Regulatory Environment Key Driver of Water Disinfection Equipment Demand

Global demand for water disinfection equipment is expected to grow at a robust pace through 2021, supported by regulations regarding water access, environmental damage, and water quality. In developing regions, greater investment in the expansion or improvement of water treatment infrastructure – for both potable water and wastewater – will drive gains. Burgeoning manufacturing markets will also provide some growth opportunities. In industrialized areas, regulations regarding disinfection byproducts and wastewater effluent quality will promote the use of nonchemical disinfection equipment over chemical disinfectants whenever possible.

Key Findings in the Global Water Disinfection Equipment Study:

UV Equipment Expected to See Especially Strong Growth

UV equipment is projected to show the strongest gains going forward. Its use will be supported by continued efforts to reduce chemical disinfectant use. In potable water treatment, while it cannot completely replace chemical disinfectants that are required for a residual disinfection effect, UV can be used to substantially reduce the amounts of chemicals needed. In manufacturing and other industrial processes, the presence of chemical disinfectants could be considered a contaminant, and UV can replace chemicals in these applications. UV may also be a better option than ozone generation equipment in many circumstances, as ozone is an unstable gas that degrades quickly and may not fully disinfect a supply of water. Additionally, UV equipment has steadily become more energy-efficient and affordable.

Municipal Market Will Drive Global Gains

Significant parts of populations in developing regions still lack consistent access to adequately treated water, and an even greater share lacks access to proper wastewater management systems. Efforts to improve access rates – particularly in rural areas – will support opportunities for growth in water disinfection equipment demand. In developed areas where access to municipal water treatment facilities is close to 100%, many areas are still served by aging or inadequate facilities. This is particularly true in parts of Europe, where efforts are underway to modernize and upgrade existing facilities.

Wastewater Treatment Increasing in Importance

Wastewater treatment will become an increasingly significant priority going forward. In some developing areas such as India, municipal wastewater regulations have been nearly nonexistent, contributing to significant pollution and public health issues that governments are rushing to address. In areas with significant wastewater management capabilities, the use of disinfection chemicals in water being discharged to the environment is coming under increased scrutiny, providing opportunities for UV and ozone generation systems. Rising levels wastewater recycling and reuse also supports the use of nonchemical disinfection systems to prevent contamination of the water supply being reused.

Study Coverage

This industry study presents historical demand data (2006, 2011, and 2016) and forecasts (2021) by product (chemical generation, UV, and ozone generation, and other), market (municipal, commercial and residential, manufacturing, and other), and region. The study also evaluates company market share and competitive analysis on industry participants including BWT, Danaher, Evoqua Water Technologies, Industrie De Nora, ProMinent, Solenis, SUEZ, and Xylem.