Why GE, Coca-Cola, and IBM Are Getting Into the Water Business

Water is becoming a high-stakes business where there's money to be made everywhere you look -- from greasy wool to microchips.

In the rangeland of Australia, sheep get frightfully dirty. They roam the outback among all manner of plants, trees, and scrub; they loll in the dirt; they sleep on the ground; they roll in their own poop. They shower only if it happens to rain.
 
So when these sheep get sheared -- and Australia is still the largest producer of wool in the world -- the fresh wool is grubby. Raw wool is called "greasy wool," because in addition to dirt, the wool is coated with the sheep's natural protection, lanolin. A specialized industry exists to clean it. The big Michell Wool scouring plant in Salisbury, a suburb north of Adelaide, uses almost a megaliter of water (264,000 gallons) a day -- about what 750 families use.

Continue reading the original article on Fast Company about why companies such as GE and Coca-Cola are wanting to penetrate the water business.

About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is an advanced technology, services and finance company taking on the world’s toughest challenges. Dedicated to innovation in energy, health, transportation and infrastructure, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.
 
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