Water Treatment Systems Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Installation (PoU, PoE), By Application (Commercial, Industrial), By Technology (Filtration Methods, RO Systems), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The global water treatment systems market size was estimated at USD 23.1 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.8% from 2023 to 2030. The growth of the market is fueled by an increasing need to reduce contamination and rising demand for virus-free products. Rising freshwater scarcity, reducing groundwater levels, and various government initiatives pertaining to water quality improvements are all likely to drive industry growth. The COVID-19 pandemic had a moderate effect on the industry owing to the disruptions in the water supply network globally. As a result of the water crisis, increased water pollution, and deaths from water-borne diseases, the demand for water treatment systems witnessed significant growth.

Growing population, strong economic growth, rising household formations, and low mortgage rates are expected to be the key factors driving the growth in residential construction. Through the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has set standards for the quality of drinking water supply, and along with its partners, the agency implements numerous financial and technical programs to safeguard drinking water quality. The Clean Water Act establishes the fundamental framework for controlling the discharge of pollutants into waters and for regulating surface water quality standards. Thus, growing emphasis on the quality of water will drive market growth in the U.S. The increasing levels of contamination have resulted in the rising adoption of water treatment systems, thereby boosting industry growth in the country.

The EPA is still carrying out administrative orders to ensure safe drinking water through public water systems. Moreover, the announcement of the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 in May 2021 by the U.S. government with funding of USD 35.0 million is expected to create growth opportunities for this market. The U.S. government is undertaking several initiatives to improve its public infrastructure. For instance, in June 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a USD 905.3 million investment in infrastructure development projects in the country through the discretionary grant program Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA). Thus, growing commercial projects in the country are expected to drive the demand for water treatment systems.

Installation Insights

The point-of-use installation segment dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of more than 59.9% in 2022. PoU systems are essential for treating water in underdeveloped areas as they are simple to use, inexpensive, require minimal maintenance, and are grid-independent. These systems are extremely useful in medical settings, particularly when dealing with patients having impaired immune systems. The market for point-of-use water treatment systems is anticipated to grow substantially over the forecast period as a result of various factors including rising water contamination, growing population, increasing awareness about the advantages of water treatment, and technological advancements in the water treatment sector.

Point-of-Entry (PoE) systems are often huge and robust and can last for many years without needing any significant maintenance. These systems are affordable, however, to extend their operating life, regular cleaning or maintenance is needed. PoE water treatment method has been widely used for many years in individual commercial operations, such as lodges, hotels, restaurants, schools, and other public facilities. The key benefits of PoE for small communities include cheaper & quicker installation, easier implementation, and simpler maintenance & operation. Moreover, to guarantee clean drinking water through public water systems, the EPA is putting out administrative orders, which will support the segment growth.

Technology Insights

The reverse osmosis (RO) systems segment dominated the market and accounted for the largest share of more than 25.9% of the overall revenue in 2022. Reverse osmosis can get rid of numerous types of suspended or dissolved bacterial and amoebic particles present in the water. A reverse osmosis system includes carbon and sediment filtration. In the RO system, carbon and sediment filters remove chlorine, odor, bad taste, debris, and dirt. The distillation systems segment also accounted for a significant revenue share in 2022. Distillation units are installed as point-of-use units at the faucet rather than being used to treat all the water entering the house as they only produce a small amount of treated water.

Point-of-use distillation systems clean water, minimize the number of toxic metals and get rid of some organic contaminants. Disinfection systems include the use of chlorine dioxide, chlorination, ozone, ultraviolet light, and chloramines. UV water disinfection technology uses ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 253.7 nanometers to disinfect bacteria, viruses, algae, and molds. This technology destroys microorganism DNA, rendering them dead or unable to multiply. Filtration is the process of removing suspended solids with the help of force and moving through the pores of a filter or a membrane. The size and quantity of the contaminants affect the filtration procedure. 3M, Calgon Carbon Corp., Panasonic, and DuPont are some of the manufacturers of filtration methods.

Application Insights

The commercial application segment is projected to register the fastest CAGR of 8.9% from 2023 to 2030. The water treatment needs in malls, offices, commercial spaces, restaurants, hotels, manufacturing plants, schools, laboratories, and other organizations with high-volume consumption of high-quality water are largely met by commercial water treatment systems. Growing health consciousness among young populations and society’s upper classes can be linked to the rising adoption of water purification systems. The probability of water-borne illnesses like cholera and cryptosporidiosis, among others, is reduced by access to clean drinking water. The public's awareness about health issues and the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle has increased noticeably with the advent of the information era. The adoption of water treatment technologies for preventing the spread of water-borne diseases is a major outcome of this awareness.

The residential application segment is estimated to register the fastest growth rate of 15.6% during the projected period. The product demand in the residential segment is anticipated to be driven by rising concerns about new contaminants and demand for high-quality drinking water. It is also anticipated to expand due to the demand for drinking water that has been treated to remove biodegradable organics, pathogenic bacteria, unpleasant smell, taste, and discoloration. Residential applications are a large consumer group in the market. Over the past years, the drinking water quality in developing regions of the world has witnessed high levels of contamination, primarily due to lax cleaning procedures and the percolation of unhealthy constituents into the water table.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of more than 35.7% in 2022. The growth can be attributed to the increased water pollution in the region. In addition, it is anticipated that inadequate access to clean drinking water supply in the region will also fuel the use of water treatment technologies over the forecast period. North America is characterized by the presence of major market players, such as 3M, Honeywell International Inc., DuPont, and Panasonic, with strong distribution channels. The rising spending capability of consumers and growing emphasis on water treatment in the region are expected to drive market growth over the forecast period.

The growing demand for housing in metropolitan areas, rising infrastructure development activities, and rapid modernization and repair of buildings to improve their energy efficiency are expected to contribute to the expansion of the construction sector in Europe. The building of commercial infrastructure like offices, hotels, restaurants, and recreational facilities is booming due to the region’s strong economic growth. Middle East & Africa is likely to grow at a steady CAGR over the forecast period. This region is witnessing significant growth in the hospitality and tourism sector. The rising tourism sector in the region is thus expected to increase investments in commercial places, such as shopping malls, hotels, cafes, and restaurants, which is anticipated to drive product demand over the forecast period.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The industry is extremely competitive due to the presence of both international and local players. Water treatment system manufacturers use a variety of strategies to increase market penetration and meet the dynamic technological demands of end-use industries, such as residential, commercial, and industrial. For instance, in March 2023, DuPont introduced PES ultrafiltration membranes and DuPont Multibore PRO. Customers who want to lower the distress of modules necessitated in water purification systems can utilize Multibore PRO as part of a multi-technology approach to municipal drinking water, desalination, or industrial water applications. Some prominent players in the global water treatment systems market include:

• 3M

• Honeywell International Inc.

• DuPont

• Panasonic

• Pentair plc

• BWT Aktiengesellschaft

• Culligan

• Watts Water Technologies Inc.

• Aquasana, Inc.

• Calgon Carbon Corp.

• Pure Aqua, Inc

• EcoWater Systems LLC

• Aquaphor

• FilterSmart

• WCC (Water Control Corp.)

Water Treatment Systems Market Report Scope

Global Water Treatment Systems Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the water treatment systems market report based on installation, technology, application, and region: 

• Installation Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

  • Point-of-Use (PoU)

  • Point-of-Entry (PoE)

• Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

  • Reverse Osmosis Systems

  • Distillation Systems

  • Disinfection Methods

  • Filtration Methods

  • Water Softeners

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

  • Residential

  • Commercial

  • Industrial

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • UK

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • Australia

    • South Korea

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE