NEW YORK — Revenues of the world’s water-related businesses will rise from $522 billion in 2007 to nearly $1 trillion by 2020, with the highest growth expected in zero-liquid discharge, ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, drip irrigation, and metering/monitoring technologies, a new business research report says.

New York-based Lux Research, which provides strategic advice on emerging technologies to businesses and government, also predicts in its report that a world faced by water shortages will need a new “water cultivation” approach characterized by efficiency, reuse and source diversification.

The report, “Water Cultivation: The Path to Profit in Meeting Water Needs,” was recently summarized on a Business Wire article carried by Environmental Expert.com.

“The world will avert crisis by cultivating water as a durable asset rather than throwing it away as a consumable — creating growth opportunities in everything from oxidizing new contaminants to rehabilitating creaking infrastructure,” Michael LoCascio, senior analyst at Lux Research, was quoted in the article as saying.

Among other conclusions of the report, according to the article:

● Investors have been “flocking” to water. Of the $1.12 billion in venture capital funding of water businesses since 1998, 59 percent has been invested in just the past two years.

● Near-term growth opportunities in water-related businesses will occur in a few key areas: next-generation desalination, waste management, energy mitigation, infrastructure integrity, advanced oxidation, and water sourcing and transport.

The report, preparation of which included interviews with 66 water experts worldwide and analysis of all water financing transactions since 1998, includes market sizes and projections for 85 water-related business segments.

The report’s conclusions are similar to other recent assessments, such as that by technology company Siemens and Water Quality Association Executive Director Peter Censky.

To find more information about Lux Research, click here.

To read the full Environmental Expert.com article, click here.

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