RAPID CITY, S.D. (April 23, 2013) – Water, an integral part to sustaining life, constitutes around 60 percent of our bodies, and though around 70 percent of the world’s surface is covered by it, only 1 percent is drinkable.
CalxAqua, LLC, a Rapid City-based firm and South Dakota School of Mines & Technology start-up, aims to change the tides.
Mines entrepreneur-in-residence and alumnus, Mat Peabody, who started CalxAqua and oversees its operations, explains CalxAqua’s innovative approach – and importance. “The technology embodies a much cheaper, safer alternative to currently used systems for removal of arsenic and heavy metals from water. Potable, safe water is paramount to good health worldwide, and there are regions of the world where arsenicosis (arsenic poisoning) is endemic and a huge health issue.”
The company’s explosive potential and global good have not gone unnoticed. CalxAqua was last week’s winner of the top $20,000 prize in the Governor’s Giant Vision Business Competition.
Peabody already has plans for his winnings. CalxAqua will “initially target municipalities and point of use systems for households and businesses, but eventually it will also go after the remediation of mine tailings and fracking fluids. My initial thought is to leverage the money along with the Dakota Edge program, and matching funds from industry and SDSM&T to sponsor one or two Ph.D.-level students to do some additional studies to continuously improve on a good thing and make it even better.”
Yet CalxAqua’s future wasn’t always so clear. In fact, it wasn’t always CalxAqua.
Seven years ago, as regulations on arsenic levels in drinking water became stricter, researchers at the School of Mines developed a process using earth-friendly materials to build filtration systems that removed arsenic and other toxic contaminants from drinking water. In 2005, Hydrotech was formed to commercialize the technology.
Despite its promise, the company was languishing. So the university reached out to Peabody last July to use his considerable expertise to put together a business plan and complete product optimization.
The result: resounding success, and a new name.
Peabody has since partnered with Pete Lien & Sons, a local limestone, cement and building materials company, and CalxAqua will build a plant and be headquartered at the Lien facility. For Peabody, the partnership is ideal: “They know how to handle limestone. Our technology adds a lot of value to limestone, and I really like the integrity and knowledge that the Pete Lien people bring to the party.”
And though the company may be local, Peabody’s aspirations are larger. “I hope that we can build a global business based right here in Rapid City, South Dakota.”
The Governor’s Giant Vision business awards were created as an opportunity for entrepreneurs to compete for seed money and a chance to achieve their dream of starting a successful business. Giant Vision also features a student awards competition, in which this year’s third place went to Hay Camp Brewing Co., represented by Sam Papendick and Karl Koth of the School of Mines.