Report: Chemicals Remain the Favorite Method of Water Treatment
Issues such as pollution and depletion of water resources have come
under intense scrutiny in recent years, prompting numerous stringent
regulations to protect and recycle water. This has resulted in
chemicals remaining the favorite method of water treatment in North
America's industrial-water-treatment chemicals market.
On Oct. 8, Frost & Sullivan released "North American Industrial
Water Treatment Chemicals Market, which reveals that the market earned
$2.3 billion in 2006 and estimates revenues to reach $2.8 billion in
2013.
"The Clean Water Act gave EPA the authority to implement pollution
control programs by setting strict standards for wastewater discharged
from industries," said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst K. Deepan
Kannan. "This is expected to minimize the effect of effluent discharge
on the environment, while increasing the need for industrial water
treatment chemicals."
Despite the availability of more advanced treatment technologies,
water treatment chemicals stand out for their cost efficiency, Frost
& Sullivan stated. Sophisticated technologies such as ion exchange,
reverse osmosis, ultra filtration and ultraviolet-treatment systems
require huge capital for purchase and installation, while chemicals are
more economical.
"There also is a vast difference between the operation costs
involved in technologies and chemicals," Frost & Sullivan Research
Analyst Krithika Tyagarajan stated. "As usage of chemicals for
treatment of water incurs lesser financial burden, it seems to be the
most preferred method."
To maintain their price advantage, chemicals manufacturers will have
to stave off stiff competition from foreign participants from low-cost
countries such as China. Some of the main Chinese imports to the United
States include activated carbons, coagulants, flocculants and
ion-exchange resins, Frost & Sullivan stated. The availability of
these low-priced products places immense pressure on domestic
manufacturers to slash their prices, thereby narrowing their margins.