Disinfection and Sanitization Trends Boost the Water Treatment Chemicals Market

The global Water Treatment Chemicals Market is experiencing robust growth, significantly driven by increasing emphasis on disinfection and sanitization across multiple end-use sectors. According to Fairfield Market Research, the market is projected to expand from US$ 41.7 billion in 2025 to US$ 59.1 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 5.1%. The heightened awareness of waterborne diseases, the post-pandemic focus on hygiene, and tightening global health regulations are reshaping how water is treated and safeguarded at every level.

𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/water-treatment-chemicals-market

Disinfection and sanitization chemicals—such as chlorine, chloramines, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, and ultraviolet-compatible agents—are playing a central role in ensuring microbial control in drinking water, industrial process water, and wastewater. As a result, chemical manufacturers are witnessing increased demand for high-performance, fast-acting, and eco-friendly formulations.

Why Disinfection and Sanitization Are Taking Center Stage

Water is a critical vector for numerous pathogens that can affect public health and industrial processes. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that contaminated drinking water is a major source of illnesses such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and hepatitis A, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. In this context, chemical disinfection remains the most effective and widely adopted method to control microbial contamination across municipal and industrial water systems.

Fairfield Market Research underscores that the increased emphasis on public health, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to stronger guidelines and funding for improved water treatment infrastructure—especially in developing regions. This trend is further enhanced by urbanization and growing residential awareness of water quality, which is pushing demand in both centralized and decentralized disinfection systems.

Municipal Sector: Leading the Shift

Municipal water treatment facilities continue to be the largest consumers of disinfection chemicals. Cities are expanding water supply networks and upgrading treatment infrastructure to provide safe, potable water to growing urban populations. Chlorination remains the most widely used technique, but there is a noticeable shift toward alternative disinfectants like chlorine dioxide, ozone, and UV-assisted chemical treatment, which offer improved performance with fewer harmful byproducts.

In countries such as India, Brazil, and South Africa, national and regional governments are investing in chemical-based water treatment systems to prevent disease outbreaks and improve water delivery in both urban and rural settings. These efforts are resulting in a steady increase in the use of disinfectants, biocides, and sanitizing agents.

Industrial Applications Gain Ground

Industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, power generation, electronics, and pulp & paper require water of extremely high microbial quality for their processes. Disinfection chemicals are used to prevent biofilm formation, control microbial growth in cooling systems, and ensure hygiene standards in water-intensive operations.

Fairfield Market Research notes that as quality standards become more stringent across industries, companies are adopting advanced disinfection chemicals that are non-residual, fast-acting, and compatible with modern water systems. This trend is especially evident in pharma and electronics sectors, where even minimal contamination can lead to production losses.

Rise in Residential Demand

Households are increasingly adopting chemical-based water purification methods, including chlorine tablets, iodine drops, and hydrogen peroxide-based solutions, especially in areas where centralized water treatment is inconsistent. The popularity of home water treatment systems with built-in chemical disinfection functions is growing rapidly in both urban and rural markets.

Residential use is further supported by growing awareness around personal health, leading to higher sales of point-of-use and point-of-entry purification systems that utilize sanitizing agents.

Emerging Trends in Disinfection Chemistry

Green and Eco-Friendly Disinfectants: With concerns about the environmental impact of traditional chlorine and bromine compounds, there is a growing demand for biodegradable and low-toxicity disinfectants. Companies are investing in the development of plant-based sanitizing agents and organic biocides that deliver efficacy with minimal side effects.

Smart Water Treatment Integration: Chemical disinfection is being increasingly integrated with real-time water monitoring systems that ensure precise dosing and improved treatment efficiency. This reduces chemical waste and operational costs while maintaining consistent microbial control.

Multi-Barrier Approaches: Combining chemical disinfectants with UV or membrane filtration technologies is becoming more common, particularly in hospitals, industrial clean rooms, and water-scarce regions where the reliability of treatment is paramount.

Regional Outlook

Asia Pacific: Strong growth driven by government infrastructure investments, rapid urbanization, and efforts to combat waterborne diseases. Countries like India and China are expanding municipal disinfection programs and promoting residential sanitation initiatives.

North America: Emphasis on sustainability and innovation. Regulatory compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and rising adoption of green disinfectants are shaping market dynamics in the U.S. and Canada.

Europe: Rigorous water quality regulations under the EU Water Framework Directive are boosting the adoption of eco-friendly and non-residual sanitizing agents. Germany and France lead in deploying advanced disinfection systems in both public and private sectors.

Competitive Landscape

The market for disinfection and sanitization chemicals is competitive and innovation-driven. Leading players are expanding their portfolios to include low-chlorine, bromine-free, and biodegradable formulations in response to regulatory changes and customer demand.

Recent developments include:

Solenis and Ecolab have both launched new disinfection product lines aimed at minimizing disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and enhancing user safety.

Kemira is expanding its range of biocides and antimicrobial solutions with a focus on applications in municipal and industrial wastewater systems.

Key companies in the segment include:

Ecolab

Kemira

Veolia

Solenis

SNF Group

Xylem

DuPont

BASF SE

SUEZ

Kurita Water Industries