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Studying Worms to Revolutionize Wastewater Treatment: The Science Behind Vermifiltration at the Vermitech Innovation Center

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WALLA WALLA, Wash., March 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — https://perca.net/ As industries and municipalities seek sustainable solutions for wastewater treatment, a remarkable and reliable natural ally is emerging—earthworms. The study of worms for vermifiltration, a process that leverages their biological activity to purify water, is gaining traction as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional wastewater treatment methods. At the forefront of this research is the Vermitech Innovation Center, a pioneering facility owned and operated by Perca, Inc., dedicated to advancing vermifiltration technology and demonstrating its potential in real-world applications.

The Science Behind Vermifiltration

Vermifiltration harnesses the natural capabilities of earthworms and beneficial microbes to break down organic matter and remove contaminants from wastewater. This biological process not only treats water effectively but also significantly reduces energy consumption and the need for chemical additives. Compared to traditional wastewater treatment plants, which can be energy-intensive and costly, vermifiltration offers a low-carbon, low-maintenance, and cost-effective alternative.

“Earthworms act as nature’s tiny engineers, processing organic waste, aerating filtration beds, and enhancing microbial diversity,” explains Dr. George Damoff, Chief Science Officer at Perca. “Through continuous research and innovation, we are improving the efficiency of this process and scaling it for broader industrial and municipal applications.”

The Role of the Vermitech Innovation Center

As a hub for research, development, and real-world implementation, the Vermitech Innovation Center is instrumental in refining vermifiltration techniques and promoting industry adoption. Located in Walla Walla, Washington, this state-of-the-art facility houses advanced and proprietary testing grounds and pilot systems designed to optimize worm-based filtration for diverse wastewater sources, including municipal sewage, agricultural byproducts, and industrial effluents.

Perca’s commitment to sustainable water treatment solutions is evident in the Center’s focus on scientific experimentation, performance validation, and commercial scaling. By collaborating with universities, environmental organizations, and industry partners, the VIC is actively driving the global transition toward nature-based wastewater treatment technologies.

“The research we conduct at the VIC is essential for demonstrating the real-world feasibility of vermifiltration,” says Sierra Smith, Director of Research and Development at Perca. “We are constantly innovating and fine-tuning our systems to enhance water quality, improve efficiency, and make this technology accessible to industries and communities worldwide.”

Key Benefits of Studying Worms for Vermifiltration

Sustainability & Carbon Reduction – Unlike conventional treatment methods that rely on high energy inputs and chemicals, vermifiltration is powered by biological processes, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption.

Cost-Effectiveness – Vermifiltration requires minimal infrastructure and operational costs, making it an attractive option for rural and decentralized wastewater treatment systems.

Efficient Contaminant Removal – The combination of earthworms and microbial activity effectively removes even toxic chemicals such as pharmaceutical residues, pesticides, and heavy metals, organic matter, pathogens, nitrogen, and heavy metals, producing cleaner effluent water that can be safely discharged or reused.

No Sludge or Brine Production – Unlike traditional wastewater treatment that generates large amounts of sludge requiring disposal, vermifiltration produces no sludge or brine during the process, eliminating costly waste management concerns. Vermifiltration eliminates sludge accumulation, lowering waste management costs and environmental impact.

Biodiversity & Soil Health Benefits – The byproducts of vermifiltration, including nutrient-rich worm castings, can be repurposed as soil enhancers, supporting regenerative agriculture and reducing landfill waste.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Vermifiltration

With rising global demand for sustainable water management solutions, the Vermitech Innovation Center is positioning itself as a leader in advancing vermifiltration technology. Through continued research, pilot projects, and strategic partnerships, Perca aims to scale this natural wastewater treatment method to benefit industries, municipalities, and communities worldwide.

“We believe that engaging with nature, rather than working against it, is the key to solving our most pressing environmental challenges,” says Russell Davis, President and CEO of Perca. “The research being conducted at the VIC is proof that solutions inspired by nature can drive real impact in wastewater management.”

For more information about the Vermitech Innovation Center, its research initiatives, or partnership opportunities, please visit https://perca.net/contact-us/ or contact Nicky Ridler at betterwater@perca.net.

About Perca

Perca is an industry leader in sustainable wastewater treatment solutions, specializing in innovative nature-based technologies. With a mission to transform wastewater management through eco-friendly and cost-effective approaches, Perca continues to drive impactful change across industries and communities.

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SOURCE Perca, Inc.

