Irvine-based WaterHealth International Inc., a water purification company focused on developing countries, has raised $10 million in venture backing.
Sail Venture Partners LP in Costa Mesa and Dow Venture Capital, a unit of Michigan-based Dow Chemical Co., took part in the funding.
WaterHealth hopes to raise another $10 million in the current round by March.
This is the fourth round of venture capital backing for WaterHealth. In late 2006 it raised $11 million.
WaterHealth sells water purification and disinfection systems, which use ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and organisms.
The latest funding is set to help the company expand to new areas.
WaterHealth has about 600 locations around the world, including India, South Asia, West Africa, the Philippines and Mexico.
Sail Venture is led by lawyer-turned-venture capitalist Walter Schindler, who primarily invests in alternative-energy startup companies.
He has also invested in Irvine’s Oryxe Energy International Inc., a company that makes diesel fuel additives that cut down on engine emissions.
