Alpine Industries Helps Rescue its Namesake by Tackling the Largest Waterborne Outbreak E.coli in the United States

ALPINE, Wyo.-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Aug. 11,1998--Alpine Industries, North America's largest manufacturer of water and air purification systems, is coming to the rescue of its namesake - Alpine, Wyo. - by donating approximately $90,000 in water purification systems to the town which suffered recently from a severe E. coli outbreak. The 470 permanent residents of Alpine, recently hit by the largest waterborne outbreak of E. coli in the United States, can turn on their taps with confidence with 250 of Alpine's Living Water units installed in the local day-care center, churches and homes of the E. coli victims.

"We're a small community, so when this particularly dangerous strain of E. coli hit, it wasn't just an inconvenience, it was a tragedy." said Donn Wooden, Mayor of Alpine. "A tot of residents and tourists might still be leery of our water even though we've taken the necessary steps to eradicate the problem. Alpine Industries' contribution gives us the added assurance we need. Members of my own family were affected, so I'm speaking firsthand."

Just 36 miles south of Jackson Hole, the quiet, tourist community of Alpine barely knew what hit it last month when residents and visitors began to fall seriously ill. Sixty-one people tested positive for the disease and 19 were hospitalized. An Epidemic Intelligence Service team that investigated the situation speculated that a downed fence near the springs that supply water to the town allowed animals to wander in, leaving contaminated feces behind. Or, heavy rains may have washed through fecal material on the hillside above the springs and percolated into the underground collection system.

Alpine officials immediately switched the water supply from natural springs to a chlorinated well system. Yet, the donation of the Alpine Industries' Living Water units is added assurance.

"I'm not entirely comfortable drinking tap water since the incident even though I know the water is safe," said Tammy Lowery, an Alpine resident who was infected along with her five-year-old son. I’ll feel a lot better with an Alpine unit on my faucet."

A clear, 18-inch cylinder that is easy to install anywhere, the Living Water units combine three technologies into one to destroy bacteria, including the strain that causes E. coli. The three-step process includes ozonation, ultraviolet light exposure and photo-oxidation, and high density activated carbon bock filtration. Like the chlorine filtration system that has been installed into the town's water treatment system since the E. coli outbreak, ozone is a powerful oxidizer. Unlike chlorine, however, ozone leaves no chemical residue. Ozonation also improves water taste by destroying contaminants, another plus for Alpine residents who have been used to the pure taste of spring water but now must adjust to the new chlorinated system.

The town of Alpine has its name to thank for Alpine Industries' discovery of its water contamination problem. The company first learned of the town's trouble by conducting a simple Internet search for news articles on its own behalf.

"It was only a coincidence that our company has a product that can relieve the situation this town has been I through. Living Water doesn't just filter out bacteria and viruses like E. coli, it destroys them," said Michael Jackson, executive vice president for Alpine Industries. "That should put a lot of minds to rest in Alpine, Wyoming. Our focus has always been on providing a cleaner, healthier environment for people at home, work and play. So, when we discovered the situation in Alpine, we naturally wanted to help."

Alpine, Wyoming is the latest in a series of towns to suffer from an E. coli outbreak. Other cities with recent outbreaks include Atlanta, Indianapolis, Chicago and Milwaukee. In all, approximately 20,000 people in the United States suffer from E. coli annually, with 250 of the cases fatal.

"We certainly appreciate the special concern shown by Alpine Industries and the special effort for the families that have been affected by this very unfortunate event," said Wooden. "We know that this special gift will take the worry out of drinking the water. Thanks to Alpine Industries for coming to our assistance."

Alpine Industries, a water and air purification and home environmental products company headquartered in Greeneville, Tenn., is one of the fastest growing manufacturing and marketing firms in America. With over 1,200 employees and 138,000 active distributors worldwide. Alpine operates plants in Hoyt Lakes and Blaine, Minn.; Scottsboro, Ala.; and Greeneville, Tenn.