HaloSource Inc, a US-based clean water technology developer, is scouting for partners in India to resolve the burgeoning water crisis in the country. The company uses bio-degradable green polymers to purify water as against the industry practice of using synthetic polymers containing chlorine to treat waste water. This waste water, or industrial effluent, is discharged into the rivers and the water from these is used for drinking and irrigation purposes.
The Seattle-headquartered HaloSource said that it is in talks with large industrial plants such as Nalco and Thermax to treat the effluent with organic polymers thus drastically reducing its adverse impact on the ecology. So far no one has been offering a non-synthetic polymer technology in India.
Competition hots up
The water purification business in India is estimated at over Rs 1,600 crore (excludes industrial water treatment market) and is set for tough competition with players such as Eureka Forbes, Bajaj Electricals, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Kent RO, Tata Chemicals, LG and Panasonic.
The company, with a manufacturing unit in Bangalore, has been operating in the country for the past five years through partnership with water purifier major Eureka Forbes and white goods manufacturer Bajaj Electricals Ltd. The company is now on an expansion mode. Halosource’s product Halopure is the cartridge which is used in water filters.
With existing plants in Shanghai, Bangalore and Seattle, the company is looking at expanding in South America, West Asia and Eastern Europe, Mr Martin Coles, CEO, said. The company makes about 10 million cartridges annually and the plan is to double the capacity in next couple of years.
On clean drinking water, Mr Coles said that with incomes rising and awareness increasing about clean water, more consumers are using water purifiers.
He also said that it is keen on entering the direct selling channel for selling Halopure brand of cartridges in India and China. Besides it plans to get its brands SeaKlear and Haloshield into the country.
SeaKlear is a pool and spa treatment product while HaloShield is a unique technology that binds chlorine-based bleach to textiles such as sheets, lab coats and towels for use as a non-toxic biocide.