For water treatment chemical manufacturers, the tighter the supply of freshwater resources becomes, the greater the market opportunities for water treatment chemicals. Bettina Blottko, Head of Lanxess’ Liquid Purification Technologies business unit, stated that due to freshwater scarcity, demand for wastewater purification and seawater desalination is steadily increasing. Water purification technologies are particularly crucial in meeting the needs of wastewater treatment and seawater desalination.
Beyond rising drinking water demand driven by urban population growth, water treatment chemicals also find markets in expanding sectors like chemicals, food, electronics, and batteries. According to Blottko’s data, the overall sales volume of ion exchange resins within water treatment chemicals is projected to grow at an annual rate of 5% through 2022. Demand for water treatment membranes will increase even faster, with the permeable membrane market experiencing robust annual growth of 11%.
Jennifer Bailey, Global Marketing Director for Solutech’s Pulp and Paper Water Business, also expressed strong optimism about the water treatment industry’s future. In global heavy industries, particularly in regions with scarce or poor-quality water resources, demand for water reuse and reduced water consumption is steadily increasing.
Tero Huovinen, spokesperson for Kemira, stated that water treatment chemicals will continue steady growth unaffected by economic fluctuations. Water scarcity presents both a threat and an opportunity.
Tighter Environmental Regulations as a Catalyst
Environmental regulations have consistently exerted significant influence on the water treatment chemicals industry, particularly in technological aspects. Recently, developing Asian nations have implemented stricter environmental regulations, presenting both challenges and opportunities for water treatment chemical producers.
Lanxess anticipates accelerated growth in the water treatment technology market over the next five years due to stricter environmental regulations. Population growth and increased industrial production in Asian developing nations will drive market expansion while consolidating suppliers. Long-term, environmental regulations will foster survival of the fittest within the ion exchange resin sector.
Kemira asserts that stricter environmental regulations will benefit the water treatment industry. Current EU urban wastewater treatment regulations lack sufficiently stringent limits for various pollutants, and Kemira advocates for tighter maximum thresholds for BOD, COD, TSS, and phosphorus. The company calls on EU and global institutions to further strengthen environmental regulations.
Digital Technologies Bring Benefits
For the water treatment industry, digital technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things are also having a significant and largely positive impact. Digital technologies can enhance the quality of water monitoring and improve the cost-effectiveness of water treatment. Huovinen stated: “Digitalization and advanced monitoring technologies can achieve 20-30% process efficiency gains in water treatment plants. Utilizing these new technologies without increasing treatment costs can improve visibility into key process parameters.”
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Blottko emphasized that efficient treatment and recycling methods are crucial for meeting future water demands. Smart technologies and customized products can help develop sustainable solutions for more effective water resource management in industrial and agricultural sectors. Through digitalization, Lanxess has established an efficient wastewater treatment method combining ion exchange resins with reverse osmosis membranes. Applied at a textile printing and dyeing plant in India, this approach has nearly achieved zero liquid discharge.