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Sesame Software Named Fastest to Implement and Best Estimated ROI in G2’s Fall 2026 Reports, Previews Sesame Software 7.0

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Mid-market recognition from verified users caps a strong 2026 as the company announces the beta of its biggest platform release in years

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sesame Software, the Enterprise Data Management leader, today announced it has earned two mid-market badges in G2’s Fall 2026 reports, Fastest Implementation and Best Estimated ROI, based on verified user reviews. Heading into 2027, the company also previewed Sesame Software 7.0, its biggest platform release in years, with a beta opening this winter.

Recognized by G2 Users

The badges reflect what users say about Sesame Software: it’s up and running in minutes, needs no coding or data mapping, and pays for itself quickly. Teams use it to replicate data in near real time, build pipelines into warehouses like Snowflake, back up and archive records, and run verified migrations between systems.

“Customers don’t want a data project. They want their data where they need it, working as soon as possible,” said Joshua Demumbreum, Director of Product Operations, Sesame Software. “Hearing that back from users, in their own words, is a great way to close the year.”

Coming Soon: Sesame Software 7.0

What’s new in 7.0:

New interface: fewer clicks, easier navigation, clearer logs, and reporting on which records each job movesRebuilt engine: faster jobs, bigger data volumes and fewer failures, with data cleanup built into every jobRewritten connectors: simpler templates that behave the same across every connectorSimpler upkeep: Java 25 support, embedded Tomcat, and one-step upgrades

“After 30-plus years in enterprise data, 7.0 is our biggest step forward yet,” said Nathan Lugert, Senior Software Engineer, Sesame Software. “We can’t wait to get it into users’ hands.”

About Sesame Software

Sesame Software is the Enterprise Data Management leader, delivering data rapidly for enhanced reporting and analytics. Sesame Software’s data platform offers superior solutions for data warehousing, integration, as well as backup, and compliance to fit your business needs. Quickly connect to SaaS, on-premise, and cloud applications for accelerated insights. With over 30 years of expertise, Sesame Software helps businesses take back control of their data, access it from anywhere, ensure security and compliance, and unlock its power to grow.

Media Contact:
Kristen Besselsen, Director of Marketing
kristen.besselsen@sesamesoftware.com
www.sesamesoftware.com

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SOURCE Sesame Software

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RS earned three awards at the 2026 Moxa Global Distributor Summit

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The three awards recognize RS for demonstrable leadership in small to medium-sized business sales, energy sector sales, and regional sales.

FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — RS, a high-service global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers, earned three top awards at the 2026 Moxa Global Distributor Summit. Held in Nashville, Tennessee, September 8–11, this exclusive summit welcomed Moxa team members and partners from all over the world to “Collaborate to Lead” and discuss business and strategy updates, emerging industrial infrastructure trends, secure OT connectivity, and next-generation technologies like AI data centers and energy storage.

RS combines immediate access to Moxa products with deep technical expertise to solve complex operational challenges.

During the event, Moxa — a global leader in industrial networking, computing, and edge connectivity solutions — presented RS Americas with its:

2026 Top Global Sales Award for small to medium-sized businesses2026 Top Global Sales Award for energy businesses2026 Platinum Award for top sales in the Americas region

These awards recognize RS for outstanding sales achievements and exceptional partnership in three key market segments. Together, RS and Moxa deliver secure network deployments and reliable edge connectivity for industrial automation customers across the manufacturing, energy, and commercial sectors.

“Partnering with Moxa enables us to provide industrial customers with the high-performance networking technologies they need to advance their digital transformation and build resilient operations,” said Marie Dawson, Sr. Director of Strategic Supplier Engagement at RS. “Earning three top honors at the 2026 Moxa Global Distributor Summit validates our approach — combining immediate access to quality Moxa products with deep technical expertise to solve complex operational challenges and keep critical infrastructure running across industries.”

“RS continues to demonstrate outstanding leadership in advancing edge connectivity and network reliability across key industrial sectors,” said Mat Stewart, Vice President of Sales at Moxa. “We are proud to recognize the RS Americas team for their exceptional global and regional performance over the past year and look forward to building on this momentum together.”

To learn more about the RS portfolio of Moxa products and solutions, visit the embedded links.

PR Image Download:
RS Moxa Awards PR.jpg

PR Image Caption:
The RS Americas team accepted three top sales performance awards at the 2026 Moxa Global Distributor Summit. Pictured from left to right: Moxa Americas Vice President of Sales Mat Stewart, RS Americas Product Director Chris Cole, RS Americas Eastern Regional Sales Manager John Allen, RS Americas Senior Director of Strategic Supplier Engagement Marie Dawson, RS Americas Supplier Manager Evie Hooper, RS Americas Category Manager Megan Shaw, Moxa Americas Director of Channel Sales Pat Sweeney, RS Americas Product Portfolio Manager Gary Guess, and Moxa Americas President Chad Chesney.

