Desalination plant flow control and treatment expenditures are now just 1.5 percent of the $340 billion flow control and treatment market. While the market as a whole will increase at 5.5 percent, growth in the desalination sector will be nearly twice as high, according to Air/Gas/Water/Fluid Treatment and Control: World Markets by McIlvaine Company.
Cumulative desalination treatment capacity will double by 2020:
| Year | Cumulative Capacity Million m3/day |
| 2005 | 40 |
| 2010 | 65 |
| 2015 | 100 |
| 2020 | 160 |
Flow control and treatment revenues will grow from $4 billion in 2013 to $9 billion a year by 2020. The report says the substantial revenue increases are a function of repairs and upgrades, as well as new capacity. When the installed base is growing so rapidly, there is a corresponding growth in repair parts and consumables.
Another reason the flow control and treatment revenues will grow rapidly is the increasing preference for reverse osmosis (RO) vs. thermal treatment. The filtration and pre-filtration steps represent a significant portion of the total expenditure when desalination is accomplished with RO.
There are substantial repair part revenues associated with the primary and energy recovery pumps. Valve part revenues are also significant. Upgrades to existing thermal systems will generate substantial revenues as well.
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