1. Press Release
For Immediate Release
For More Information Contact
Stephen Altobelli
201.964.2369
saltobelli@mww.com
Water Research Foundation Partners with Isle Inc. to Conduct Research and Testing on
Emerging Technologies of Interest to the Water Community
DENVER, CO (July 30, 2013) – The Water Research Foundation (WaterRF), an internationally
recognized leader in water research that is dedicated to advancing the science of water, has
entered into a partnership with Isle Inc.an independent technology and innovation
consultancy specializing in clean technologies. Under the agreement WaterRF will work with
Isle to develop research projects and trials for selected technologies identified by Isle’s
Technology Approval Group (TAG) for potential benefit to the water community. This
additional research/testing step is necessary before new technologies can be adopted on a
broad scale.
“Given the significant budget restrictions and rigid regulatory environment that water utilities
must operate within, new technologies must be thoroughly tested before they are adopted,”
said Robert Renner, Executive Director of WaterRF. “Many technologies identified by Isle’s
TAG show great promise for water utilities. However, they often require additional research
and trials to further prove their applicability and operational capability in a water utility
environment. WaterRF will work with Isle to aid in conducting this research. This partnership
holds great promise to provide significant benefits to the entire water community.”
Isle’s mission is to accelerate the market uptake of “step-change” technologies by introducing
them to potentially interested water utilities during the pre-commercial stages of
development and by facilitating additional research and trials to demonstrate the feasibility
of the technologies. This mission is compatible with WaterRF’s mission and values, and a
number of WaterRF subscribers have joined Isle and become members of the TAG process.
Isle has a successful track record of helping utilities and manufacturers bring new
technologies to market. It receives no funding from manufacturers and maintains complete
independence from the technologies they introduce to utilities. Objective results are further
ensured through WaterRF’s unbiased peer review and project management process.
WaterRF and Isle will work with WaterRF subscribers, Isle members, and other stakeholders to
develop funding for research projects and trials of mutual interest. WaterRF will follow its
reliable research management processes, including technical expert review. The results of

2. WaterRF Enters into Partnership with Isle Inc.
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trials and research are expected to be made available to Isle members and WaterRF
subscribers.
“Investment in new technology is desperately needed if the water industry is to tackle the
challenges ahead. This collaboration is a key step forward to enabling the uptake of emerging
technologies which will help to shape the future of the US water industry” explains Bill Kelly,
Business Development Director of Isle Inc. “The industry needs this type of forum to ensure
that innovation currently being lost to our marketplace is allowed to see the light of day and
deliver the sustainable solutions that we need to be implementing now for the future.”
WaterRF engagement in research to further prove TAG-identified technologies will benefit the
water community by having the research done by a reputable, respected, and unbiased
organization. WaterRF subscribers and Isle members will benefit from this partnership
between WaterRF and Isle Inc., as new technology and process validation is vital for making
significant changes to the current market.
About the Water Research Foundation
Founded in 1966, the Water Research Foundation is an international, 501(c)3 non-profit
organization that sponsors research to enable water utilities, public health agencies and other
professionals to provide safe and affordable water to the public. With more than 1,000
subscribers who provide water to 80 percent of the U.S. population, WaterRF has funded and
managed more than 1,000 projects. For more information, go to www.WaterRF.org.
About Isle Inc.
Isle identifies emerging technologies and accelerates their market uptake through their global
innovation forum – the Technology Approval Group (TAG). TAG has been operating outside the
US since 2005 and in Orange County since 2011. With a membership base of over 100 water
utilities, this innovation forum will gain access to emerging technologies relevant to the US
water industry. The TAG model is focused on supporting technology start-up companies by
combining Isle’s technical skills, with the experience and engagement of the US water
utilities, and the financial backing of investment specialists in North America and Europe.
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