A Vermont manufacturing company signed a contract Wednesday to produce state-of-the-art water filtration units for schools and other public places in Mexico.
Seldon Technologies in Windsor said the five-year agreement with Bebederos Ecologicos of Mexico City, valued at more than $20 million, will be a boost for public health in Mexico.
Additionally, the contract should be a big help in Seldon’s plan to add more than 20 jobs by next February, general manager Shawn Montgomery said.
"My grandchildren go to school; they don't have to worry about clean water," observed Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, who between 2002-2012 helped secure millions of dollars in research and development contracts for Seldon, including for U.S. military applications. "In other parts of the world, you have education for the children and you also have to worry they may get a horrible illness."
Alessandro Covarrubias, the CEO of Bebederos Ecologicos, said Mexico is grappling with a childhood obesity and diabetes epidemic worsened by kids guzzling sugary drinks like sodas in places where there is little confidence in the safety of the tap water.
Covarrubias said the Mexican government is looking for solutions to cut spending on bottled water and boost public health. He said he is confident Seldon’s so-called nanomesh filters will do just that.
"We believe water is a fundamental right of human beings," he added.
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Seldon's filters remove bacteria and viruses, while reducing heavy metals like lead and mercury, without chemicals or electricity, the company said.
