About

Desalus is a water and food security company dedicated to prospering water-stressed client communities with zero-waste water treatment services while supplying premium food-flourishing fertilizers to those same communities and beyond.   

Team

Desalus leadership has a proven track record establishing international businesses in fertilizer production, chemical manufacturing and security services. Building on more than a decade of work establishing significant water stewardship solutions with world-class partners, Desalus remains dedicated to flourishing water-stressed communities.

Aubrey Howard Insights & Connect with Desalus - Food & Water Security: Desalus makes clean water and pure fertilizer from its zero-waste water treatment services offered to brackish water stewards including mines, municipalities and more. With a heart to address water and food security in regions with water challenges, Desalus operates powerful resource recovery systems including IChemE Award-winning ZIX-Zak ion-exchange and KNeW Process for over 99% water recovery with no brine or waste.

Aubrey Howard

Founder & CEO
Developed fermentation plant (WETMIX) producing food preservatives from microorganisms. Co-discovered microorganism now logged with American Type Culture Collection Bank. Started novel security services business; sold to Tyco Integrated Security (ADT).
Dr. John Bewsey Insights & Connect with Desalus - Food & Water Security: Desalus makes clean water and pure fertilizer from its zero-waste water treatment services offered to brackish water stewards including mines, municipalities and more. With a heart to address water and food security in regions with water challenges, Desalus operates powerful resource recovery systems including IChemE Award-winning ZIX-Zak ion-exchange and KNeW Process for over 99% water recovery with no brine or waste.

John Bewsey

Inventor & Scientist
Well-known scientist holding 29 patents in agriculture and mining processes. Winner of highest new tech award from International Institute of Chemical Engineers. Created successful chemical manufacturing company in 1968 with the late Glenn Howard; sold to Anglo-American.
Insights & Connect with Desalus - Food & Water Security: Desalus makes clean water and pure fertilizer from its zero-waste water treatment services offered to brackish water stewards including mines, municipalities and more. With a heart to address water and food security in regions with water challenges, Desalus operates powerful resource recovery systems including IChemE Award-winning ZIX-Zak ion-exchange and KNeW Process for over 99% water recovery with no brine or waste.

Eduard Hanekom

Plant Operations Specialist
Mining and Metals plant manager with deep chemical engineering and operations experience.
Insights & Connect with Desalus - Food & Water Security: Desalus makes clean water and pure fertilizer from its zero-waste water treatment services offered to brackish water stewards including mines, municipalities and more. With a heart to address water and food security in regions with water challenges, Desalus operates powerful resource recovery systems including IChemE Award-winning ZIX-Zak ion-exchange and KNeW Process for over 99% water recovery with no brine or waste.

Bradford Dewan

Legal Advisor
Expert tax, securities, corporate M&A, business and corporate governance attorney.
Insights & Connect with Desalus - Food & Water Security: Desalus makes clean water and pure fertilizer from its zero-waste water treatment services offered to brackish water stewards including mines, municipalities and more. With a heart to address water and food security in regions with water challenges, Desalus operates powerful resource recovery systems including IChemE Award-winning ZIX-Zak ion-exchange and KNeW Process for over 99% water recovery with no brine or waste.

Kim Teichmann

Legal
Internationally recognized construction attorney experienced in many asset types.
Insights & Connect with Desalus - Food & Water Security: Desalus makes clean water and pure fertilizer from its zero-waste water treatment services offered to brackish water stewards including mines, municipalities and more. With a heart to address water and food security in regions with water challenges, Desalus operates powerful resource recovery systems including IChemE Award-winning ZIX-Zak ion-exchange and KNeW Process for over 99% water recovery with no brine or waste.

Alastair Forsyth

Fertilizer Market Advisor
Largest distributor of potassium nitrate in Africa with 40 years experience.
Insights & Connect with Desalus - Food & Water Security: Desalus makes clean water and pure fertilizer from its zero-waste water treatment services offered to brackish water stewards including mines, municipalities and more. With a heart to address water and food security in regions with water challenges, Desalus operates powerful resource recovery systems including IChemE Award-winning ZIX-Zak ion-exchange and KNeW Process for over 99% water recovery with no brine or waste.

Derek Vogel

Branding & Communications Advisor
Brand and design strategy expert with experience in agriculture and mining.
Insights & Connect with Desalus - Food & Water Security: Desalus makes clean water and pure fertilizer from its zero-waste water treatment services offered to brackish water stewards including mines, municipalities and more. With a heart to address water and food security in regions with water challenges, Desalus operates powerful resource recovery systems including IChemE Award-winning ZIX-Zak ion-exchange and KNeW Process for over 99% water recovery with no brine or waste.

Bruce Gryniewski

Public Affairs & Comms. Advisor
Natural resource permitting and regulatory expert, former Executive Director of Washington Conservation Voters.

