Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market Growing

In 1999, the world market for water and wastewater treatment chemicals was slightly less than $13 billion. By the year 2005, that number is expected to reach $20 billion. Treatment chemicals are those used to treat water for process use, cooling water, boiler water and drinking water.

According to McIlvaine Co., Northbrook, IL, the power industry will be the largest market segment, followed by municipal water treatment. Municipal wastewater is predicted to be third, with pulp and paper, refineries and chemicals occupying the following three ranking spots. Other industries requiring water and wastewater treatment chemicals include metal working, electronics, pharmaceuticals and mining.

Corrosion inhibitors are predicted to be the largest category of treatment chemicals, followed by organic flocculants, scale inhibitors, inorganic flocculants, oxidizers and biocides.

A number of forces are credited for the increase in the water and wastewater treatment chemical market. These forces include: consolidation, regulations, new purchasing entities, growth in developing countries and technology.

McIlvaine Co. has published a report, "Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals: World Market 2000-2005," that includes more than 100,000 market forecasts. More information about this report and others can be accessed online at www.mcilvainecompany.com.

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Avoiding scale, corrosion and microbiological growth — all of which diminish effective heat transfer — is the focus of any water treatment approach for water-contacted process heating and cooling equipment.