Water resilience needs innovation and leadership

In a world where water scarcity and sustainability are at the forefront of global challenges, collaboration and innovation are more crucial than ever. Eline Suijlen, Water Industry Manager at Alfa Laval, shares her insights on the biggest opportunities in the water and wastewater sector, the evolving market landscape, and how industry leaders can drive positive change.

Where are the biggest opportunities for the water and wastewater industry?  

Collaboration is key. This is becoming more and more evident among all players in the wastewater industry. Because water is inherently intertwined with energy use and chemical demand, optimizing water consumption delivers far-reaching benefits.  

Companies like Alfa Laval do not deliver standard, one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, we work closely with industrial users to help them reduce their water footprint and overall water consumption. Every case is unique. In some situations, our experts focus on water recovery and reuse within or around the production plant; in others, the focus lies inside the factory itself, improving efficiency at process level.  

How do you expect the market to evolve?

The global water and wastewater treatment market is expected to continue growing strongly through the end of the decade and beyond. To put this into context, only seven percent of water is reused in Europe and half of the world’s wastewater is still not treated today, especially in the Global South. 

Water is essential for life, food production and economic prosperity. The increasing global population, leading to an increase demand on food, medicine and energy drives the need for a more sustainable use of our water resources. 

How can we help?

Alfa Laval brings decades of experience in the water and wastewater treatment industry. Our experts have led innovations and developed patented technologies across a wide range of applications, from sludge dewatering and thickening to desalination, biogas and beyond. 

Water is the currency of the planet. If it stops circulating, becomes too polluted, or is unevenly distributed, it will create geopolitical tensions and economic stress. Taking good care of water and wastewater is therefore essential.