Chicago, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global produced water treatment market was valued at US$ 8.56 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 14.58 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.08% during the forecast period 2025–2033.
The global produced water treatment market is currently undergoing a period of unprecedented expansion and redefinition. No longer viewed simply as a cost center for the oil and gas industry, produced water is emerging as a valuable resource, capable of alleviating water stress, yielding high-value minerals, and creating new revenue streams. Driven by a powerful combination of tightening environmental regulations, significant economic incentives, and rapid technological innovation, the market is attracting substantial investment and fostering a paradigm shift towards a circular economy. This comprehensive analysis, based on meticulously researched findings from 2024 and 2025, explores the multifaceted growth of this dynamic sector, offering critical insights for stakeholders poised to capitalize on this burgeoning opportunity.
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Key Findings in Produced Water Treatment Market
| Market Forecast (2033) | US$ 14.58 billion |
| CAGR | 6.08% |
| Largest Region (2024) | North America (38.24%) |
| By Application | Onshore (72%) |
| By Treatment | Physical Treatment (48%) |
| Top Drivers |
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| Top Trends |
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| Top Challenges |
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North America's Permian Basin Spearheads Global Produced Water Treatment Market Expansion
North America, especially the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico, stands as the epicenter of global produced water treatment. In 2024, the basin generated 20 million barrels per day (bpd) of produced water, projected to rise to 22.3 million bpd by 2025. Of this, the Delaware Basin will contribute 13.6 million bpd, and the Midland Basin 8.4 million bpd. Looking forward, production could reach 26 million bpd by 2030—intensifying the need for robust treatment infrastructure.
This immense water volume is catalyzing a shift from disposal to reuse in the North America produced water treatment market. In 2024, for the first time, over half of the 8 million bpd needed for Permian well completions came from recycled produced water. This figure is expected to hit over 80% by 2030, with New Mexico already sourcing 75% of water for well completions from recycled flows in 2023. Major investments underpin this transition: Select Water Solutions has earmarked $100–$125 million through 2025 for new produced water infrastructure, while Western Midstream Partners plans to invest $400–$450 million over two years in the Delaware Basin. Key projects include the 42-mile, 30-inch Pathfinder pipeline (800,000 bpd capacity), several regional water gathering facilities adding 280,000 bpd, and nine new saltwater disposal sites totaling 220,000 bpd.
Compelling Economics Propel the Market Toward Unprecedented Growth
Produced water treatment market’s rapid growth is fundamentally driven by economic advantages. The cost of reusing produced water now stands at just $0.15–$0.20 per barrel—cheaper than traditional disposal at $0.25–$1 per barrel. Add trucking costs, which can reach $2.50 per barrel, and economics strongly favor treatment and reuse, especially with pipeline transportation costing only about $0.30 per barrel.
Treatment costs range widely (from $0.10 to $8 per barrel) depending on the target—basic operational reuse or advanced treatment for external uses. As technology advances, these costs are expected to decline. For example, desalination pilots are targeting fresh water costs of $1.50–$1.75 per barrel, making beneficial reuse feasible in water-scarce regions. The U.S. fracking water treatment sub-market was valued at $165.6 million in 2024, highlighting investor confidence and continued growth in this specialized segment.
Regulatory Shifts and Government Funding Accelerate Produced Water Treatment Market Momentum
Growing regulatory momentum is turbocharging the market. In March 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to revise wastewater rules for the oil and gas sector, promoting sustainable reuse for vital applications like data center cooling and agriculture. At the state level, Texas voters approved the Texas Water Fund in late 2023, allocating $250 million specifically for innovative water projects, including produced water treatment. As of September 2025, Texas will establish clear regulations for beneficial reuse in non-agricultural and industrial settings, removing barriers to innovation and private capital.
New Mexico is following suit, with legislation in 2024 and 2025 proposed to authorize and fund produced water reuse pilot projects. These efforts signal a growing regional consensus on seeing produced water as a key resource, not a waste product.
Mineral Extraction Opens High-Value Resource Recovery
A transformative new direction within produced water treatment market is commercial mineral extraction. “Resource recovery” recasts produced water as a potential source of valuable materials. Lithium extraction leads this wave. In Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale, Gradiant's alkaLi project expects commercial lithium production in 2026, having achieved a 97% recovery rate and 99.5% lithium carbonate purity in trials. A multi-year offtake agreement with a major U.S. battery maker for up to 5,000 metric tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually has already been secured, directly linking water management to the EV supply chain.
