Open house Spanish Fork company treats water with innovative technology to address A new company based in Spanish Fork is offering innovative technology to homeowners and renters that improves their water without salt or chemicals. Bill Grubbs is chief executive officer of The New Water Company, a subsidiary of Enhanced Life Water Solutions. A Spanish Fork resident, Grubbs set up his manufacturing facility in the city last October and has now started offering the technology to residential customers in Utah. “There is nobody that has anything like this,” Grubbs said. About 10 years ago, inventor Gary Wilson had a desire to create a water treatment technology that would replace salt-based water softeners. He began experimenting with various products on the market and eventually developed what is now referred to as an electron infusion water system. This device wraps around a water pipe and creates an electric field, flooding the water with electrons. Molecules in the water are activated and stabilized, preventing minerals from clumping together, which reduces scale while also raising the pH of the water. This causes the water to become alkaline, or non-acidic. The system can work on any size of pipe, but it is attached to the main pipe bringing water into the home, ensuring that all the home’s water is treated before being used. The device simply needs to be plugged into a regular power outlet. Wilson began selling his system to residential clients on a limited basis. In 2010, he filed a patent on his invention and began offering it commercially. Enhanced Life Water Solutions now has a variety of clients using its technology including corporations with large evaporative coolers, hotels, cities and major food processing companies. When Grubbs encountered the technol-
proposed road fee in Mapleton
The New Water Company offers a water treatment technology that doesn’t use salt or chemicals.
ogy, he was intrigued. He began visiting with customers that used it and asking about their experiences, and their responses indicated the technology was revolutionary and unprecedented. “Every single person that I talked to gave me the same answer, that this is amazing technology,” Grubbs said. In July of 2015, Grubbs purchased the technology from Wilson, keeping Wilson on as a full-time consultant so he could continue his research and development. While Enhanced Life Water Solutions continues to serve its commercial clients, Grubbs created The New Water Company to handle residential sales. While Wilson had installed his proprietary water system in homes previously, it was only as people heard about it from others. With his manufacturing facility up and running, Grubbs is now ready to promote and make the technology available to residential customers for the first time. One of the main benefits of having one
The Springville Museum of Art’s 2016 Art Queen and her attendants were named at the museum’s Art Ball on May 14. Naming the Art Royalty is a long-standing tradition at the museum that began in 1907. The girls competing for Art Royalty are selected based on the quality of their written application as well as their demonstration of a talent and an interview by the judges. Through out their yearlong reign, the Art Queen and her attendants provide volunteer service at many museum events. The 2016 Art Queen and her attendants are, from left: Sammy Gutierrez, Abi Maccabee, Lela Packard, Shaylynn Swenson, Art Queen Abby Holman, Heather Woolf, Kayla Mousser, Savannah Marker and Miriam Hall.
of the systems in a home is better-tasting alkaline water, Grubbs said. However, the system also keeps minerals from attaching to items such as pipes and faucets, which increases the life of home appliances, especially hot water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. While not all scale can be eliminated with any water treatment system, the scale that does appear is easily wiped away, he said. “One of the major reasons you want a water softener of some kind is to protect your investment in your home,” Grubbs said. A smaller amount of soap, shampoo and cleaning products is needed with the treated water as well, and because the mineral molecules are stabilized, they are more easily absorbed by the body, he said. “The water’s going to taste great and you’re going to better hydrate with it. You’re also going to cut down on your shampoos, conditioners, laundry deterSee WATER on page A3
Mapleton City is considering adopting a monthly utility road fee that would be paid by residents through their utility bills, with the money raised going to a Utility Road Fund for the purpose of repair and maintenance on Mapleton’s existing roads. The Mapleton City Council will consider approving the Utility Road Fund at its July 6 meeting. To address any questions or concerns the public may have regarding the proposed Utility Road Fund, the city will host a public open house on Wednesday, June 15, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Mapleton City Center, 125 W. 400 North. At the open house, city staff will discuss the new plan, what would be charged, how it would be charged and why. In October of 2013, Mapleton City asked the Utah Local Technical Assistance Program to develop a pavement management system to be used as Mapleton’s transportation plan. Consideration of the Utility Road Fund comes in response to the resulting LTAP report as well as a survey of Mapleton citizens conducted in October 2015, which indicated that 94 percent of respondents would be willing to pay more in order to maintain roads. Nearly 70 percent of respondents said they would be willing to increase taxes or fees by $10 a month to pay for road maintenance.
Long-time Nebo elementary school educator retiring By Chris Hash Mapleton News After 29 years, Mapleton educator Carol Day is graduating from elementary school. Twenty-three of those 29 years have been spent in Nebo School District, most recently at Mapleton and Hobble Creek elementary schools. It’s safe to say that hundreds of local children have benefited from her efforts. On Wednesday, May 18, many of Day’s colleagues and former students attended an open house to honor her and wish her well in retirement. “Carol is a gem,” said Julie Warren, director of elementary education for Nebo School District. “She has always given so willingly to benefit children and teachers.” “She is an absolute creative force,” said Julie Peery, principal of Mapleton Ele-
mentary School. “She has always been an effective advocate for children and their needs. Intelligent, kind, patient, talented and peaceful, she lets children be themselves and grow in the directions they choose. She helps them see potential they might not recognize. And she is great to work with, a wonderful peer and teacher.” Michael Johnson, principal at Hobble Creek Elementary School, said, “Carol has been one of the most influential and creative forces at our school. Her dedication and creative flair have brought so many fun, progressive ideas to our school.” Many Mapleton parents might echo those thoughts. Hundreds of children have participated in programs available to them largely because of Day. It might have been debate, school plays, music, dance, chess club, advanced math, opera, green maps, ceramics, art projects, Nebo Gifted and Talented programs or Artists in Residence. See DAY on page A3