Water Treatment Chemicals Market is estimated to be valued at USD 46.11 Bn in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 72.46 Bn in 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.67% from 2025 to 2032.
Swift urbanization, population increase, and intensified industrial operations are propelling increasing demand for water treatment chemicals in municipal and industrial applications. The strict environmental regulations such as EPA effluent guidelines, zero-liquid discharge rule, and PFAS limitation are prompting utilities and industries to make use of innovative coagulants, biocides, corrosion inhibitors, and next-generation scale treatment chemicals. Technological advancements in chemical formulation and electronic dosing systems enhance the efficiency of treatment and enable sustainability goals. Despite shifting alternatives like membrane filtration, UV, and ozone systems, chemical solutions remain necessary due to their economical and versatile nature, particularly for the removal of complicated effluents or ultra-pure water.
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Stringent Environmental Regulations and Water Quality Standards |
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Increasing population, urbanization, and economic development have led to an increasing demand for freshwater supply to satisfy human needs and support industrial activities. Players operating in the water treatment industry use various methods of water treatment, in order to make water usable for drinking, cooking, industrial activities, irrigation, and other purposes. The particles removed during the water treatment process are suspended solids, fungi, viruses, bacteria, minerals, and algae.
The water treatment process involves chemical and physical methods. The chemicals used in the process are called water treatment chemicals. The water treatment method involves four processes including boiler water treatment, cooling water treatment, water purification, and wastewater effluent treatment. The market is projected to reach USD 49.0 Bn by the end of 2027, at a CAGR of 5.6% over the forecast period, owing to increasing demand for portable water.
Coagulation and flocculation are two separate processes, used in succession, to overcome the forces stabilising the suspended particles. While coagulation neutralises the charges on the particles, flocculation enables them to bind together, making them bigger, so that they can be more easily separated from the liquid are preferred for industrial and sewage wastewater treatment applications due to their high efficiency and effectiveness in wastewater treatment.
Coagulants are also used for treating drinking water by removing excess chlorine from the treated water. Strict government regulations have made it mandatory to treat industrial wastewater before discharging it into the environment. These regulations are expected to increase demand for water treatment chemicals in industrial wastewater treatment.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board of India's Environmental Protection Rules, 1986, the effluents released in inland surface water should have a pH value between 5.5 and 9.0, and the suspended solids content should be less than 100 mg/l.
Growth of the manufacturing sector, which includes the automobile industry, drugs & pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food processing, and others, across the globe has resulted in increasing demand for water treatment chemicals. This is owing to increasing water contamination due to wastes from manufacturing units.
For instance, according to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), in 2022 the market size of the manufacturing sector in India 51.23 lakh crore (USD 694.93 Bn) in the first quarter of FY22, as per the provisional estimates of gross domestic product for the first quarter of 2021-22.
Among applications, the Industrial segment has a 70.0% market share in the global water treatment chemical market. Water treatment chemicals are used in various end use industries such as oil, gas, pulp and paper, food, and beverages. Increasing demand from these industries and rising industrialization are driving the market for the industrial segment.
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North America accounted for the largest market share of around 30.00% in 2025, followed by Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa owing to increasing demand for water treatment chemicals from wastewater treatment plants. Players operating in the global water treatment chemicals market are adopting various growth strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, in order to strengthen their market presence.
The United States dominates the water treatment chemicals market due to the strict environmental regulations and massive investments in municipal and industrial water facilities. The emphasis of the country on minimizing pollutants like PFAS and heavy metals is driving the demand for high-end treatment chemicals, such as coagulants and biocides. Innovation and sustainability efforts by large chemical players also reinforce the market position.
China leads the Asia-Pacific region with accelerated industrialization, urbanization, and rising water pollution issues. Strong regulatory efforts by the government for clean water and wastewater treatment have propelled the demand for water treatment chemicals at a faster pace. China's vast chemical manufacturing base also ensures cost-effective production and supply, thus enabling competitive pricing in the international market.
Germany dominates the European market for advanced water treatment technologies and sustainability-focused leadership. The tough EU water quality regulations propel demand for high-performance specialty chemicals compliant with rigorous environmental standards. Germany's established chemical industry and commitment to innovation fuel its dominance in creating environmentally friendly water treatment technologies.
India's water treatment chemicals market is expanding at a fast pace, driven by surging water shortage and pollution concerns. Government policies focusing on safe drinking water and sewage management are increasing demand across municipal and industrial categories. Growing awareness of waterborne diseases is also promoting consumption of efficient treatment chemicals.
| Report Coverage | Details | ||
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| Base Year: | 2024 | Market Size in 2025: | USD 46.11 Bn |
| Historical Data for: | 2020 To 2024 | Forecast Period: | 2025 To 2032 |
| Forecast Period 2025 to 2032 CAGR: | 6.67% | 2032 Value Projection: | USD 72.46 Bn |
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Major players operating in the global water treatment chemicals market include BASF S.E., Suez S.A., Kemira OYJ, BWA Water Additives, Ecolab Inc., Cortec Corporation, DowDuPont Inc., Baker Huges Incorporated, Akzo Nobel N.V., and Solenis LLC. |
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About Author
Yash Doshi is a Senior Management Consultant. He has 12+ years of experience in conducting research and handling consulting projects across verticals in APAC, EMEA, and the Americas.
He brings strong acumen in helping chemical companies navigate complex challenges and identify growth opportunities. He has deep expertise across the chemicals value chain, including commodity, specialty and fine chemicals, plastics and polymers, and petrochemicals. Yash is a sought-after speaker at industry conferences and contributes to various publications on topics related commodity, specialty and fine chemicals, plastics and polymers, and petrochemicals.
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