Clarence Culbert

Advisor
Retired Army colonel and aerospace/defense executive with twenty-eight years of active and reserve military service.
Insights & Connect with Desalus - Food & Water Security: Desalus makes clean water and pure fertilizer from its zero-waste water treatment services offered to brackish water stewards including mines, municipalities and more. With a heart to address water and food security in regions with water challenges, Desalus operates powerful resource recovery systems including IChemE Award-winning ZIX-Zak ion-exchange and KNeW Process for over 99% water recovery with no brine or waste.

Jason Griego

New Mexico Development Manager
Accomplished executive with deep experience in international security services and economic development.
Insights & Connect with Desalus - Food & Water Security: Desalus makes clean water and pure fertilizer from its zero-waste water treatment services offered to brackish water stewards including mines, municipalities and more. With a heart to address water and food security in regions with water challenges, Desalus operates powerful resource recovery systems including IChemE Award-winning ZIX-Zak ion-exchange and KNeW Process for over 99% water recovery with no brine or waste.

David Roman

Catalyst
Product builder with international experience in digital solutions and natural resources.
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Our Journey

Explore highlights of the journey that formed Desalus over the years: 

  • Insights & Connect with Desalus - Food & Water Security: Desalus makes clean water and pure fertilizer from its zero-waste water treatment services offered to brackish water stewards including mines, municipalities and more. With a heart to address water and food security in regions with water challenges, Desalus operates powerful resource recovery systems including IChemE Award-winning ZIX-Zak ion-exchange and KNeW Process for over 99% water recovery with no brine or waste.

    Early Years

    Glenn Howard and John Bewsey form Glenjohn Chemicals making fire extinguisher powder (as well as polyurethane and hydrogen peroxide). Glenjohn Chemicals grows quickly to supply around 80% of the powder required by the South African market. John helps pioneer organic granular fertilizer from reinforced chicken manure with AgroFert, which becomes the seventh largest local fertilizer supplier in South Africa.

  • Award-winning KNeW Process Insights & Connect with Desalus - Food & Water Security: Desalus makes clean water and pure fertilizer from its zero-waste water treatment services offered to brackish water stewards including mines, municipalities and more. With a heart to address water and food security in regions with water challenges, Desalus operates powerful resource recovery systems including IChemE Award-winning ZIX-Zak ion-exchange and KNeW Process for over 99% water recovery with no brine or waste.

    Trailblazer Technologies

    John Bewsey forms world-class team to develop and perfect what he sees as his gift to mankind: pathways to better lives in water-stressed places.

    • John wins IChemE award for new technology in the water category for the KNeW process
    • Later John wins second place for ZIX-Zak Ion Exchange system 
  • KNeW Process Pilot Plant Insights & Connect with Desalus - Food & Water Security: Desalus makes clean water and pure fertilizer from its zero-waste water treatment services offered to brackish water stewards including mines, municipalities and more. With a heart to address water and food security in regions with water challenges, Desalus operates powerful resource recovery systems including IChemE Award-winning ZIX-Zak ion-exchange and KNeW Process for over 99% water recovery with no brine or waste.

    Glenjohn Capital

    Glenn Howard and John Bewsey rejoin forces to establish Glenjohn Capital as a holding company for San Diego-based KNeW Company, formed in 2013.

    • Glenn raises first financing round
    • KNeW builds first demonstration plant
    • John optimizes ZIX-Zak ion exchange
    • Glenn raises second financing round
    • Glenn's son Aubrey joins to lead operations
  • KNeW Process Insights & Connect with Desalus - Food & Water Security: Desalus makes clean water and pure fertilizer from its zero-waste water treatment services offered to brackish water stewards including mines, municipalities and more. With a heart to address water and food security in regions with water challenges, Desalus operates powerful resource recovery systems including IChemE Award-winning ZIX-Zak ion-exchange and KNeW Process for over 99% water recovery with no brine or waste.

    KNeW Holdings

    Glenn, John and Aubrey refocus the company for better financial,  operational and market viability. Global team established to prepare for more significant growth as a resource resilience service.

    • KNeW builds full-scale demonstration plant
    • Black & Veatch verify plant capabilities
    • Yara & other offtake partners verify products
    • Insurance policies back tech performance
    • Capital partners pave ways for project finance
    • Aubrey drives nanobubble system innovations
  • New Mexico Strategic Water Act

    Howard Vital

    With Glenn’s passing in 2025, Aubrey and John lead the company into its growth chapter. Fueled by the 2025 New Mexico Strategic Water Supply act and further optimizations to its core systems, Desalus is mobilizing in the USA mountain west to carry on Glenn’s legacy of transparency, tenacity and care. 

    • New Mexico passes Strategic Water Supply act
    • Desalus forms KNeW Cuba Water for Cuba, NM
    • SWA funds Cuba Desalination Research Facility
    • Desalus begins facility design at Cuba Village

Our Horizons

Beyond our current work in the USA Mountain West, Desalus stands ready to serve mines, municipalities, and more where we can do well by doing good.  Know of a place that needs us?

Contact now