Uncover where we are today and where we are going
Setting the stage
Clean water is essential for people and planet
Today, more than 2 billion people live in water-stressed countries. This is in some regions due to climate changes and population growth. Additionally, nearly 2 billion people around the world use contaminated drinking water. We know that water is a very valuable resource, and it's more important than ever to use it wisely.
Responsible water consumption is required
Industries today make up more than 40 percent of global water consumption. That’s why water treatment is an incredibly important part of the world’s operations today. With significant industry growth expected by 2030, water treatment will become even more important over the next decade.
Every industry plays a role in clean water
About 90 percent of produced items in the world use water in their manufacturing process. Additionally, industry production makes up about 40 percent of the world’s water use, but only 50 percent of that water is being treated. But ultimately, the water needs to be left as it started: clean and ready for reuse or release.
6 challenges facing the water treatment industry
With rising demand for clean water around the globe, water treatment professionals face challenges every day with energy efficiency, regulation compliance, water quality, new technologies and sustainable innovations.
Energy efficiency
Water treatment plants are inherently energy-intensive facilities. The water treatment process, including pumping, filtration, aeration, and disinfection, requires massive amounts of electricity to function. In fact, the water sector is one of the largest energy consumers globally, attributing a significant portion of energy-related emissions from water treatment processes. That’s why it’s important that all water treatment plant systems have optimized equipment, process design and advanced technologies to ensure they run at the maximum efficiency, especially at a time when energy prices have been known to soar.
But this does not come easy; all infrastructure and processes need to be redeveloped to align with more sustainable approaches which often require disruptions in services, and of course, a significant investment. If successful, the benefits will lead to financial savings, a reduced carbon footprint and improved resource efficiency in the water sector.
Stricter regulations
Although a challenge across many industries, staying up to date with ever-evolving regulations and standards for water treatment is not only critical but also complex. On top of this, compliance with these regulations is not always simple. It requires:
- Upgrading or replacing aging equipment
- Implementing advanced processes that require new chemicals and approaches
- Using more advanced monitoring and reporting systems
This is especially difficult for smaller or less-funded facilities where these are all not only extremely time-consuming switches but also costly. Furthermore, strict regulations may lead to a slower pace of innovation and adaptation in the water treatment industry because compliance-focused approaches sometimes discourage experimentation and the adoption of new technologies or alternative treatment methods that could potentially be more efficient or environmentally friendly. This, coupled with the lengthy approval processes for new technologies or treatment approaches can hinder the industry's ability to keep up with emerging challenges and advancements.
Sustainable innovations
As with all industries, incorporating more sustainable solutions into water treatment brings its own challenges. The first is investment. Upfront investment is often a barrier to many water treatment facilities that are operating on limited budgets. The second is compatibility. With ongoing innovation and new approaches to sustainable processes, one of the biggest challenges water treatment faces is in capability with their existing infrastructure. The third is exchanging sustainable chemical alternatives. When swapping out a traditional fossil-based chemical with a sustainable one, it’s very rarely a one-to-one swap. Often, far more bio-based material is required to provide the same technical performance as its predecessor.
That said, sustainability plays a critical role in water treatment, and a handful of new alternatives are being explored today that will bring unique challenges and benefits to the water treatment industry.
Water quality
With all approaches to water treatment, there is the consistent challenge of ensuring and maintaining water quality; something that is of the upmost importance to this sector. But achieving high water quality does not come easy. Water doctors regularly face challenges with:
- Emerging contaminants. Water sources can contain various contaminants and pollutants that pose health risks. And to complicate matters, new contaminants are being found and treated all the time. This is especially concerning in industries that treat water for pharmaceuticals, personal care, and food.
- Aging infrastructure. Deteriorating pipes can lead to contamination, increased microbial growth, and the potential for cross-connections or contamination.
- Seasonal changes. Changes in temperature, rainfall, and runoff can impact the composition of source water, requiring adjustments in treatment processes to consistently produce safe water.
Water treatment professionals must possess in-depth knowledge and understanding of these issues to effectively identify, analyze, and address water quality challenges.
Recruitment & retention
Across all the challenges explored thus far, there is a common thread: expertise is required in the water treatment industry. This puts a strain on the industry with recruitment, talent, and retention challenges.
Adhering to complex regulatory frameworks requires well-trained professionals who can effectively navigate and understand the requirements. To keep up with new technologies, regulations, and sustainable developments, it’s important that water treatment professionals invest in ongoing training, education, and professional development to ensure they are updated with new contaminants, compliance rules, and industry advancements so that they can implement or manage them.
This is incredibly challenging in an industry that was already facing retention issues, with the UK, for example, reporting that they lost 21 percent on their headcount between 2019 and 2021. Additionally, more than 20 percent of the water industry’s skilled workforce is expected to retire in the next 10 years exacerbating the problem.
Sustainable innovations
As with all industries, incorporating more sustainable solutions into water treatment brings its own challenges.
The first is investment. Although not unique in the world of sustainability, it must be mentioned. Upfront investment is often a barrier to many water treatment facilities operating on limited budgets. The second is compatibility. With ongoing innovation and new approaches to sustainable processes, one of the biggest challenges water treatment faces is in capability with their existing infrastructure. The third is exchanging sustainable chemical alternatives. When swapping out a traditional fossil-based chemical with a sustainable one, it’s very rarely a one-to-one swap. Often, far more bio-based material is required to provide the same technical performance as its predecessor.
That said, sustainability plays a critical role in water treatment, and a handful of new alternatives are being explored today that will bring unique challenges and benefits to the water treatment industry.
Sustainable alternatives in water treatment
Today, the topic of sustainability is important in every industry. It’s no longer a trend, it’s a priority. But in water treatment, sustainable practices can help to make strides in the global agenda. New regulations are helping to drive sustainable change, but this happens at different rates, in different parts of the world. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t progress. Today, there are already new bio-based alternatives being used to replace traditional water treatment chemicals that are driving the industry forward.
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