USU Technology Commercialization Office Announces Third Spinout Company of 2010
Water Prevention Solutions LLC, Utah State University’s third spinout company in fiscal year 2010 is centered on a USU technology created by former USU employees Jim Reese and Ron White.
The new technology is a patent pending wastewater backflow valve that can be installed in new construction homes and businesses or retrofitted to work on existing pipes, even those made of clay. The self-cleaning valve requires no maintenance and, because of its design, resists damage caused by pipe snakes which remove tree roots from sewer lines.
“Valves that currently exist on the market are at risk for damage because of the nature of the pipe snake,” said Reese. “Doors that open and shut one way can be broken when a pipe snake is pushed or pulled through a pipe. The design of the wastewater backflow valve resists this damage.”
Additionally, the valve itself is designed with an alert system in place. Once installed on a sewer or septic system, an alarm is linked to a telephone line. If water reaches a critical level where sewage backflow is a possibility, the valve closes to prevent backup and customers receive a phone call notifying them of the danger.
“Nearly 500,000 homes in the United States experience sewage back up yearly,” said Reese. “This back up can introduce deadly pathogens into a home and result in a number of very serious health concerns.”
Hazardous waste cleanup can cost homeowners more than $15,000, said White.
“If you have a drain in your home lower than a manhole on the street, we recommend you have a wastewater backflow valve installed,” said White.
“We are delighted to work with Jim and Ron on this technology,” said Glenn Whichard, commercialization associate for USU’s Technology Commercialization Office. “The TCO has been a part of the process from the beginning as we worked to protect the intellectual property of the invention. We believe this patent pending technology has great commercialization potential.”
The USU Utah Water Research Laboratory will be getting involved with performance testing and design for manufacturability studies. Reese and White are working to secure a manufacturing facility to begin mass production of the wastewater backflow valve. They are also in communications with home insurance companies and city planners to make the valve part of new construction plumbing code.
To learn more about Water Prevention Solutions, contact by phone 435-764-3200 or contact Whichard, of USU’s TCO at glenn.whichard@usu.edu and 435-797-9604.