The top 10 water treatment technologies to keep an eye on

As new chemical or solid contaminants arise and threaten access to safe water, treatment facilities need to prepare against as many as possible. Residential drinking water treatment technologies are becoming more adept at tackling complex contaminants. Organizations are going beyond filtration and testing new possibilities to expand what is possible in households.

These 10 innovations have the potential to increase the sector’s ability to provide clean, safe water to residents.

1. Capacitive Deionization (CDI)

CDI has been removing salt ions from water for years. It is ideal for residential treatment because it does not use chemicals. While this method uses electricity to trap ions on adsorbent surfaces, environmentally focused households can trust it to use less energy than other techniques.

Recent research is exploring flow-electrode CDI. This employs flow particle-based electrodes, which have been tested to improve heavy metal recovery and nutrient retrieval in addition to desalination. Even though this strategy handles more adverse influences on water quality than conventional CDI, it still maintains a near-100% flow efficiency because of its dual-chamber configuration.

2. Forward Osmosis (FO)

FO processes are a reliable way to separate solid contaminants from water using a semi-permeable membrane. They achieve consistent purification, but brine has always been a concerning by-product. Studies are experimenting with novel membrane variants to see how they can better control brine concentrations while leveraging FO's energy efficiency.

A cellulose-based membrane was verified as a more effective FO option, as it enhanced water flux and resulted in minimal fouling. It could be the future of commercialized brine control and desalination, especially for residences in regions with higher concentrations.

3. Biofiltration

Biofiltration is a nonchemical method for residential water treatment that takes advantage of microorganisms’ natural processes to remove contaminants from water. This technology could be revolutionary in supporting widespread water recycling and promoting circular economic practices to reduce water scarcity.

Water recovery efforts often have to remove odors and other microbial influences to introduce resources back into households. The density and composition of these contaminants vary based on geographic location, how long the pollutants have been in the water and more. Thanks to increased research, biofilters are becoming more productive and comprehensive. Sustainable media was able to remove around 95% of concerning compounds, particularly microbial growths impacting the water’s smell.

Discovering new filtration media is crucial, especially as contaminants like PFAS threaten residences. As pollutant variety becomes increasingly complex, this method will need to be multipurpose to handle multiple contaminants. This is essential since research is expensive, time-consuming, and often inhibited by a lack of government or private funding. Commercialized biofiltration will be critical for preventing health issues in communities.

4. Electrochemical Water Treatment

Water treatment technologies typically rely on chemicals, but sustainability and efficiency concerns are causing residential water experts to pivot to electrochemical methods. Electrodes are compact, making it simple for oxidation and treatment to occur at a small scale. They inactivate many viruses, and studies have made them more efficient by refining their charge and discharge cycles. This was previously one of the biggest challenges, as it tarnished electrochemical water treatment’s reputation as an energy-efficient option.

One strategy is blending microbes and electro-based solutions to form microbial electrosynthesis. The microbes use electricity to make a chemical by-product. This process transforms the contents that detract from water quality into something usable. It could be a game-changer in expanding the carbon-sequestration potential of treatment tech.

5. Acoustic Filtration

Acoustic technologies can be used in residential water systems to emit sound waves that force particles to behave a certain way. The sounds separate particles from each other without using chemicals. Additionally, the method requires minimal energy, making it another inexpensive and eco-friendly alternative to more invasive and damaging techniques.

Residential treatment includes everything from acoustic nanotubes to photocatalytic purification. These can break down or flush out everything, including pesticides. Acoustic filtration is a great resource for making residential water treatment more robust. Households can retrofit infrastructure with it to support existing mechanisms, especially if they are not tackling as many contaminants as desired.

6. Graphene-Based Filtration

Even one millimeter of silica can significantly erode boiler performance and increase household costs. Adequate filtration membranes are critical for mitigating as many of these adverse influences as possible, so professionals are testing how well graphene can help households.

Other filters are not as effective at preventing contaminants like bacteria from escaping to the other side. If they do escape, these contaminants can grow on the filter and reduce effectiveness or compromise efficacy entirely. Researchers are finding ways for the filters to regenerate if they experience damage.

Graphene captures extremely small contaminants, making it one of the best filtration-based purification methods. It is most common in reverse osmosis techniques, which are one of the most widespread and effective at-home options. Graphene can also handle high saltwater concentrations.

7. Nanotechnology-Based Water Treatment

With the number of contaminants entering homes, targeted methods are more necessary than ever. Nanotechnology could provide a more curated approach to community water treatment, especially if some regions are more afflicted by specific or novel contaminants compared to others.

One of the most promising solutions is nanobubbles, which dissolve more slowly than larger bubbles with treatment solutions. They have longer residence times and expand the possibilities for aeration and flotation when removing unwanted colors and impurities.

8. Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS)

Solar-powered water technologies are taking the world by storm — solar pumps were predicted to grow by 10% annually until 2030. Market interest demands that these fixtures be able to provide homes with clean water, especially in agricultural environments.

SODIS is one of the more approachable and inexpensive residential water treatment technologies. It uses sunlight to disinfect water, which would be immensely helpful for scaling rural residential water treatment infrastructure. Developing regions or families living off the grid could leverage SODIS. Researchers are currently modeling ways to make SODIS more effective, especially when preventing recontamination risks with larger volumes.

9. Point-of-Use Ultraviolet (UV) Membrane Filtering

Faucets and other places in the home that dispense water could integrate UV membrane filtering to fend off bacteria and viruses. The membranes are around 0.01 microns in size, which makes them adept at separating other solids. Commercial versions of this method are becoming steadily available. It is one of the most convenient disinfection options, though it works best alongside other treatment methods for a more purified output.

10. Hybrid Membrane Filtration

Homes need more holistic solutions to water treatment, and a multilayered membrane could be the best solution. These incorporate multiple materials and are suited for various purposes. Many combine hybrid membranes with electrochemical options. This may futureproof residential water treatment, thanks to the method’s high effectiveness against newly identified pollutants in water. Hybrid membranes also have the potential to self-clean, making them scalable and long-lasting.

Water Treatment Technologies and Innovations in 2025

While many of these resources are being explored by treatment facilities, eventually, the power of advanced filtration and purification will be available at a residential level. Consumers have seen growing agency in their at-home strategies for executing additional treatment, and it will only expand as research and development continue in the space. It will be critical to supplement expert efforts at facilities and to increase accessibility for all.