Membrane Technology Provides Solutions For The Imminent Water Crisis In South Africa

The demand for membranes in South Africa is set to increase as effluent discharge policies are enforced more stringently and water supply pressures become more apparent. Although membrane technology currently requires high capital and operating expenditure, with improvements in technologies water membrane treatment costs are anticipated to continue declining, which will drive demand.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.environmental.frost.com), South African Membrane Market, finds that the market earned revenues of $37.5M in 2007 and estimates this to more than triple by 2014 to reach $143.9M.

"Increasingly industrial end users are using membrane technology to manage their wastewater streams," notes Frost & Sullivan Programme 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. Further, with water and wastewater regulations becoming more stringent, industrial companies are also looking towards wastewater recycling, which is driving the 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 notes. "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 saving in their business operations. Cost saving and value add are important selling points that membrane suppliers need to emphasise to potential customers.

About South African Membrane Market
South African Membrane Market is part of the Environmental Growth Partnership Services Programme, which also includes research in the following markets: South African Desalination Plant Market and South African Industrial Wastewater and Process Water Treatment Equipment Market. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available.

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's TEAM Research, Growth Consulting and Growth Team Membership™ empower clients to create a growth-focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost & Sullivan's Growth Partnership Services, visit http://www.frost.com.

SOURCE: South African Membrane Market