DALLAS, TX, Oct. 18, 2013 -- According to the new research report, "Water Treatment Equipment to 2017," published by Freedonia Group, total demand for water treatment equipment in the United States is expected to grow 6.0 percent yearly through 2017, with gains expected in every major market.
Advances will be supported by increasing concerns about the health and environmental impacts of biological contaminants, chemicals and disinfection byproducts in supply water and wastewater, as well as by more stringent manufacturing requirements for process water. Resource extraction, commercial and residential, and ballast water treatment are expected to be among the fastest growing markets for water treatment equipment, while the larger municipal and manufacturing markets are projected to expand at a healthy, near average rate.
The resource extraction market is expected to show the most rapid gains among major markets through 2017, as the treatment requirements for produced water in oil and natural gas extraction continue to rise, and as water recycling and reuse increase to satisfy the needs of expanded hydraulic fracturing activities in the U.S. An expected rebound in mining output, especially for minerals, will also contribute to an increased need for water treatment equipment. In particular, rising demand will benefit conventional filtration systems, which are the most commonly used water treatment equipment in the resource extraction market. Expected new EPA regulations in hydraulic fracturing will also benefit this market in the long term.
The commercial and residential markets for water treatment equipment are expected to continue to recover from the declines seen during the 2007-2009 economic recession, with demand boosted by greater consumer interest in drinking water quality, increased consumer confidence and expanded commercial and residential construction activities. Point-of-entry membrane filtration, disinfection and de-ionization equipment are expected to benefit the most from rising demand. The small market for ballast water treatment is expected to be the fastest growing market overall, as U.S. ships will soon be required to have ballast water management systems, including membrane systems and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection equipment, installed onboard to prevent the spread of invasive marine and aquatic species between ecosystems.
The municipal market for water treatment equipment is expected to improve, experiencing healthy growth through 2017. Demand for membrane systems and disinfection equipment will benefit as the EPA implements new regulations that stipulate maximum allowable limits for disinfection byproducts, volatile organic compounds, per chlorates, and other potentially hazardous contaminants.
Expanded manufacturing output in response to the improving U.S. economy, as well as increasingly stringent manufacturing requirements, will support growth in demand for every major type of water treatment. The need for very high-quality process water in a number of applications will support greater demand for reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and disinfection equipment. Manufacturing water treatment equipment demand will also benefit from the recycling of wastewater.
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