Tertiary Water and Wastewater Treatment Technologies Market by Type (Membrane Filtration, UV Radiation, Chlorination, Ozonization, Activated Carbon, and Ion Exchange), Application (Municipal and Industrial), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2031

According to the United Nations’ World Water Development Report (WWDR4), as the global demand for water increases, freshwater availability in many regions is likely to decrease because of climate change. Water is the driving force of nature; unfortunately, supplies are now running dry at an alarming rate. The world’s population continues to soar, but freshwater supplies have not increased in the same proportion.

Demographic pressures, the rate of economic development, urbanization, and pollution are all creating unprecedented pressure on the world’s water resources. According to the World Resources Institute, in August 2023, 25 countries were exposed to extremely high water stress, as they use over 80% of their renewable water supply for irrigation, livestock, industry, and domestic needs. The WRI data shows Bahrain, Cyprus, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, and Qatar are the most water-stressed countries. The water stress in these countries is mostly driven by low supply, paired with demand from domestic, agricultural, and industrial use. Furthermore, the Middle East and North Africa are the most water-stressed regions, where 83% of the population is exposed to extremely high water stress, and South Asia, where 74% of the population is exposed. There is a rapidly surging demand for water, and it is projected to overshoot the supply by 40% in the next 20 years.

Water treatment strategies help alleviate water scarcity across various industries in the residential and industrial sectors. Treated wastewater can be used for washing cars, irrigating landscapes, industrial processing, and flushing toilets. Water treatment technologies such as desalination are used for saline water. The treatment process aims at obtaining fresh drinking water from salty ocean waters or groundwater with high salt concentrations that make them unsuitable for human consumption. Thus, owing to the limited availability of water resources and the growing demand for potable water due to the increasing population and urbanization, the adoption of tertiary water and wastewater treatment technologies is expected to grow during the forecast period.

Based on Type, the Membrane Filtration Segment is Projected to Register the Highest CAGR During the Forecast Period

Based on type, the global tertiary water and wastewater treatment technologies market is segmented into membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, chlorination, ozonization, activated carbon, ion exchange, electrochemical water treatment technology, and other treatment technologies. The membrane filtration segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of this segment is mainly attributed to the rising health awareness among consumers, growing emphasis on reducing the usage of chemicals in water treatment, and effective purification and reduced cost of operations offered by membrane filtration technology.

Membrane filtration technology is used to separate and purify specific components from the rest of the mixture. Membranes are becoming increasingly popular in producing potable drinking water from the ground, surface, and seawater sources and the tertiary (advanced) treatment of wastewater and desalination. Over the last decade, membrane filtration has been among the most used technologies for water treatment. Different types of membranes allow the passage of solutes and other elements depending on their nature, ionic charge, or size. Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, microfiltration (MF) membranes, ultrafiltration (UF) membranes, and nanofiltration (NF) membranes are widely used in tertiary water and wastewater treatments.

Based on Application, the Industrial Application Segment is Projected to Register the Highest CAGR During the Forecast Period

Based on application, the global tertiary water and wastewater treatment technologies market is segmented into municipal and industrial. The industrial segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The rapid growth of this segment is mainly attributed to increasing industrialization and urbanization, declining freshwater resources, increasing energy demand across the globe, and a rising focus on water quality and public health. The increasing prevalence of water-borne diseases, growth in industrial demand, and stringent governmental regulations on treating industrial wastewater also support the growth of this market.

Asia-Pacific is Slated to Register the Highest CAGR During the Forecast Period

Based on geography, the global tertiary water and wastewater treatment technologies market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2024, Asia-Pacific is expected to register the highest CAGR of the tertiary water and wastewater treatment technologies market. Asia-Pacific’s high growth is attributed to the region’s rapid population growth and urbanization, rising demand for the advanced treatment of residential water, advancements in membrane technology, increased environmental deterioration, limited availability of water resources, and public sector organizations’ increasing investments in water infrastructure.