Brine Management Technology Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (SAL-PROC Process, Zero Discharge Desalination, Integrated Processes), By Application (Industrial, Commercial, Municipal), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 9.01 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.64%
Fastest Growing Segment	Industrial
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 13.25 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Brine Management Technology Market will grow from USD 9.01 Billion in 2025 to USD 13.25 Billion by 2031 at a 6.64% CAGR. Brine management technology encompasses industrial systems utilized to treat, recover, or dispose of concentrated saline wastewater generated by desalination plants and manufacturing. The market is fundamentally driven by escalating global water scarcity which necessitates expanded desalination capacity, alongside stringent environmental regulations mandating zero liquid discharge. Additionally, the economic viability of recovering valuable minerals like lithium from waste streams serves as a distinct financial catalyst. According to the International Desalination and Reuse Association, in 2024, the total global contracted desalination capacity reached at least 109.2 million cubic meters per day, underscoring the immense volume of saline byproduct requiring treatment.

However, the sector faces a significant impediment regarding the high energy intensity and operational costs associated with advanced concentration methods. This financial barrier often deters facilities from implementing complete brine treatment solutions, limiting broader market expansion despite regulatory pressures.

Key Market Drivers

The rapid expansion of global desalination infrastructure is a primary driver propelling the brine management technology market, creating a direct correlation between freshwater production and saline effluent generation. As water-stressed nations aggressively scale thermal and membrane-based capacities to ensure security, the volume of concentrated discharge requiring treatment has surged, necessitating systems that can handle higher loads while mitigating marine ecosystem impact. This operational scaling is evident in the Middle East; according to ACWA Power, April 2024, in the 'Annual Report 2023', the company's gross desalinated water capacity expanded by 1.4 million cubic meters per day compared to the previous year. Consequently, facility operators are increasingly integrating brine concentration units into the initial design of these large-scale projects to ensure compliance with discharge standards and manage the substantial byproduct volumes efficiently.

Simultaneously, the increasing commercial viability of mineral and salt recovery from brine is shifting the market narrative from waste mitigation to resource valorization. Technologies capable of extracting critical materials, particularly lithium, from geothermal and produced water brines are gaining traction as they offer a method to offset high treatment costs while securing supply chains for energy transition metals. This trend is substantiated by significant capital inflows; according to the International Energy Agency, May 2024, in the 'Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2024', investment spending by specialized lithium firms surged by 60% in 2023 despite broader market volatility. This resource-centric approach is equally critical for the oil and gas sector, which generates immense volumes of saline wastewater. According to the Texas Produced Water Consortium, in 2024, the Permian Basin alone generated approximately 12 million barrels of produced water per day, representing a massive untapped feedstock for mineral extraction and water treatment technologies.

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Key Market Challenges

The Global Brine Management Technology Market faces a substantial impediment regarding the high energy intensity and prohibitive operational costs associated with advanced treatment systems. Technologies required to achieve high recovery rates or zero liquid discharge, such as thermal evaporation and crystallization, demand significant inputs of electricity and heat. This inherent energy dependency translates into elevated operating expenditures that often outweigh the potential financial returns from mineral recovery. Consequently, industrial operators frequently delay or reject the implementation of complete brine treatment infrastructure, viewing these systems as financially unsustainable liabilities rather than value-adding assets.

This economic barrier is becoming increasingly acute as the volume of brine requiring treatment expands. The escalating scale of the issue is evidenced by recent industry growth metrics. According to the International Desalination and Reuse Association, in 2024, global installed desalination capacity has grown by 40% since 2020. This rapid increase in capacity implies a parallel surge in energy-intensive brine processing requirements, thereby compounding the aggregate operational costs for the sector and reinforcing the financial obstacles that restrict the broader adoption of brine management technologies.

Key Market Trends

The emergence of Minimal Liquid Discharge (MLD) strategies is rapidly gaining traction as industrial sectors seek to balance stringent environmental compliance with operational cost efficiency. Unlike traditional Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems that eliminate all liquid waste but require massive capital and energy expenditure, MLD approaches focus on recovering up to 95% of wastewater for reuse while significantly reducing the volume of brine requiring final disposal. This pragmatic shift is particularly evident in high-tech manufacturing industries, such as semiconductors and microelectronics, where massive volumes of ultra-pure water are essential, and efficient wastewater recycling is critical for business continuity. This surge in industrial adoption is quantified by recent financial performance in the sector; according to Gradiant, December 2024, in the report '2024: A Year in Review', the company secured over $800 million in new orders during the year, largely driven by the demand for advanced water recycling and wastewater treatment infrastructure from blue-chip industrial clients.