Globally, the trend is evident: in Oman, Minerals Development Oman and Petroleum Development Oman are piloting projects to extract salt, bromine, and eventually lithium from produced water in Qarn Alam, with an initial investment exceeding $10 million. These projects point to a future where waste streams become new revenue sources, supporting both the energy transition and national economic goals.
Asia-Pacific’s Meteoric Rise and Global Diversification in the Produced Water Treatment Market
While North America dominates current market activity, the global produced water treatment landscape is shifting rapidly, with Asia-Pacific emerging as the fastest-growing region. The APAC water treatment equipment market was valued at $27.2 billion in 2024, driven in part by $7.4 billion in advanced membrane systems. The packaged treatment segment, critical for modular and remote deployment, is expected to reach $16 billion in 2025.
Regional growth is underpinned by aggressive energy exploration and production plans. India’s Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas intends to drill 60 new wells in FY2024, adding significantly to produced water volumes requiring treatment. Offshore investment is also ramping up: Egypt is investing $8.1 billion in offshore gas exploration for 35 wells by July 2025, and Nigeria received $5 billion in new Shell commitments for offshore oil production in December 2023. Such large-scale and long-term field developments will continuously fuel demand for efficient produced water treatment across Asia and beyond.
Technological Advancements Redefine the Market Landscape
Technology is transforming the produced water treatment market. Mobile treatment systems, designed for flexible, rapid deployment at remote or temporary sites, are forecast to grow from $2.41 billion in 2025 to $4.28 billion by 2030. SUEZ’s 2025 rollout of advanced mobile reverse osmosis units caters directly to this need for agile, on-demand solutions.
Beyond mobility, core treatment processes are evolving rapidly. Innovations like microbubble technology are boosting contaminant removal and recycling efficiency, offering faster and more robust water purification. Reverse osmosis (RO) remains a foundational approach, capable of removing up to 99.9% of contaminants—including for saline or brine-to-fresh conversions central to water-scarce and industrial reuse scenarios. The next big leap is digitalization and smart automation. Digital monitoring, IoT integration, and edge computing enable real-time management, driving smarter, more autonomous water networks. These advances promise to further streamline operations, enhance reliability, and optimize costs.
Europe: Regulation and Offshore Complexity Drive High-Value Treatment Demand
Europe’s produced water treatment market differs from volume-driven regions. Here, the focus is on tight regulation and the specialized requirements of offshore operations. The OSPAR Convention’s 30 mg/l discharge limit for oil in water is a core driver of treatment innovation. In the UK’s North Sea, 2.5 million bpd and Norway’s 2.1 million bpd require sophisticated management at high operational costs ($1.50–$3.00 per barrel), demanding efficiency and compliance.
Investment in the region centers on technological advancement and regulatory compliance, with up to £14 billion ($17.5 billion) slated for new UK offshore projects by 2025. Forward-looking efforts include a €5 million EU project to qualify new green treatment chemistries and looming PFAS regulations in 2025. Decommissioning also increases demand, with a €2.5 billion market in 2024 for specialized water handling. Operators are shifting to digital, with 65% planning to increase investment in digital monitoring by end-2025. Advanced offshore systems, like Equinor’s Johan Sverdrup field (400,000 bpd capacity), demonstrate high-tech leadership.
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A Transformative Outlook: The Future of the Global Produced Water Treatment Market
As of 2024–25, data points to a market in robust expansion—fueled by enormous produced water volumes, clear economic advantages of reuse, supportive regulation, and swift technological progress. The global narrative is shifting: where produced water was once a problematic byproduct, it is now recognized as a strategic resource and a linchpin for environmental stewardship.
The industry’s future lies in integration, innovation, and value creation. The evolution from a focus on disposal to a sophisticated framework encompassing reuse, mineral recovery, and zero-waste principles is well underway. For stakeholders—operators, technology providers, investors, and policymakers—the produced water treatment market offers vast and growing opportunity. Expansion is matched by deepening complexity and the imperative to combine efficiency, compliance, and sustainability.
Global Produced Water Treatment Market Major Players:
- Halliburton Company
- Enviro-Tech Systems
- Weatherford International
- NOV
- Mineral Technologies, Inc.
- Alderley plc
- Baker Hughes
- TechnipFMC plc
- Ovivo
- CETCO
- Schlumberger Limited
- Cannon Artes S.p.A.
- Veolia Environnement S.A.
- Other Prominent Players
Key Segmentation:
By Application
- Onshore
- Offshore
By Treatment
- Physical Treatment
- Chemical Treatment
- Biological Treatment
By Region
- North America
- Europe
- Asia Pacific
- Middle East
- Africa
- South America
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