EU WWTD drives water pollution monitoring market in Europe

These are the conclusions of market research conducted by Frost & Sullivan. In assessing the potential of the water pollution monitoring market within Europe, research manager Maria McFaul has forecast an increase in revenue from 294.3 million euros in 1998 to 412.4 million euros by 2005.

Automated monitoring will be in high demand, with on-line analysers and multi-parameter systems likely to be favoured. McFaul believes that the current product leaders – equipment that analyses pH, ORP, conductivity and DO – will be superseded by growth in the sales of monitoring equipment for BOD, COD, TOC and nutrient analysis. This will particularly be the case in Austria, Benelux, Germany, Scandinavia and Switzerland, according to the report.

Other regional differences have also been predicted. An increase in the industrial sector’s need for water pollution monitoring equipment is expected in countries where the municipal market is ‘mature’. Such countries include:

• Germany
• Denmark
• Switzerland
• Netherlands

Meanwhile, countries that have yet to upgrade wastewater treatment facilities fully will continue to experience growth in the municipal sector. These countries include:

• Spain
• Portugal
• Belgium
• Greece
• Ireland

Frost & Sullivan’s report also examines the potential for expansion of services offered by monitoring equipment companies, such as user training and product education seminars. It concludes that although price is an important factor in buyers’ decisions, it is not the primary concern. Product quality and customer service remain the key requirements.

McFaul expects that monitoring equipment companies achieving technological advances in the areas of instrument accuracy, durability, ease-of-use, maintenance, number of parameters and detection limits will attract considerable attention.

The Frost & Sullivan report (Report Code 3785) costs 3,950 Euros (£2,480).