Water Filters Market

Global Water Filters Market Size (2024 to 2032)

The size of the global water filters market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.6% from 2024 to 2032 and be worth USD 31.27 billion by 2032 from USD 16.16 billion in 2024.

Water filters are majorly used to purify water from dangerous substances, pathogens, microorganisms, and other dissolved solids and to make it suitable for drinking. Nan Yang Technology College in Singapore newly created a several-functional water filtration membrane. This latest water filter technology restored the normal polymer-based water filtration membranes with titanium dioxide high technology. According to the UN and the WHO, every 21 seconds a child and close to 3.5 million humans die annually in emerging countries owing to the diseases transmitted by water that are caused by drinking polluted water.

Current Scenario of the Global Water Filters Market

The global water filter market has been experiencing steady growth over the past few years, and this trend is likely to continue during the forecast period. The demand for water filters has always been high. It is expected to increase further due to the increasing pollution, aging infrastructure, and contaminants in the water sources. A water filter removes impurities from water along with bacteria, chlorine, and heavy metals. The water filters enhance the taste, odor, and water safety, making it suitable for drinking and utilization at home. The scenario in the developing economies is terrible owing to a lack of fresh water, an increase in pollution, and a quick escalation in population. For Instance, WHO says an estimated 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services. Hence, advancements in the prevalence of waterborne diseases have boosted the call for water filter trends worldwide. Diminishing the quality of water is a major health problem. It poses high health risks, causing different waterborne diseases. As per the estimations of the United Nations, an estimated 1.8 billion people drink water that is impure worldwide, which also results in a considerable number of deaths each year. The decreasing water quality is an output of dumping untreated waste, chemicals, pesticides, and garbage from industries, agriculture, and municipal corporations into ponds. 

MARKET DRIVERS

The growing awareness of waterborne diseases worldwide is propelling the growth of the water filters market.

The awareness among people of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and gastrointestinal infections has considerably in the recent past and is leading to the increasing demand for safe drinking water. As per the statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), unsafe drinking water causes 485,000 diarrheal deaths each year globally. With constant enhancements in lifestyle and rising health worries, safe drinking water has risen as a necessity. In developed and rising economies, a considerable amount of the population is still consuming polluted water and giving rise to water-borne diseases. However, people’s understanding of the importance of associating with consuming safe drinking water to avoid waterborne diseases is increasing and likely to result in the increasing demand for water filters.

The rising per capita income of consumers is contributing to the expansion of the global water filters market.

Consumers are earning the capacity to afford water filtration systems and are willing to invest to gain access to safe and clean drinking water with the growing disposable income, which is resulting in the increasing demand for water filters. For instance, the World Bank says that the global gross national income per capita rose from USD 10,251 in 2010 to USD 11,580 in 2020. In the recent past, it has been noticed that consumers have been prioritizing preventative healthcare measures and are willing to pay for products that can contribute to their well-being, including water filters, with the increasing purchasing power. Nevertheless, with rising per capita income in these regions, consumption of purified water is increasing considerably, which is leading to the double-digit CAGR of the water filters market.

The regulations of governments of various countries mandating water quality standards are fueling the growth rate of the global market.

Offering safe and pure drinking water has been one of the key objectives for many governments worldwide, and they have been taking numerous measures in terms of initiatives and regulations to fulfill these objectives. For instance, the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in the United States has given standards for water quality and mandates regular monitoring and testing in order to protect the health of the public. In the same way, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) by the European Union has established environmental objectives for surface water bodies and groundwater to gain promising ecological status. Due to the growing prevalence of waterborne diseases and contaminants, many governments have taken water quality management as a priority. For instance, the Indian government announced an initiative called the National Water Quality Monitoring Program (NWMP) to monitor and improve water quality. The Chinese government launched the Water Ten Plan with strict regulations with the objective of addressing increasing water pollution and ensuring the quality of drinking water.

Technological advancements in filtration technologies are enhancing the growth rate of the water filters market

The water purifiers based on UV & gravity sector are estimated to experience a reduction in the development of the water purifier business during the outlook period, as UV water purifiers are not very efficient and price-effective when compared to RO water purifiers that escalate their adoption in low-income people. Purifiers having Wi-Fi technology fit into them and filter pitchers have been introduced in the industry. The business players are estimated to introduce more innovative products & solutions to boost the increase in the call for potable water.

