| World Water Desalination to 2013 | | | | Membrane-based methods to outpace other |
| Continued rapid growth anticipated through 2013 | | | | techniques |
| The very word “desalination” usually | | | | Membrane-based technologies are growing more |
| triggers thoughts of oil-rich, water-poor countries | | | | rapidly than the overall fast-growing desalination |
| in the Middle East. And while it is true that several | | | | market. Membrane systems have been the |
| such countries -- Saudi Arabia, the United Arab | | | | technology of choice for brackish water |
| Emirates and Kuwait -- are among the largest | | | | desalination in the US, Europe and elsewhere. |
| markets for desalination, there are desalination | | | | Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) is expected |
| facilities in more than 100 countries. The continued | | | | to be one of the fastest growing niches in the |
| proliferation of desalination facilities has created a | | | | global desalination market for a number of key |
| global market of more than $8 billion, with | | | | reasons. First, the US, Spain, China, Australia and |
| continued rapid growth anticipated. | | | | several other countries are using more seawater |
| ( ) | | | | as the source water for desalination processes. |
| Thermal processes limited to energy-rich markets | | | | Most of the largest municipal facilities in these |
| The most traditional techniques for desalination | | | | countries will be using membrane-based |
| have involved thermal processes. The most | | | | techniques. Second, many countries in the Africa |
| common contemporary thermal processes, | | | | Mideast region -- such as Algeria, Israel and Saudi |
| multi-stage flash (MSF) distillation and | | | | Arabia-- are relying on membrane desalination to |
| multiple-effect distillation (MED), are highly reliable | | | | supply their growing water needs. RO, MED |
| and capable of producing remarkably pure water | | | | desalination to register fastest growth Overall, RO |
| from the saltiest seawater sources. However, | | | | (reverse osmosis) and MED techniques are |
| these techniques -- especially MSF -- consume | | | | expected to account for a large majority of new |
| large amounts of energy. These techniques tend | | | | capacity, and the products used in conjunction |
| to be economically viable only when water | | | | with these technologies are projected to register |
| shortages are most severe and when local | | | | the fastest growth. Technological improvements |
| energy supplies are abundant -- such as in Saudi | | | | to membranes extending their functional lives and |
| Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and a few other | | | | reducing their vulnerability to fouling will drive |
| countries in the region. Elsewhere, shortages of | | | | demand for RO systems, and for the |
| quality water can also be daunting. This is true in | | | | membranes, pretreatment filters, chemicals and |
| China, Spain, Australia and parts of the United | | | | other products used in these systems. Growth |
| States -- where populations have outgrown native | | | | for MED systems -- including evaporators, pumps |
| water supplies or local water supplies contain so | | | | and other products -- will be driven by improved |
| much salt and other dissolved solids that they are | | | | energy efficiency, especially when compared with |
| not fit for use. These difficulties are perhaps most | | | | MSF. Energy cost reductions via the use of |
| severe in Middle Eastern and North African nations | | | | energy recovery systems and plants designed to |
| not endowed with plentiful oil and gas reserves | | | | use power plant waste energy will also serve to |
| but beset with similarly arid conditions and lack of | | | | make desalination systems more economically |
| indigenous water supplies. | | | | feasible. |