Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market by Type (Corrosion Inhibitors, Coagulants and Flocculants), Source (Bio-based, Synthetic), End User (Residential, Municipal, and Industrial), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2029

The Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market is expected to reach $52.01 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2022 to 2029. The growth of this market is driven by rapid population growth & urbanization, stringent water treatment regulations, regulatory and sustainability mandates concerning the environment, the lack of freshwater resources, and the increasing prevalence of waterborne diseases. However, the high installation, maintenance, and operating costs of wastewater treatment plants restrain the growth of this market.

The growing demand for energy-efficient and advanced water treatment technologies is expected to create market growth opportunities. However, the high cost of upgrading and replacing aging water infrastructures is a major challenge for market growth.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market

The COVID-19 pandemic emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. By March 2020, COVID-19 had spread worldwide, with the WHO declaring the disease a global pandemic. Governments were compelled to impose nationwide lockdowns and quarantine restrictions to curb the spread of the infection. The lockdowns affected most sectors due to restrictions on manufacturing operations, travel, and the transportation of all commodities considered non-essential. Raw material and labor shortages further intensified the situation.

The COVID-19 pandemic also affected investments in the deployment of new water and wastewater treatment plants across micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises/businesses due to the decline in revenues. Many large installations downscaled or limited activities due to the decline in demand and government restrictions. The decline in demand from large industrial & commercial users significantly lowered water utility revenues. Operators, technology companies, contractors, chemical suppliers, and consultants across the water and wastewater treatment supply chain also bore heavy losses due to the reductions in demand.

Furthermore, operations were affected due to the increased risk of infection among utility staff. Operational continuity and flexibility are key to maintaining essential water and sanitation services. Hence, several government bodies identified people working in the water and sewerage industry as essential workers, enabling utilities to maintain operational continuity. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic moderately impacted the water and wastewater treatment chemicals market.

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Rapid Population Growth, Urbanization, and Stringent Water Treatment Regulations

Government regulations regarding the treatment and disposal of wastewater are becoming increasingly stringent. Numerous wastewater treatment chemical solutions, such as the removal of solid particles, pH adjustment, odor control, disinfection, foam prevention & removal, and sludge removal, are used to meet regulations and industry standards for chemical effluents and pollutants. The utilization of water and wastewater treatment chemicals is on the rise due to growing environmental concerns and the increasing prevalence of waterborne diseases, such as amoebiasis, giardiasis, and toxoplasmosis. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 80% of diseases worldwide are waterborne. According to the WHO, in up to 33% of India’s 600 districts, the water available is deemed unfit for drinking, with dangerous levels of fluoride, iron, salinity, and arsenic. About 65 million people suffer from fluorosis, a crippling disease caused by excess fluoride. The condition is commonly found in the Rajasthan state in northern India.

Moreover, according to Washington DC-based World Resources Institute’s World Resources Report, 70% of India’s water supply is polluted. The United Nations also ranked India’s water 120th among 122 nations in terms of the quality of water available for human consumption. In response to such concerns, governments of various countries are undertaking initiatives. For instance, in April 2019, The World Bank implemented the initiative ‘Wastewater: From Waste to Resource’ in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This initiative aims to increase the reclamation and utilization of wastewater, underscoring the potential public health and environmental benefits of smarter wastewater management. Global population growth, particularly in metropolitan areas, continues to be a key driver of industrial development. In the next 40 years, metropolitan areas, particularly developing regions, are expected to account for most global population expansion.

As populations become more centralized, urbanization increases the burden on water resources. Development driven by the increasing per capita water use boosts the water demand and increases the pressure on the local water supply. According to the United Nations World Water Development Report, nearly 6 billion people are anticipated to lack access to potable water by 2050 due to the increasing demand for freshwater, a reduction in water resources, and increasing water pollution, driven by dramatic population and economic growth.

Regulations governing wastewater treatment and disposal are becoming more stringent. The EU’s Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive’s primary goal is to safeguard the environment from the damaging impacts of wastewater discharges. Rivers, lakes, estuaries, transitional waters, coastal waters, and groundwater are all protected by the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), which has also established a framework for doing so. It strives to ensure that all bodies of surface water are in good chemical and ecological condition and show little evidence of the effects of human activity. As a result of rising industrialization, population growth, and urbanization, the demand for wastewater treatment is increasing, driving the growth of the global water and wastewater treatment chemicals market.

