The global water treatment chemicals and technology market is set for substantial expansion in the coming decade, driven by intensifying global water scarcity, tightening environmental regulations, and growing industrial and municipal demand for clean, treated water. Valued at US$ 172.9 billion in 2024, the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2025 to 2035, reaching an estimated US$ 275.3 billion by 2035.
This growth reflects the critical role of water treatment solutions in ensuring safe water supplies for human consumption, industrial operations, and environmental sustainability.
Market Overview
Water treatment chemicals and technologies are essential for maintaining water quality and ensuring compliance with environmental and industrial standards. These include biocides, coagulants, corrosion inhibitors, disinfectants, flocculants, scale inhibitors, and advanced membrane filtration, ion exchange, and UV disinfection systems.
Together, these solutions help industries and municipalities manage water safely—removing impurities, reducing contaminants, and maintaining sustainable operations. As environmental pressures mount and water scarcity worsens, industries are investing heavily in efficient, automated, and sustainable water treatment systems.
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Key Market Drivers
1. Rising Global Water Scarcity
Water scarcity is a defining challenge of the 21st century. The United Nations projects that global water demand will exceed available supply by 40% by 2030, putting immense pressure on governments and industries to manage water resources responsibly.
Industrial operations alone account for nearly 20% of global freshwater withdrawals, pushing companies to adopt closed-loop systems, wastewater recycling, and zero-liquid discharge (ZLD) technologies. Municipal utilities, meanwhile, are expanding treatment infrastructure to support growing urban populations.
Countries such as India—through initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission—are investing in large-scale water treatment and distribution systems to provide clean water to millions of households. This surge in demand is expected to create robust opportunities for suppliers of treatment chemicals and technology providers across emerging economies.
2. Stringent Environmental Regulations and Compliance Mandates
Governments across the globe are tightening regulations to ensure water quality and promote sustainable resource management. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces the Clean Water Act, regulating over 65 toxic pollutants, while the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive mandates pollutant removal efficiencies of 90–95%.
Similarly, China’s Water Ten Plan requires nearly 70% of industrial wastewater to be treated before discharge, fueling demand for coagulants, flocculants, disinfectants, and membrane technologies. These compliance pressures are accelerating adoption of high-performance chemicals and smart monitoring technologies that ensure consistent results and data-driven optimization.
Non-compliance with water quality standards can result in severe penalties, making advanced treatment solutions a strategic priority for industries such as oil & gas, power generation, food processing, and chemicals.
Raw Water Treatment: A Core Application Area
Among application segments, raw water treatment remains the largest and most critical. This process involves removing suspended solids, microorganisms, and dissolved salts before the water is used in industrial, commercial, or municipal applications.
Industries like power generation, pharmaceuticals, and food & beverage heavily depend on high-quality water to prevent corrosion, scaling, and equipment failure. Raw water treatment not only ensures compliance but also optimizes operational efficiency and reduces maintenance costs.
As sustainability and resource conservation become priorities, advanced technologies—such as reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, and ion exchange—are increasingly used in pre-treatment processes.
Regional Insights
Asia Pacific Leads the Market
The Asia Pacific region dominates the global market, driven by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and population growth. Countries such as China and India are investing billions in wastewater treatment infrastructure and desalination projects.
China’s Water Ten Plan emphasizes industrial wastewater treatment, while Singapore’s NEWater initiative demonstrates how advanced membrane and UV disinfection technologies can supply up to 40% of the city-state’s water needs.
Australia’s reliance on desalination—particularly the Sydney Desalination Plant (250,000 m³/day)—also illustrates the region’s commitment to water security during periods of drought.
North America and Europe Maintain Strong Momentum
North America remains a mature yet growing market, supported by the EPA’s stringent water regulations and the region’s robust industrial base. Similarly, Europe continues to lead in sustainability-driven water treatment, propelled by progressive directives and strong public investment in water reuse and circular economy initiatives.
Key Industry Players
The global water treatment chemicals and technology market is moderately consolidated, with major players focusing on R&D, digitalization, and mergers to strengthen their portfolios. Leading companies include:
- Ecolab – A global leader in water treatment solutions and smart monitoring systems.
- Veolia Water Technologies – Pioneering zero-liquid discharge and desalination systems.
- Kemira, BASF SE, AkzoNobel, Dow Water & Process Solutions, SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions, Kurita Water Industries Ltd., Solenis, SNF Group, and DuPont Water Solutions.
These companies are actively expanding capacity and enhancing digital water management solutions. For example, Kemira’s 2025 investment in its Tarragona facility boosts regional coagulant production, while Ecolab’s 2024 acquisition of Barclay Water Management strengthens its foothold in industrial water safety and compliance analytics.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead to 2035, the global water treatment chemicals and technology market will continue evolving toward smarter, more sustainable, and automated systems. Integration of IoT-enabled monitoring, AI-driven predictive maintenance, and circular water reuse will define the next phase of growth.
As industries face mounting pressure to reduce environmental footprints and operate sustainably, investment in innovative treatment chemicals and advanced filtration technologies will surge.
Governments, industries, and technology innovators are collectively shaping a future where every drop counts—ensuring water quality, conservation, and resilience in an era of scarcity.
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