By Steve Wood, COO of Catawater
Got a minute? Let me tell you about a revolutionary product, Catawater®. About 5 years ago, I was managing the Southern US O&G waste facilities for Republic Service Group, which had recently acquired them from Tervita. I crossed paths with a little-known proprietary biotechnology that was used to “steal” away a very large project from us in Odessa, TX. I didn’t know at the time this product would have such a great impact on my life in the coming years.
The technology, called Catawater, is by definition a “biocatalyst” but, it’s clearly not just any “biocatalyst.” There’s something very special about this one.
The Catawater logo tells the whole story of what it is, why it’s here, and why it is so unique. It’s a drop of water, inside of which is the planet Earth, and then there’s a signal across the top that looks like an EKG strip or sinus rhythm, for those of you in the know. I get it for the most part because water and Earth are easy to recognize, but the difference to me is the signal. You see, 30 years ago I worked in the emergency medical field as a paramedic (God bless you guys these days) and I know clearly what it means. Turns out this “signal” wasn’t derived from an image file on a computer by some marketing specialist but rather from a piece of analytical equipment called an HPLC, which stands for High Pressure Liquid Chromotography. This piece of equipment is used by the company for quality control of the product after it is made and before it is bottled and shipped. A normal HPLC graph or signal is just a simple up and down spike.
The product (or technology) is commercially used in many industries like oil and gas, municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, and agriculture. It facilitates abnormally expeditious remediation and natural balances in soils, air quality and treats water for things like TSS reduction, hydrocarbon recovery, and H2S elimination. It is applicable to enhanced oil recovery, metals recovery, and on and on and on. All of these processes are achieved optimally by stimulating inherent microorganisms in any environment it is placed and making them perform faster and more efficiently. There is actually nothing much scientifically recognizable “in” the product that you would think makes it perform. My assumption is that the HPLC signal produced has something to do with its primary mechanism.
I have been patiently pioneering and working with the technology for the most part in the oil and gas space, and we now have partners and licensees in North America. Catawater is also used in Central and South America. We’ll soon be expanding to South Africa and Asia.
Many O&G companies like XTO, Devon, TOTAL, and others have all experienced great savings in soil remediation, for example, by using the product versus digging and hauling spill sites. In fact, TOTAL Barnett recently saved over $1m on just one project completed by Spur Environmental of Cresson, TX, who is one of our licensed applicators (you’re welcome for the shameless plug Graham). That said, I probably shouldn’t fail to mention Pure Environmental and Site Resource Group both in Calgary, Alberta, and Edge Coating in Artesia, New Mexico, who are all licensed to apply the product.
There are other companies in the agriculture, food and steel industries as well as some small and medium size municipalities in the US currently benefiting as well.
I was once asked, “Hey Steve, why do you have that caveman picture on the back of your business card?” The answer is simple, really, not to mention it’s a public domain pic. A friend of mine sent me that picture way back when I was working in corporate America. It was as profound as it is now. I realize that I have been the guy on the left all along, just trying to get someone to pay attention to what a gift I/we have to offer. They’re just all too busy, I suppose. Fortunately, some have listened, and they are greatly benefiting but there are so many who haven’t.
There are a lot of people out of work or about to be. If there was a technology available that could have such a positive impact on company balance sheets and zero negative impact on the environment, you would think more people would pay attention especially when it comes with proof of efficacy. I feel as though we have OPEX’d ourselves into oblivion and this technology can help stop the bleeding immediately or in the near future. It literally has the ability to start putting a stop to the exhaustive partisan “going nowhere” platforms and allow industry and environment to co-exist.
We have the proof. We need some key people to listen…that’s all.
So, there you have it, folks. I wish you ALL the very best in these crazy unpredictable times we are all in. Stay safe and healthy!
Find out more about how Catawater® will help your business here. Talk to an expert now!
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