The total French market for water treatment equipment and related services is estimated to be worth USD 22 billion. A stable economy and financial institutions, stronger European Union (E.U.) regulations and the increasing costs associated with polluting have played a major role in an expanding market for water treatment equipment and services. In addition, greater interest in complying with environmental regulations by national and local government officials has stimulated this market. All these factors should contribute to continued growth in 2008 and offer market opportunities in a number of areas.
Best Products/Services
Best prospects include construction, operations, maintenance and repairs of small-to- medium-sized water treatment plants; wastewater sludge treatment; installation and maintenance of stand-alone sewage treatment tanks; remote monitoring technology; and membranes and water filters. Non point source pollution management and water conservation including leak detection and reclamation are becoming of major importance.
Opportunities
Storm water Management
Urban development, environmental concerns and water quality have brought non point source water and rainwater management to the fore in France. Consequently, progressive storm water management policies have been implemented to mitigate the environmental impact of urban development. While the main focus has been placed on treating and disposing of rainwater for environmental reasons, residential applications have been used for many years. In addition, industry has recently discovered the benefits of this vital resource for its own processes that can decrease operating costs and strengthen bottom lines. This is driving the market for rainwater capture, storage and reutilization technologies and include green houses watering, commercial and industrial water cooling, water jet cutting, car washing and other ultra-pure, low mineral content water applications.
Small- and Medium-Sized Plants
In order to comply with EU directives, France will have to construct major water distribution and wastewater treatment facilities covering all of France. In most cases, all of France’s regions had to comply by 2006. These EU directives are expected to help stimulate a growing market over the next few years as the market shifts to the development of small and medium-sized wastewater and sewage plants capable of servicing communities of 10,000 inhabitants – equivalent or less, offering some of the most promising opportunities in the near future. This market is expected to continue to grow with a special emphasis on simple, flexible and low cost plants that conform to all European norms. However, due to the enormous outlays involved, many regions will be granted additional time to meet these higher standards. Moreover, an aging water and wastewater infrastructure will require billions of dollars in repairs, replacements and renovations of clean water and sewer lines over the next decade.
Wastewater Sludge Treatment
Wastewater sludge treatment has remained a hot topic in France. Currently, 30 percent of sludge is incinerated, 31 percent goes to landfills, and 39 percent is used as fertilizer. Innovative technologies will focus on volume reduction and conditioning. The French government continues to recommend recycling and fertilizing as the primary disposal method for wastewater sludge. However, this practice has met resistance from the general public due to health and safety concerns and from the agriculture industry for pollution liability concerns. The government has consequently, strengthened its resolve to improve recycling techniques (e.g., composting, dehydration) and broaden the range of applications (e.g., farming, landscaping, revegetation) for recycled sludge. Sludge treatment technologies will continue to be in big demand into the foreseeable future.
Stand-alone Sewage Treatment Systems
Currently there are 5.3 million non-municipal sewage treatment systems (4 million septic and stand-alone sewage treatment tanks) in France. According the French authorities over 90 percent of these systems do not conform to the French Water Agencies Directives (over half of the stand alone units do not comply with current or future environmental regulations). They will, therefore, need to be replaced or revamped. Approximately 200,000 septic tank units per year were expected to be installed by 2006. Managing and maintaining these installations has become a top priority for end-users. However, very few qualified companies are capable of providing this service. This is expected to continue to stimulate strong growth into the near future.
Remote Monitoring Technology
With the arrival of broadband networks, remote monitoring technology has become extremely prevalent. The industry is continuously restructuring to leverage these new and evolving technological capabilities. Consequently, water and wastewater operators are in constant search of equipment and instrumentation that can increase operation efficiency and decrease total cost of ownership. Further, remote monitoring technology will offer solutions to the increasing costs to comply with evolving storm water management policies. Market players will be looking for technology with broader applications, easy installation and greater flexibility and autonomy.
Analytical Instrumentation
The European Directive for water quality adopted in 2000, which requires all natural existing bodies of water to attain satisfactorily ecological state by 2015, is expected to drive the market for biological and toxic substances analytical instrumentation.
Filters, Membranes and Water Reclamation
Organic membranes for urban wastewater treatment and reclaimed water is an emerging market. A growing interest and acceptance in reclaimed water has been driving the market for disinfection technologies such as UV, ozone and chlorination as well as other membrane technologies including nano-filtration, micro-filtration, ultra-filtration and reverse osmosis. Membranes capable of treating wastewater discharged into sensitive ecological systems are also in high demand. This offers an important opportunity for U.S. companies, which are generally market leaders in this sector.
Resources
Union des Entreprises et Industries de l’Eau et de l’Environnement
The French Federation for the Water and Environmental Industries
Canalisateurs de France (French Waterline Constructors Association)
[http://www.canalisateurs.com]
SNITER (Syndicat National des Industries du Traitement des Eaux)
National Association for the Water Treatment Industry
IFEP (The French Institute for Storm water)
UAE (Union des Entreprises d’Affinage de l’Eau)
French Water Quality Association
[http://french-water.com/uae/uae.html]
U.S. Commercial Service Trade Specialist:
[Everett.Wakai@mail.doc.gov ] – Phone: 33-1 43 12 70 45
For data tables and additional information corresponding to this prospect please contact: Everett.Wakai@mail.doc.gov
Links to web sites outside the U.S. Government or the use of trade, firm, or corporation names within U.S. Commercial Service web sites are for the convenience of the user. Such links and use do not constitute an express or implied official endorsement or approval by the United States Department of Commerce of any private sector web site, or of the products or services of specifically identified companies or of any of the private entities that may have contributed to a U.S. Commercial Service web site.