United States Water & Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market By Chemical Type (Coagulant & Flocculant, Biocide & Disinfectant, Corrosion & Scale Inhibitor, pH Adjuster, Others), By End User (Oil & Gas, Pharmaceutical, Chemicals, FMCG, Others), By Region and Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 4.98 BIllion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.38%
Fastest Growing Segment	Coagulant & Flocculant
Largest Market	Midwest
Market Size (2031)	USD 6.82 BIllion

Market Overview

The United States Water & Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market will grow from USD 4.98 BIllion in 2025 to USD 6.82 BIllion by 2031 at a 5.38% CAGR. Water and wastewater treatment chemicals are specialized formulations such as coagulants, flocculants, and biocides employed to purify potable water and remediate industrial or municipal effluents. The primary drivers fostering market growth include stringent environmental regulations that enforce rigorous discharge standards and the expanding requirement for high quality water in power generation and manufacturing processes. Furthermore, the progressive deterioration of aging utility infrastructure necessitates higher dosages and more frequent chemical applications to maintain safety compliance, creating a sustained demand distinct from temporary technological adoption trends.

Despite these strong growth factors, the industry contends with substantial challenges regarding escalating operational expenses and funding limitations for infrastructure projects. These financial strains often force utilities to defer necessary upgrades or seek cost reduction measures that impact chemical procurement strategies. According to the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, in 2024, the average cost of wastewater services increased by 3.7 percent, reflecting the intensifying economic pressure on providers to manage inflationary costs while maintaining regulatory compliance.

Key Market Drivers

Strict compliance mandates for PFAS and emerging contaminants are fundamentally reshaping the United States water treatment landscape. The implementation of legally enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels by the Environmental Protection Agency compels utilities to adopt complex removal trains, necessitating enhanced chemical pretreatment with coagulants and the deployment of novel separation media. This regulatory shift forces operators to prioritize contaminant removal over simple disinfection, driving substantial recurring expenditures for advanced chemical regimes. According to MG+M The Law Firm, January 2025, in the 'Miscalculated Estimates' article, the U.S. EPA estimated that affected public water systems would incur an aggregate total of $1.5 billion in annual compliance costs to meet these rigorous new standards.

Simultaneously, the aging utility infrastructure throughout the country is intensifying the demand for specialized corrosion control technologies. As decades-old distribution networks degrade, utilities are required to increase the application of orthophosphates and pH-adjusting chemicals to prevent lead and copper leaching, thereby safeguarding public health and extending asset longevity. According to the American Water Works Association, June 2025, in the '2025 State of the Water Industry' report, aging infrastructure was identified as the second most pressing challenge by water professionals, highlighting the urgent reliance on chemical remediation to mitigate structural failures. This segment contributes to overall market stability; according to Kemira, in February 2025, the company reported solid volume growth in its water treatment division while generating a total adjusted revenue of EUR 2,904 million for the preceding fiscal year.

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Key Market Challenges

The challenge of escalating operational expenses and funding limitations for infrastructure projects significantly impedes the growth of the United States Water & Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market. As utilities face tightening budgets, they must prioritize essential maintenance and regulatory compliance over the adoption of advanced chemical treatments or system optimizations. This financial strain forces facility operators to defer capital improvements and seek immediate cost reductions, directly impacting procurement strategies for treatment formulations. Consequently, the demand for specialized chemical solutions often stagnates as buyers opt for lower-cost alternatives to manage cash flow.

This lack of adequate financial resources restricts the ability of water providers to modernize operations or increase chemical dosages for improved water quality. According to the American Water Works Association, in 2025, only 41 percent of utilities reported being very or fully able to cover their full cost of service through rates and fees. This substantial funding gap indicates that a majority of providers lack the financial flexibility to invest in treatment upgrades. When utilities cannot recover sufficient revenue, their purchasing power for chemical inventories is compromised, limiting the overall revenue potential of the market.

Key Market Trends

Utilities and industrial facilities are increasingly adopting IoT-enabled dosing pumps and sensors that automate chemical injection based on real-time water quality data, optimizing usage rates and reducing chemical waste. This integration of smart technologies allows operators to move away from manual, fixed-schedule dosing toward dynamic control strategies that adjust coagulant and disinfectant levels in response to fluctuating influent conditions. The shift is further accelerated by the need to minimize operational expenditures and ensure precise compliance with discharge permits. According to Smart Water Magazine, February 2025, in the 'Xylem closes a record-breaking 2024' article, Xylem reported a 7 percent increase in orders in the fourth quarter, driven by the growing demand for digitalization and automation of water treatment processes to ensure global water security.

