Pentair, GE combine water filtration businesses

Pentair will own 80 percent of the new business--called Pentair Residential Filtration--and GE Water & Process Technologies will own the remainder. The combined businesses had sales of about $540 million in 2007 and will employ about 1,100 people in 15 plants.

The new venture will make tanks, valves and some filtration products. The two partners will maintain existing municipal, commercial and industrial water treatment contracts.