Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Market Size, Share, Industry, Forecast and outlook (2024-2031)

Global Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Market is Segmented By Product (Under-the-sink systems, Countertop systems, Faucet-mounted filters, Tabletop pitchers, Others), By Technology (Reverse osmosis systems, Ultrafiltration systems, Distillation systems, Disinfection methods, Filtration methods, Others), By Application (Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Healthcare, Educational institutes, Others), and by Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2024-2031

Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Market Overview

The "global point-of-use water treatment systems market" reached USD YY million in 2022 and is expected to reach USD YY million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of  YY% during the forecast period (2024-2031.

Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Market Summary

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A Point-of-Use (POU) water treatment system is installed in an individual source line ahead of the building's taps, faucets, or other dedicated outlets to dispense water for drinking, cooking, or bathing. POU systems are expected to capture whatever escapes the POE system. Although POU-filtered water can be delivered to several outlets, the low volume production (20-100 GPD) makes it best suited for low-volume applications. Some POU filters survive only 3-6 months, while others last up to a year or more, depending on the size of the unit. Some of the most common examples of POU systems include under-counter and countertop reverse osmosis systems and basic sediment and carbon faucet filters.

While most of these filters claim to produce drinking water, only reverse osmosis systems will deliver the highest quality water suitable for drinking. Only RO systems use advanced hyper-filtration membrane technology to remove up to 99% of water contamination and produce bottled quality drinking water. The market has several options to provide point-of-use water purification; however, countertops and under-the-sink are particularly well suited.

Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Market Trends

The growing scarcity of drinking water in developing countries leads to the growth of the global point-of-use water treatment systems market

Scarcity of drinking water in developing countries

While practically everyone in the developed countries has access to improved drinking water, more than a third of people in the least developed countries do not. Pathogens contaminate surface and groundwater as a result of poor sanitation and hygiene. Most drinking water-related issues in developing countries are due to pathogens from poor sanitation, resulting in infection and diarrhea. One cause is that these communities often do not have access to centralized water treatment facilities.

Despite the availability of many modern water treatment technologies, the technologies used in low-cost POU treatment systems are mostly established and fundamental to removing waterborne pathogens. Flocculation and coagulation, filtration, and disinfection are the most common technologies. Flocculation and coagulation decrease turbidity from the water, reducing the bacteria's supporting structure. Filtration removes microorganisms through size exclusion, which means bacteria larger than the filter's pore size are maintained in the system. Point-of-use technologies have been proposed to meet the Millennium Development Goal for safe water.

Several organizations today make a difference in the global fight for clean water. Organizations such as Water.org, Rotary International, and Charity Water install POU water filtration systems in many rural areas throughout Asia, Latin America, and Africa. More people now have access to clean, healthy drinking water at the local level through these philanthropic efforts instead of villagers walking miles searching for it.

Strignent ragulations on the use of POU systems

POU treatment delivers treated water to a single faucet, decreasing pollutants in drinking water solely at that tap and protecting public health from contaminant intake and exposure. Sections 116552 and 116380 of the California Health and Safety Code deal with POU treatment by public water systems. The State Water Resources Control Board approved regulations on January 22, 2019, allowing public water systems to employ POE and POU treatment instead of centralized treatment by amending Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, commencing with section 64417.

In February 2019, the State Water Resources Control Board submitted the adopted regulations to the Office of Administrative Law for review and approval. In March 2019, the Secretary of State signed the state regulations, which became influential. The state law applies to public water systems of fifteen service connections or more and limits the use of POU treatment to public water systems of fewer than 200 service connections and limits the period of use to three years or until funding for centralized treatment is available.

Each POU must be independently certified following an American National Standard Institute standard that applies to the specific proposed POU type and adequately addresses a California drinking water standard. The State Board must approve it upon determining that the proposed POU unit design, construction, treatment performance, and field or pilot test results can reliably produce water in compliance with California drinking water standards under the local expected influent water quality and flow conditions.

COVID-19 Impact on Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Market Growth

The global point-of-use water treatment systems market growth has uplifted during COVID-19. Many ancient buildings with antiquated pipe systems and a higher risk of Legionella contamination are being repurposed as field hospitals to care for COVID-19 patients, who have a higher mortality rate when infected with Legionella as hospital inpatients. Many buildings worldwide, including hotels, recreational centers, public buildings, schools, swimming pools, and others, have been temporarily closed and a high degree of water stagnation is expected.

In addition, particular attention is given to the water distribution systems of field hospitals and buildings that have been repurposed as healthcare facilities to treat COVID-19 patients to minimize the risk of coinfections. Therefore, international and local guidelines have been published to help manage the water distribution system correctly and reduce the risk of the growth of waterborne pathogens during stagnation periods. Besides flushing and maintaining the required temperatures for hot and cold water, chemical continuous or shock disinfection, the short-term installation of Point-of-Use Water Filters can provide an immediate and efficient physical barrier against waterborne bacteria and fungi.

Safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services (WASH) are essential for protecting human health during infectious disease outbreaks, including the current COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary impacts, which could include supply chain disruptions or inability to pay bills, negatively impact the quality of water and sanitation services. The ability of affected households to pay for WASH services and products (point-of-use water treatment) and the ability of workplaces, schools, and other public spaces are expected to be effective in following hygiene protocols when they re-open.

Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Market Segment and Shares Analysis

The global point-of-use water treatment systems market is segmented based on product, technology, application, and region.

The need for effective technologies for the removal of radium, gross alpha, uranium, beta particle, and photon activity will boost the demand for reverse osmosis

Based on material, the global point-of-use water treatment systems market is segmented into steel, composite, and others.

Reverse osmosis is a POU system installed under the kitchen sink to treat water for cooking and drinking purposes. Reverse Osmosis (R0) systems are placed underneath the sink and store purified water to be readily available at all times. It uses a designated drinking water faucet to deliver high-quality purified water. RO systems are low-maintenance systems that only require annual filter changes and are designed to provide pure water for a lifetime.

For decades, reverse osmosis has been a key player in the point-of-use and point-of-entry water quality improvement market. Natural osmosis results from the fluid passage from a solution with a low concentration to a higher concentration until equilibrium is achieved. Reversing this process, RO uses pressure from the influent water supply or a booster pump to overcome the natural osmosis process and force the opposite transition of high-concentrate solution to low concentration.

EPA has identified Point-of-use reverse osmosis as a Small System Compliance Technology for radium, gross alpha, uranium, and beta particle and photon activity removal for systems serving up to 10,000 customers. POU reverse osmosis units can reduce gross alpha particle activity by inorganic chemicals, microbial contaminants, metals, minerals, and some organic chemicals. In certain systems, POU units may be more cost-effective for very small communities that do not have the financial capacity to build a centralized treatment facility.

Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Market Geographical Analysis

Rising concerns regarding the water quality in residential and non-residential places are boosting the market in North America

Water quality may be harmed due to aging infrastructure in the U.S. water distribution systems and the likelihood of industrial spills or main breaks. Cost-effective POU systems can provide the final barrier to safe drinking water. In the U.S., water quality standards have been formed to address all types of water pollution. The US Environmental Protection Agency set maximum contamination levels to define primary drinking water standards. 

Existing Public Water Suppliers may consider installing POU in their customers' homes to meet safe water standards. Various schools have also announced installing POU systems with rising concerns regarding water quality. In 2023, The Wausau School District announced installing water filtration systems in district schools that use water from Wausau. It comes after the city reported elevated levels of PFAS in all of its wells. The district is in process of leasing point-of-use water systems that will be installed on the drinking fountains in each of their affected schools. The filtration systems will remain until the new water treatment plant opens this summer.

Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Companies and Competitive Landscape

The global point-of-use water treatment systems are moderately competitive and contain several local and global brands. Major players in the market include Chicago Faucet, A.O Smith Corporation, Uniliver PLC, Panasonic Corporation, 3M, Pentair, LG Electronics, Philips, EcoWater systems, and Culligan International, among others.

The players in the market are known to incorporate numerous market strategies to achieve growth in the global point-of-use water treatment systems market; these include product launches, acquisitions, and collaborations.

Chicago Faucet

Overview: The Chicago Faucet Company is a subsidiary of the Geberit Group, a European market leader and provider of sanitary technology. The Chicago Faucet Company was formed in 1901 and is located in Des Plaines, Illinois. The company offers commercial and residential products for commercial plumbing faucets and fittings in the U.S. It manufactures a complete range of products for schools, hospitals, office buildings, laboratories, restaurants, and other public buildings.

Product Portfolio: BioArmor provides secondary water treatment at a handwashing sink. The product can be easily installed between the water lines and the faucet for attacking pathogens using UV-C light to penetrate cells and render them microbiologically inactive.

Key Development: In 2021, The new point-of-use water treatment system was launched by Chicago Faucets, which adds a secondary defense to assist in building water disinfection. Chicago Faucets BioArmor helps reduce microorganisms such as Legionella in building water systems.

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• To visualize the global point-of-use water treatment systems market segmentation by product, technology, application, and region and understand key commercial assets and players.
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• Excel data sheet with numerous points of point-of-use water treatment systems market-level with four segments.
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The global point-of-use water treatment systems market report would provide approximately 61 tables, 60 figures, and almost 180 pages.