Frost: Membrane Technology Provides Solutions for Imminent Water Crisis in South Africa
December 8, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
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The demand for membranes in South Africa is set to increase, according to Frost & Sullivan, as effluent discharge policies are enforced more stringently and water supply pressures become more apparent.
With improvements in technologies, water membrane treatment costs are anticipated to continue declining, thereby driving demand.
Recent analysis from Frost & Sullivan of the South African membrane market found earned revenues of $37.5 million in 2007, with estimates it will more than triple by 2014.
"Increasingly, industrial end-users are using membrane technology to manage their wastewater streams," said Frost & Sullivan program manager David Winter.
"Both the capital and operating costs of membrane plants have decreased significantly in the last two decades."
South Africa's limited sources of surface water and changing weather patterns are driving up water prices, which is influencing industrial water users to treat their wastewater. With water and wastewater regulations becoming more stringent, analysts said industrial companies are also looking toward wastewater recycling, which is also driving demand for membrane technology.
"Although there has been a decline in the prices of membrane systems, the end-users still complain that the systems are too expensive," Winter said. "Besides high capital costs, membrane plants are expensive to maintain. On average, membrane systems have to be replaced every three to five years and also need to be cleaned on a regular basis to remove foulants."
End-users are more likely to adopt membrane technologies when they can see an absolute cost savings in their business operations. Analysts said cost and value are important selling points that membrane suppliers need to emphasize to potential customers.
Source: Frost & Sullivan.