More developed markets will see advances in demand due to initiatives which focus on improving drinking water quality, reducing wastewater discharge and increasing wastewater treatment and reutilization rates. These efforts will boost demand for products such as advanced membrane systems, disinfection equipment and specialty chemicals used in industrial wastewater treatment.

In the least developed parts of Asia and Africa, market gains will be among the fastest in the world, yet several hundred million people will still be left without access to safe water or even minimal sanitation facilities. In the large Middle Eastern market, gains will be prompted by continued expansion of desalination capacity in the region.

The expansion of desalination will boost demand for evaporators and membrane systems, but will limit opportunities for chemicals and other water treatment products which are not used as much for desalinated water, which usually has very low levels of dissolved solids.