About RS
RS is a high-service global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers, enabling them to operate efficiently and sustainably. We operate in 33 markets, stock over 875,000 industrial and specialist products, and list an additional five million relevant for our industrial customers, sourced from over 2,500 suppliers. This extensive range supports our customers across the industrial lifecycle of designing, building, and maintaining equipment and operations. We enhance their experience through a tailored service model, leveraging our efficient physical, digital, and process infrastructure sustainably. We combine a technically led and digitally enabled approach with an exceptional team of experts; ultimately, it’s our people that make the difference. Our purpose, making amazing happen for a better world, reflects our focus on delivering results for people, planet, and profit.

RS Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock ticker RS1, and in the year ended March 31, 2026, reported revenue of $3,871.07 million. For more information, please visit https://www.rsgroup.com/ or connect with us on LinkedIn or X (Twitter).

About RS in the Americas
In the Americas region, RS stocks more than 250,000 industrial and electronic products from more than 700 trusted suppliers. These solutions cover categories extending from automation and control equipment to interconnect, passive, active, and electromechanical components and include more than 90,000 high-quality, competitively priced RS PRO products. For more information, please visit https://us.rs-online.com or connect with us via social media on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

Editorial Contact & Media Inquiries:
Laurie Tortorello, Director of People & Culture Communications, RS Americas
Laurie.Tortorello@rsgroup.com

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SOURCE RS

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Union Home Mortgage Selected for USDA Rural Development Delegated Authority Pilot Program

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One of six lenders chosen nationwide to deliver an enhanced USDA loan experience for eligible rural borrowers

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Union Home Mortgage (UHM), a high-growth independent mortgage banking company with a world-class culture, announced today that it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development to participate in the expanded Delegated Authority Lender Interactive Test Environment (LITE) Pilot Program for the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program, further strengthening the company’s ability to serve homebuyers in rural communities across the country. UHM is one of six lenders nationwide chosen to join the initiative, which begins on December 1, 2026.

The pilot program grants participating lenders greater authority in the loan approval and closing process, allowing qualified borrowers to move through the mortgage journey more efficiently while maintaining rigorous underwriting and compliance standards. By reducing pre-closing approval requirements from USDA, the program is designed to accelerate loan processing timelines and expand homeownership opportunities for eligible families in rural communities across the country.

“We are honored to partner with USDA Rural Development to help rural borrowers access more opportunities to achieve the dream of homeownership, which is one of the most powerful ways to build financial stability and strengthen communities,” said Bill Cosgrove, CEO of Union Home Mortgage. “Being selected for this pilot program reflects our commitment to providing world-class service and innovative solutions to our borrowers, and we thank USDA for entrusting us with this increased responsibility.”

Through the USDA Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program, eligible low- and moderate-income borrowers can access affordable financing options, including 100% financing for homes in qualifying rural areas. According to USDA Rural Development, homebuyers can buy existing, build new, or cover the cost of rehabilitating, improving, or relocating a home with a Single Family Housing loan guarantee. As a participant in the Delegated Authority LITE Pilot Program, UHM will be positioned to deliver these benefits with greater speed and efficiency while continuing to provide personalized guidance throughout the homebuying journey.

The selection further underscores UHM’s reputation as a trusted lending partner and aligns with the lender’s focus on responsible growth, operational excellence, and expanding access to affordable mortgage solutions in communities of all sizes.

For more information about Union Home Mortgage, visit www.uhm.com. For information about USDA Rural Development housing programs, visit www.rd.usda.gov.

About Union Home Mortgage
Union Home Mortgage Corp. (UHM) is a high-growth, full-service retail, wholesale, and consumer direct independent mortgage banking company with branches across the U.S. in 49 states + D.C. UHM is an in-house loan servicer offering world-class customer service through high touch communication & technology. A privately held family business, with a collaborative culture that stands out in the mortgage industry, UHM Partners (employees) are guided by a Code of Conduct that emphasizes respect, open communication, and accountability. All these principles translate to industry-leading customer retention and satisfaction. Some honors include being a Six-Year USA TODAY Top Workplace and a Twelve-Year Northeast Ohio Top Workplace. Learn more at www.uhm.com.

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SOURCE Union Home Mortgage

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