Harnessing power of ozone

BY IRENE CHAPPLE

Ian Margan has sunk $1.7 million of his own money into Ozonewatersolutions and lets rip a huge laugh when asked if it's making a profit yet.

No, it's not. But Margan's okay with that: "Sometimes I think I'm pushing it uphill ... but I don't mind because I know it's the right answer."

Margan's ozone-making prototype lives at Muriwai. It is the second generation - the Porsche compared to the Model T - of the one he began back in 1997.

He sold seven of the first version, locally and internationally, then spent two years perfecting the upgrade.

Rodney District Council uses one on loan to treat water at Muriwai, and Margan is in negotiations with other possible buyers.

There is interest from South America and a joint venture with an Asian partner is being discussed.

Margan advocates using ozone to treat wastewater and drinking water as an alternative to, among other things, chlorine.

Ozone has been used to purify water since the early 1900s.

Margan sees a profitable future selling maybe 12 of the machines, which create ozone through an electrical charge, every year. Unit costs can vary from $15,000 into millions.

The story of Margan's fascination with ozone really started in 1992, when he was racing his 55-footer, the aptly-named Future Shock, from Sydney to Hobart.

An electrical storm encountered about 200km from Hobart set it off. The charge split the air and it fizzed in Margan's ears. "That," said his mate, "is the ozone."

The unstable colourless gas is created by the electrical charge and quickly degrades back into oxygen.

Think of the air after a storm - crisp and energised. That's the detached oxygen molecules - or free radicals - trying to ground themselves.

In the purification process, ozone dissolves through the water killing micro-organisms by passing through their cell walls and disrupting their essential functions. The gas also reacts with metals to create insoluble metal oxides, which can then be removed through filtration.

Ozone needs no additional chemicals and leaves no residue.

Future Shock came third that year and Margan emerged with ozone on his brain.

He had money to back him - Margan comes from a wealthy background and made millions in property development and viticulture.

He describes himself as a "millionaire visionary" who does not believe commerce and environmental awareness are mutually exclusive.

Margan has now detached himself from his other interests, such as yacht design, to focus on Ozonewatersolutions, which now employs two people and collaborates with others, such as Ozone Technologies in Napier.

Margan believes his largely New Zealand-designed model is world class, largely because it is fully automated, capable, for example, of adjusting to the temperature and ozone demand.

Margan's challenge is selling it to conservative councils and contractors.

An argument used against ozone is its cost. Margan agrees the "perception" is that it's more expensive than chlorine or other additives.

But he argues the benefits of ozone over its alternatives give real value. "People think if it's cheap it must be a bargain ... well it's not if you don't need it."