Simultaneously, the market is witnessing a decisive shift toward the utilization of renewable energy for sustainable brine concentration to mitigate the high energy intensity of treatment processes. Operators are increasingly integrating dedicated solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities directly into the design of desalination and brine management plants to decouple operational expenditures from volatile grid electricity prices and reduce carbon footprints. This integration allows for the economic feasibility of energy-intensive membrane and thermal concentration stages that are otherwise cost-prohibitive. A prime example of this trend is the deployment of hybrid energy systems in large-scale infrastructure; according to Gulf Construction, September 2024, in the article 'Jubail 3B water project enters commercial operations', the newly commissioned Jubail 3B facility integrates a 61 megawatt-peak (MWp) in-house solar power system to reduce reliance on the national grid for its energy-intensive water production and discharge operations.

Segmental Insights

The Industrial segment represents the fastest-growing category within the Global Brine Management Technology Market, driven primarily by stringent environmental mandates and the increasing adoption of Zero Liquid Discharge policies. Heavy industries, including chemicals, power generation, and mining, are compelled to manage high-salinity wastewater to comply with effluent limitations set by regulatory entities such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consequently, these sectors are prioritizing recovery systems to mitigate environmental impact and reclaim water for internal reuse. This regulatory pressure effectively accelerates the demand for brine treatment solutions across industrial operations globally.

Regional Insights

North America holds the leading position in the Global Brine Management Technology Market, primarily driven by rigorous environmental mandates and extensive industrial activity. The region’s leadership is anchored by the United States, where the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces strict effluent limitation guidelines, compelling industries such as oil and gas, mining, and power generation to adopt advanced treatment solutions. Furthermore, the rising prevalence of hydraulic fracturing has generated significant volumes of produced water, necessitating efficient disposal and reuse strategies. This regulatory pressure, combined with a growing emphasis on Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems to mitigate water scarcity, solidifies North America’s command of the market.

Recent Developments

• In November 2025, Energy Recovery announced that it had been awarded contracts valued at approximately $33 million to supply its pressure exchanger technology to multiple desalination projects in Saudi Arabia. These contracts involved the installation of energy recovery devices designed to optimize the efficiency of seawater reverse osmosis plants, which are significant generators of brine. The implemented technology was projected to support the production of over 1.5 million cubic meters of fresh water per day while substantially reducing the energy consumption and carbon emissions of the facilities. This development reflected the continued reliance on advanced hydraulic energy recovery solutions to manage the operational costs and environmental impact of large-scale brine processing infrastructure.
• In April 2025, Aquatech International secured a strategic growth investment from a leading alternative investment firm to accelerate the advancement of its process technologies. The funding was directed toward enhancing the company's capabilities in critical minerals recovery, particularly for lithium refining, as well as expanding its suite of desalination and zero liquid discharge solutions. This financial support enabled the organization to further develop its membrane manufacturing and digital service platforms, positioning it to better meet the rising global demand for sustainable resource extraction. The investment underscored the increasing market value of technologies that can efficiently extract minerals from complex brine waters while minimizing waste.
• In September 2024, Gradiant launched a new end-to-end water management solution, ProtiumSource, specifically designed to support the green hydrogen industry. This system integrated the company's proprietary counter-flow reverse osmosis technology to treat and recycle brine streams, thereby ensuring the delivery of high-purity, electrolyzer-ready water with a zero liquid discharge option. The launch addressed a critical hurdle in renewable energy production by minimizing the environmental footprint associated with water consumption and brine disposal. The technology was engineered to accept various feed sources, including seawater and brackish water, maximizing efficiency and reducing the capital requirements for hydrogen production facilities.
• In June 2024, Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions announced a strategic global collaboration with a carbon removal technology provider to integrate direct air capture systems with advanced water treatment capabilities. This partnership focused on utilizing brine treatment processes to recover freshwater from desalination waste streams while simultaneously capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. By deploying these integrated solutions, the companies aimed to ensure zero liquid discharge and create valuable by-products from saline waste. The initiative highlighted the growing importance of repurposing industrial brine management infrastructure to address dual challenges in climate change mitigation and water security across multiple regions.

Key Market Players

• Tetra Tech, Inc.
• General Electric Company
• Xylem Inc.
• Envirogen Technologies, Inc.
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Dow Inc.
• Pentair plc
• Gradiant Corporation
• KEMCO Systems, Inc.

By Type	By Application	By Region
SAL-PROC Process Zero Discharge Desalination Integrated Processes	Industrial Commercial Municipal	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Brine Management Technology Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Brine Management Technology Market , By Type:

• SAL-PROC Process
• Zero Discharge Desalination
• Integrated Processes

• Brine Management Technology Market , By Application:

• Industrial
• Commercial
• Municipal

• Brine Management Technology Market , By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE