Mon, 01/19/2015 - 00:00

ABU DHABI, UAE (19 January 2015)—The fast-growing market for water and wastewater treatment equipment in the GCC, currently estimated to be $2.2 billion and expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10.6 percent to reach $4 billion by 2020, is shifting toward sustainable business practices, wastewater treatment and recycling, according to a white paper released by Frost & Sullivan at the International Water Summit (IWS). IWS, along with the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) and the EcoWaste exhibition, opened Monday in Abu Dhabi and ran through Thursday. It is part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which ran from 17-24, and was expected to attract more than 32,000 people from 170 countries. Hosted by Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company Masdar, the week’s events addressed the interconnected challenges of energy and water security, climate risk and sustainable development. The white paper, “360 Degree Perspective on the GCC Water and Wastewater Treatment Market,” outlines the main drivers in the GCC water and wastewater market as water scarcity and security, growth of urban populations, and an expanding industrial sector. The report was prepared by Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting firm. Prepared exclusively for IWS delegates, it now is available on the IWS website at http://iwsabudhabi.com/portal/frost-and-sullivan-white-paper.aspx. “The focus of the water sector in the region is surely shifting towards sustainable practices, wastewater treatment and recycling, with several utilities and water agencies announcing noticeable projects indicating start of a technological turnaround for the region,” said Kshitij Nilkanth, program manager, Energy and Environment Practice, MENA, Frost & Sullivan. “Governments in the GCC have allocated approximately $100 billion towards implementing better water technologies and energy-efficient desalination.” Nilkanth also noted the importance of the water-energy nexus for tomorrow’s sustainable cities. “Going forward, ‘green’ will be replaced with ‘smart’ Concepts. Energy, city planning, and information and communication systems will be the key elements of a smart city. Masdar City in the UAE is one of the smartest cities in the region. Smart cities will be driven by increasing demand for water itself, aging system infrastructure, and a need among utilities to operate their systems much more efficiently.”