Water Treatment: Municipal & Industrial Ozone Applications Lead the Ozone Generator Market, Tackling PFAS and Pharmaceutical Residues
In 2026, the global ozone generator market is experiencing a clear structural shift—while household ozone air purifiers face tightening regulations and safety controversies, ozone applications in water treatment (municipal, industrial, and advanced oxidation processes/AOP) have emerged as the largest and fastest-growing segment. Driven by worsening water pollution, stricter environmental standards, and the urgent need to eliminate "forever chemicals" and pharmaceutical residues, ozone machine for water treatment has become an irreplaceable core technology for governments, industrial enterprises, and water treatment facilities worldwide.
Unlike traditional chlorination or filtration methods that struggle to break down persistent contaminants, ozone—especially when combined with advanced oxidation processes (AOP)—delivers unmatched efficiency in removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pharmaceutical residues, pesticides, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and 1,4-dioxane. These emerging contaminants, often referred to as "micropollutants," have been detected in water sources globally, posing long-term risks to human health and aquatic ecosystems, and ozone machine based AOP is currently the most effective solution recognized by the industry.
Municipal Water Treatment: A Key Driver of Ozone Demand
Municipal water treatment has become a key driver of ozone demand, as cities around the world race to upgrade their water infrastructure to meet stricter drinking water and wastewater discharge standards. Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are increasingly adopting industrial ozone generators integrated with AOP systems to treat landfill leachate and tertiary effluent, targeting PFAS and pharmaceutical residues that traditional treatment processes fail to remove. For example, ozone foam fractionation—a specialized ozone application—has proven effective in removing more than 90% of long-chain PFAS from landfill leachate, while minimizing waste production and reducing disposal costs significantly. In drinking water treatment, ozone is widely used to replace chlorine, eliminating harmful disinfection byproducts (DBPs) while neutralizing taste and odor compounds like geosmin and MIB, ensuring safer and higher-quality drinking water for communities.
Industrial Water Treatment: High-Demand Applications Across Sectors
The industrial sector is another major growth engine for ozone water treatment, with high-demand applications across pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, food and beverage, electronics, and textile manufacturing. Industrial wastewater—often loaded with high concentrations of persistent organic pollutants, pharmaceutical residues, and toxic chemicals—requires robust treatment solutions, and industrial ozone generators paired with AOP systems excel in this area. Ozone’s ability to generate hydroxyl radicals (·OH) through catalytic oxidation enables the breakdown of even the most stubborn contaminants, such as pharmaceutical byproducts and industrial solvents, without producing secondary pollution. For instance, petrochemical plants and pharmaceutical factories are using ozone-AOP combinations (such as ozone + BAF or ozone + activated carbon) to reduce COD levels by 40% or more, ensuring compliance with strict discharge regulations and protecting local water bodies. In the electronics industry, high-concentration ozone water from specialized ozone machine for water treatment is also used for semiconductor cleaning, replacing chemical solvents to improve product yield while reducing environmental impact.
Ozone + AOP: The Gold Standard for PFAS and Pharmaceutical Residue Removal
Advanced oxidation processes (AOP) paired with ozone from high-quality ozone machine have become the industry’s gold standard for tackling PFAS and pharmaceutical residues, addressing the limitations of standalone ozone treatment. By combining ozone with hydrogen peroxide (O₃/H₂O₂) or ultraviolet (UV) light, the AOP system accelerates ozone decomposition, generating a higher concentration of hydroxyl radicals—highly reactive molecules that break down PFAS and pharmaceutical residues into harmless byproducts like CO₂ and water. This synergy not only boosts removal efficiency but also reduces ozone dosage, lowering energy consumption and operational costs. In 2026, the trend toward ozone-AOP integration with ozone generator systems is accelerating, with more municipal and industrial facilities upgrading their systems to meet the latest environmental standards, particularly in Europe and North America where PFAS regulations are becoming increasingly strict.
Market Data: Water Treatment Dominates Ozone Industry Growth
Market data further confirms the dominance of water treatment in the ozone industry: the global ozone machine for water treatment market was valued at USD 1.63 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6%, reaching USD 2.75 billion by 2034. Municipal and industrial applications account for the majority of this growth, with Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America leading in adoption. In China alone, the market for industrial ozone generators used in water treatment reached RMB 48.6 billion in 2026, with municipal wastewater treatment upgrading contributing 44.2% of the market share and industrial wastewater treatment accounting for 34.6%. This growth is fueled by government policies promoting water reuse, stricter pollution control standards, and the push toward carbon neutrality—ozone water treatment systems are more energy-efficient than traditional methods, with new technologies reducing energy consumption by 30-50% compared to older models.
2026 Focus: Overcoming PFAS Removal Challenges
A key focus of 2026’s ozone water treatment discussions is the practical challenges of PFAS removal. As "forever chemicals," PFAS are resistant to most conventional treatment methods, but ozone machine integrated with AOP systems have proven effective in breaking down these persistent compounds. Recent studies show that ozone foam fractionation, when optimized for ozone flow rate and dosage from ozone generator units, can achieve significant PFAS removal from landfill leachate, while minimizing foam production and reducing operational costs. Additionally, advancements in catalyst technology—such as non-homogeneous catalysts like Fe₂O₃ and TiO₂—have improved ozone utilization efficiency by up to 4 times, enhancing the removal of PFAS and pharmaceutical residues while extending catalyst lifespan to 3-5 years.
Future Outlook: Water Treatment Remains the Core Growth Driver
Looking ahead, the water treatment segment will continue to dominate the ozone generator market, driven by ongoing urbanization, industrial expansion, and the global push to address emerging water pollutants. Municipalities and industrial enterprises will increasingly prioritize industrial ozone generators with AOP systems for their ability to meet strict environmental standards, remove persistent contaminants like PFAS and pharmaceutical residues, and operate in an environmentally sustainable way. For businesses in the ozone industry, focusing on water treatment solutions—especially those optimized for AOP integration, energy efficiency, and PFAS removal—will be critical to capturing market share in 2026 and beyond.
About FEILI
At Feili, adhering to our corporate culture and core philosophy, we specialize in designing and manufacturing high-efficiency ozone machine for water treatment and industrial ozone generators tailored for municipal and industrial applications. Guided by our mission of "committed to improving the livable environment for humanity and enhancing the quality of human life" and our vision of building a leading brand in the disinfection industry, we uphold the principle of "rather explaining the price than making excuses for quality". Our ozone generator and ozone-AOP solutions are engineered to effectively remove PFAS, pharmaceutical residues, and other micropollutants, integrating technological innovation and excellent quality to build core competitiveness, while ensuring compliance with global environmental standards and delivering cost-effective, sustainable water treatment solutions. With more than 40 patents and rich industry experience, we are committed to bringing clean spaces to everyone, every family and every organization, and restoring the purest appearance of the world. Contact us today to learn how our ozone systems can support your water treatment goals.