In addition to the above factors, the growing water waste from industrial and agricultural industries, increasing urbanization that is resulting in increased water pollution, aging water infrastructure requiring filtration solutions, and rapid expansion of the residential housing sector are contributing to the growth of the water filters market. The growing adoption of water filtration in commercial establishments, rising concerns about microplastics and pharmaceuticals in water, the availability of portable and convenient filtration devices and the growing instances of water scarcity and drought are promoting the demand for water filters and favoring the global market growth.

MARKET RESTRAINTS

The high cost of UV Water Filters is primarily hindering the growth of the global water filters market.

The cost barrier of UV filters is troubling many people worldwide to employ such water filtering solutions. UV water filters are priced comparatively higher than the other options, such as activated carbon or reverse osmosis systems. In countries with a vast population of lower-income households, the adoption of UV filters is very low due to these higher prices. For example, the average price of UV water filter systems has a range between USD 200 to USD 1000 and more and various factors such as brand, capacity and additional features are affecting the prices of these products. Along with the initial purchase cost, the UV water filtration systems require regular maintenance and give maintenance expenses over time. Considering the costs involved with UV filtration systems, consumers are hesitant to buy and maintain such products at home due to their affordability issues.

Poor awareness about water quality issues in some regions, reliability issues with water filter products, infrastructure challenges for installing filtration systems and skepticism about the effectiveness of water filters are further impeding the growth of the water filters market.

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

The increased introduction of smart water filters is transforming the productivity of the water, which is clean and safe drinking water, and these advanced technologies are propelling the water filter market growth opportunities. The emerging economies of the developing nations are escalating the water filter market opportunities. The enhanced level of connectivity and automation is gaining traction among the people, which is providing greater control, monitoring, and convenience, augmenting the market growth opportunities. For Instance, in May 2023, Cloud Water Filters announced the introduction of the flagship product, Cloud RO, which works as an under-sink reverse osmosis smart filter that helps consumers track water quality.   

MARKET CHALLENGES

The availability of high-quality tap water in most developed economies is a significant challenge in expanding the global water filter market. The presence of stringent regulations for drinking water regarding the safety and efficacy of the water and the approval of the water filters involves complexity and additional expenditure, which hinders market growth opportunities. The strict rules in most developed countries and advanced water treatment facilities ensure tap water's safety and efficacy, limiting the adoption of water filters among people and leading to restricted market growth. For Instance, the European Environment Agency and Environmental Protection Agency in the United States state mandate that public water systems provide safe and efficient drinking water under the Safe Drinking Act, which sets rigorous guidelines for water quality. These government initiatives for quality tap water are the primary challenge to the growth of the global water filter market.

REPORT COVERAGE

SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS

Global Water Filters Market Analysis By Type

The reverse osmosis segment had 38.5% of the worldwide market share in 2023 and the lead of the segment is anticipated to continue throughout the forecast period. The growth of the reverse osmosis segment is driven by the convenience, cost-effectiveness and the ability of reverse osmosis water filters to customize filtration solutions based on specific water quality needs. The adoption of reverse osmosis water filters is high in regions such as Asia and North America owing to the high levels of groundwater contamination.

The activated carbon filters segment is predicted to hold a considerable share of the global market during the forecast period due to factor such as increasing popularity of point-of-use filtration solutions for residential and commercial applications and growing concerns about chemical contamination in water sources.

Global Water Filters Market Analysis By Technology

The RO purifiers segment led the water filters market in 2023 and held 41.9% of the worldwide market share. The domination of the RO purifiers segment in the global market is expected to continue during the forecast period. The growing demand for RO purifiers from regions such as South Asia and the Middle East is majorly contributing to the expansion of the segment in the global market. Technological advancements such as smart RO purifiers with IoT capabilities and modular designs are further propelling the growth of the RO purifiers segment in the worldwide market.

The gravity purifiers segment is another major segment and captured a substantial share of the worldwide market in 2023 and predicted to grow at a healthy CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of the gravity purifiers segment is majorly attributed to the cost-effectiveness nature of these purifiers. The rising adoption of gravity purifiers among the urban households is also promoting the expansion of the gravity purifier segment.

Global Water Filters Market Analysis By Media Type

The single and dual phase segment is the leading segment and occupied 40.9% of the worldwide market share in 2023. The ability of providing versatile solutions suitable for both residential and commercial applications by the single and dual phase water filters is one of the major factors behind the domination of the single and dual phase segment in the global market. The rapid adoption of smart filtration technologies such as IoT-enabled filters that monitor water quality in real-time is further boosting the growth rate of the single and dual phase segment.

The multimedia and cartridge segments each accounted for a considerable share of the global market in 2023 and are predicted to perform well during the forecast period.