As industrial water recycling initiatives grow, there is a rising trend in using specialized antiscalants, corrosion inhibitors, and dispersants formulated to handle the higher impurity loads found in closed-loop and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems. This expansion is driven by corporate sustainability goals and water scarcity challenges, compelling industries to maximize water recovery rather than relying on freshwater intake. Consequently, chemical suppliers are reformulating product lines to maintain system integrity under the aggressive conditions of high-salinity and concentrated waste streams. According to Solenis, April 2025, in the '2024 Sustainability Report', the company reported that it now derives 73 percent of its revenue from driving customers' sustainability initiatives, specifically through solutions that enable water reduction, reuse, and recycling.

Segmental Insights

The Coagulants and Flocculants segment represents the fastest expanding category within the United States water and wastewater treatment chemicals market, driven primarily by intensifying regulatory mandates regarding suspended solids. As the United States Environmental Protection Agency enforces stricter effluent limitation guidelines, municipal and industrial operators are increasingly prioritizing efficient particle separation technologies to ensure compliance. This heightened focus necessitates the extensive application of coagulating and flocculating agents to effectively aggregate fine contaminants for removal. Consequently, these chemicals have become essential for optimizing sedimentation and filtration processes, securing their position as the leading growth area in the domestic sector.

Regional Insights

The Midwest United States maintains a leading position in the water and wastewater treatment chemicals market due to its high concentration of manufacturing and heavy industries. This region encompasses a significant portion of the nation's automotive, food processing, and metal fabrication sectors, all of which require substantial chemical usage for process water and effluent treatment. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency enforces strict discharge regulations that compel these industrial facilities to utilize specific treatment solutions. Consequently, the consistent demand from both industrial operations and municipal utilities drives the high consumption of treatment chemicals across the Midwest.

Recent Developments

• In October 2025, Solenis opened a new Global Research Center in Wilmington, Delaware, to accelerate the development of sustainable water treatment and hygiene technologies. The 100,000-square-foot facility features advanced laboratories and pilot-scale testing capabilities designed to foster innovation in chemical product development. This expansion allows the company to enhance its pipeline of eco-friendly solutions for water-intensive industries, including pulp and paper, industrial water, and wastewater treatment. The investment underscores Solenis's commitment to advancing breakthrough research and providing technical support to its customer base across the United States and globally.
• In October 2025, Kemira completed the acquisition of Water Engineering, Inc., a privately-owned water treatment service provider headquartered in Nebraska. The transaction, valued at approximately $150 million, significantly expanded Kemira's presence in the United States industrial water treatment market. Water Engineering, Inc. specializes in boiler and cooling tower water treatment formulations and services for diverse sectors, including food and beverage, manufacturing, and healthcare. This strategic move strengthens Kemira's ability to offer tailored chemical solutions and deep service expertise to a broader range of industrial customers in the region.
• In August 2024, Nalco Water, a subsidiary of Ecolab, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Danieli to enhance industrial water treatment solutions for the metals industry. The collaboration combines Nalco Water's expertise in chemical formulations and services with Danieli's technological experience in metal production equipment. The partnership focuses on developing digitally enabled technologies to improve plant performance, reduce water consumption, and lower greenhouse gas emissions for steel manufacturers. This joint effort aims to deliver comprehensive water management strategies that support the sustainability and operational goals of heavy industry clients in the North American market.
• In July 2024, Kurita America and Solugen announced a collaboration to develop a new suite of carbon-negative water treatment products for the industrial market. This partnership aims to create high-performing, bio-based substitutes for traditional petroleum-derived additives, such as phosphorus, which are commonly used in water treatment formulations. The initiative focuses on leveraging Solugen's bio-manufacturing platform to produce sustainable chemistries that reduce the carbon footprint of water management processes while maintaining operational efficiency. This development addresses the growing demand for environmentally sustainable solutions in the United States water treatment sector.

Key Market Players

• Kemira America, Inc.
• Lonza America, Inc.
• Chemours Co.
• BASF Corporation
• Kurita America, Inc.
• Chemtreat Inc.
• Solenis LLC

By Chemical Type	By End User	By Region
Coagulant & Flocculant Biocide & Disinfectant Corrosion & Scale Inhibitor pH Adjuster Others	Oil & Gas Pharmaceutical Chemicals FMCG Others	Northeast Midwest South West

Report Scope:

In this report, the United States Water & Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• United States Water & Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market, By Chemical Type:

• Coagulant & Flocculant
• Biocide & Disinfectant
• Corrosion & Scale Inhibitor
• pH Adjuster
• Others

• United States Water & Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market, By End User:

• Oil & Gas
• Pharmaceutical
• Chemicals
• FMCG
• Others

• United States Water & Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market, By Region:

• Northeast
• Midwest
• South
• West