areas lacking in clean water and power supply.
“We believe that clean drinking water should be a right to all, not a privilege,” Lee states. “Neat Jug will help make a difference by providing people with easier access to safe water – while also reducing each enthusiast’s carbon footprint. It’s an eco-friendly alternative to packing countless bottles of water, all of which aren’t biodegradable, and can leave you without water if you hike too far and didn’t pack enough to last. We want to eliminate that stress while making a positive impact on the environment.”
To learn more about Neat Jug and back the campaign, visit the company’s Kickstarter page: http://kck.st/2AuSXHO.
Perth, Australia, October 4, 2016 (Newswire.com)
– Global Empowers is a social startup with a powerful vision of helping the people of the world who need it most. Their first product, Vigor Aqua, is an advanced water purification tablet that also acts as a vitamin and food source. Something which, when produced and widely spread, could change the face of certain parts of the world for the better in a very dramatic and lasting way.
There’s no argument that lack of clean water and food is one of the most serious problems faced by large amounts of people in the world today. Few understand this better than the recently launched social startup Global Empowers, founded by passionate entrepreneur Joseph Mwansa born and raised in Zambia, who has personally seen the different standards of living people in the world face, and has positioned Global Empowers to help change it for the better. Global Empowers first product, the advanced water purification tablet Vigor Aqua, is close to being released and is expected to be able to help address the clean water and food problem faced by poor communities across the world in a way that is ethical, affordable and effective. Excitement surrounding the project is high.
“Global Empowers has a mission of offering help to people who are living in very dire circumstances who desperately need the things we often take for granted like clean water and adequate nutrition,” commented Mwansa. “We believe when we all work together we can make the world a better place. We’ve started by tackling the problem of having access to clean water, with our first product Vigor Aqua. This purifies water powerfully, removing germs and viruses and making it safe to drink. What this can do for the health of a community who formerly only had contaminated water to drink is amazing in all the best ways.”
According to Global Empowers, Vigor Aqua will address many important issues in a safe and effective way. Highlights include eliminating germs and viruses that cause water borne diseases. Also, treating and freeing water from Giardia, Cholera, Typhoid, Dysentery and many other waterborne diseases including Hepatitis A & E and Salmonella. As a bonus, Vigor Aqua is also enhanced with vitamins and nutrients, making it a healthy food source as well as way to purify water addressing two very serious problems at the same time.
A crowdfunding campaign for Global Empowers has commenced with a release date for Vigor Aqua expected to be announced soon. Make your mark by helping Global Empowers reach their crowdfunding goal. Visit https://startsomegood.com/globalempowers