Global Water Filters Market Analysis By End-User

The municipal segment accounted for 45.9% of the global market share in 2023 and emerged as the dominating segment by end-user in the global market. Technological advancements and growing investments in water infrastructure projects such as desalination plants and wastewater treatment facilities are contributing to the growth of the municipal segment in the global market.

REGIONAL ANALYSIS

North America is leading with the dominant share of the water filter market.

The demand to filter drinking water is very crucial in today’s world, where almost 90% of Americans use water filters, which is an all-time high record in 2023. The US government takes measures to supply 90% of pure drinking water in public areas to ensure safety by properly managing the contaminants. Government authorities in the US pose stringent rules and regulations to promote purified water solely, which will eventually leverage the growth rate of the market.

Asia Pacific water filters market growth rate is inclined to showcase the highest CAGR by the end of 2032.

The launch of a high number of water filters at affordable prices with various technologies is subsequently attracting consumers that are propelling the market’s growth rate in Asia Pacific. India and China are the major countries contributing the largest share of the market.  These countries are highly populated, and the need to drink only filtered or purified water is growing at a higher rate, escalating the growth rate of the market. Increasing awareness among the public through social media posts and content influencers is additionally to fuel the growth rate of the market.

Europe is next to North America in ruling the highest share of the market.

European countries like UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, and France comprise in adoption of the most dynamic technologies in filtering the water. Penetration of the e-commerce platforms is another factor attributed to leveraging the growth rate of the market. Delivering the water filters through online services to the doorstep is an important factor to reach out the customers where the quick adoption of the online shopping is set to show up huge growth opportunities for the market in Europe.

The water filter market in the Middle East & Africa is to grow steadily during the forecast period 2024 to 2032.

The importance of providing quality water through various processes and adopting the changes to solve the water scarcity issues are highly prompting the market’s growth rate in this region. People seek high-quality water filters at affordable prices, and that is becoming the major aspect for the manufacturers to deliver the products according to their preferences. Government investments in various industries like agriculture and sanitation processes may surge the market’s growth rate in the Middle East and Africa.

Latin America's water filter market growth is likely to have prominent growth opportunities in the near future.

According to the survey, 87% of Brazilian people use safe and highly purified water, and it is important to drink only filtered water to stay healthy and safe from contaminants. The rising number of chronic diseases due to drinking non-purified water is ascribed to boosting the market’s growth rate. In undeveloped countries, the lack of proper sanitation in drinking water is escalating the number of water-borne diseases. The government authority's focus on supplying quality drinking water has escalated the water filter market growth rate in Latin America.

KEY PLAYERS IN THE GLOBAL WATER FILTERS MARKET

Companies playing a significant role in the global water filters market include Eaton Corporation (US), Suez Water Technologies & Solutions (France), Veolia (France), Dow Water & Process Solutions (US), Evo Qua Water Technologies (US), Mann-Hummel (Germany), Pall Corporation (US), Pentair PLC (UK) and Lydall Industrial Filtration (US).

RECENT HAPPENINGS IN THE MARKET

• In 2023, A.O. Smith introduced its innovative Home Connect RO Filtration System, which is incorporated with remote monitoring and control abilities.
• In 2023, GE Appliances incorporated Alexa voice control into their filtration systems. This initiative is introduced to provide the customer with hands-free operation.
• In July 2023, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) announced the launch of its Pureit Revito Series of water. These water purifiers are specially designed to save 70% of the water and enrich the purified water with essential minerals like calcium and magnesium.
• In January 2023, Water2, set up by UCL alums, announced the launch of its new product, Pod, an under-sink water filter. This filter uses activated carbon and silver ionization to filtrate tap water up to 0.1 microns, and the larger particles do not pass into the drinking water.   

DETAILED SEGMENTATION OF THE GLOBAL WATER FILTERS MARKET INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT

This research report on the global water filters market has been segmented and sub-segmented based on type, technology, media type, end-user and region.

By Type

• Reverse Osmosis
• Ceramic Filters
• Activated Carbon Filters
• UV Filters
• Water Distillation

By Technology

• Gravity Purifiers
• RO Purifiers
• UV Purifiers
• Sediment Filters
• Water Softener

By Media Type

• Single & Dual Phase 
• Multimedia
• Cartridge           

By End-User

• Municipal
• Industrial
  • Oil & Gas
  • Chemicals & Petrochemicals
  • Food & Beverages
  • Pharmaceuticals
• Domestic

By Region

• North America 
• Europe 
• Asia Pacific 
• Latin America 
• Middle East & Africa