Key Findings in the Industrial Robots Market Study:

The Coagulants and Flocculants Segment Expected to Grow at Highest CAGR During Forecast Period

Based on type, the coagulants and flocculants segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The major factors attributed to the growth of this segment include the increased use of these chemicals in municipal and wastewater treatment in various industries such as power, oil & gas, chemical, and petrochemical. Coagulation and flocculation are mostly used in the tank of chemical products of oil and gas plants. The coagulation process fastens the sedimentation process. The coagulants are in the form of organic and inorganic compounds such as aluminum hydroxide chloride and aluminum sulfate. The reason for adding coagulants is to remove 90% of the suspended solid particles from the wastewater during treatment.

The Biobased Segment Expected to Grow at Highest CAGR During Forecast Period

Based on source, the biobased segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The rapid growth of the biobased segment is attributed to the benefits of biobased chemicals. Biobased products generally provide an alternative to conventional petroleum-derived products and include a diverse range of offerings such as lubricants, detergents, inks, fertilizers, and bioplastics.

The Industry Segment Expected to Grow at Highest CAGR During Forecast Period

Based on end user, in 2022, the industrial segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of this segment is attributed to the increasing industrialization & urbanization, declining freshwater resources, increasing energy demand across the globe, and a rising focus on water quality and public health.

Asia-Pacific to be the Fastest-growing Regional Market

In 2022, the Asia-Pacific market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The rapid growth of this region is attributed to the increasing government initiatives and expenditure on adopting smart solutions for public water distribution systems to provide seamless water supply to consumers. Furthermore, the increasing need to replace the age-old water infrastructure is expected to enable water managers in this region, to deploy smart solutions by replacing the existing systems for better water management. These factors are anticipated to drive the market growth during the forecast period.

Key Players

The report includes a competitive landscape based on an extensive assessment of the key strategies adopted by the leading market participants in the water and wastewater treatment market over the last four years. The key players profiled in this market are BASF SE (Germany), Ecolab Inc. (U.S.), Veolia Environnement SA (France), Thermax Limited (India), Kemira Oyj (Finland), The Dow Chemical Company (U.S.), Suez S.A. (France), Kurita Water Industries Ltd. (Japan), Calgon Carbon Corporation (Japan), Albemarle Corporation (U.S.), SNF (France), Organo Corporation (Japan), Chembond Chemicals Limited. (India), and LANXESS Group (Germany), K+S Aktiengesellschaft (Germany).

Scope of the Report

Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market, by Type

• Corrosion Inhibitors
• Coagulants and Flocculants
  • Organic Coagulants
  • Inorganic Coagulants
  • Flocculants
• Biocides and Disinfectants
  • Oxidizing
  • Non-oxidizing
  • Disinfectants
• Scale Inhibitors
  • Phosphonate
  • Carboxylates/Acrylic
  • Other Scale Inhibitors
• pH Adjusters and Softeners
• Anti-foaming Agents
• Odor Removal Agents
• Other Chemicals

Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market, by Source

• Bio-based
• Synthetic

Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market, by End User

• Residential
• Municipal
• Industrial
  • Power
  • Oil & Gas
  • Mining & Mineral Processing
  • Chemical & Fertilizers
  • Food & Beverage
  • Pulp & Paper
  • Pharmaceutical and Chemicals
  • Semiconductors
  • Other Industrial End Users

Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market, by Geography

• Asia-Pacific (APAC)
  • China
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Australia
  • Malaysia
  • Vietnam
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan
  • New Zealand
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
• Europe
  • Germany
  • U.K.
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • France
  • Poland
  • Switzerland
  • Sweden
  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • Rest of Europe (RoE)
• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Argentina
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • United Arab Emirates (UAE)
  • Kuwait
  • Iran
  • South Africa
  • Rest of the Middle East & Africa

Key Questions Answered in the Report: