Wastewater Treatment Plants Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2024 - 2030)

Wastewater Treatment Plants Market Trends and Growth Drivers

Technological Advancements Is Key Trend in Market

• Wastewater treatment plants are changing due to the implementation of advanced technology such as membrane bioreactors (MBRs), ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs).
• Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are increasingly being utilized in wastewater treatment plants due to their ability to produce high-quality effluent suitable for reuse.
• This technique increases operational efficiency and effluent quality while reducing the plant's footprint.
• Moreover, MBRs are ideal for treating wastewater in urban and industrial settings because of their acknowledged capacity to manage high loading rates and variable influent characteristics.
• Additionally, UV disinfection systems are preferred for their ability to rapidly and reliably inactivate microorganisms without forming harmful disinfection by-products.
• These systems are being adopted in smaller, decentralized systems proving its versatility to different operational sizes.
• These developments in wastewater treatment technology ensure cleaner, safer water supplies, which benefits public health and environmental sustainability in addition to increasing the efficacy and efficiency of treatment facilities.

Water Scarcity Concerns Are Driving the Market Growth

• Water scarcity is a major driver for the wastewater treatment plant market.
• The need for treated wastewater for industrial processes, agriculture, and even drinking water (after additional treatment) increases as freshwater becomes scarce.
• This necessitates investment in advanced treatment technologies such as MBRs and RO to produce high-quality effluent.
• For instance, due to water scarcity, Singapore have invested heavily in NEWater, a high-purity reclaimed wastewater produced using advanced membrane technologies like RO.
• In addition, many regions in California are about to reach their limits on natural water availability from traditional sources.
• Every year, Californians utilize about 6.6 million acre-feet of water in urban areas.
• Water utilities in the state have identified various options to meet the demand, including recycled water, desalination, and conservation, which is driving the demand for wastewater treatment plants.
• Water scarcity is a significant issue facing our world.
• According to UNEP, at least 50% of the world's population, which is 4 billion people, experience water shortages for at least one month every year. It is projected that by 2025, 1.8 billion people will experience what the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) refers to as "absolute water scarcity."

High Cost of Wastewater Treatment Technologies Is Major Challenge for Market

• The high cost of wastewater treatment technologies is a major challenge for the wastewater treatment plants market.
• This is particularly for municipalities and developing countries with limited budgets.
• These expenses cover the cost of purchasing advanced machinery, energy usage, and the requirement for qualified staff to operate and maintain the systems.
• Furthermore, the economic downturn makes it more difficult for enterprises to adhere to environmental regulations, which could result in higher pollution levels and the related fines.
• For instance, China's industry is being compelled to implement advanced wastewater treatment technologies due to the government's strict environmental rules.
• However, the substantial investment required has led to resistance and delays, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises that struggle with limited financial resources.

Wastewater Treatment Plants Market Analysis

Type Analysis

• The effluent category will hold the largest market share of 45% in 2024.
• This is due to the rapid growth of industries across the globe, which has led to a significant increase in the volume of industrial wastewater.
• Large volumes of wastewater are produced by industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, food and beverage, and oil and gas.
• These industries need specialized treatment to eliminate contaminants and guarantee that environmental requirements are followed.
• Leachate is the fastest-growing category with a CAGR of 6.4% in the forecast period.
• This is due to the growing number of landfills and waste disposal sites, as well as the growing emphasis on waste management and environmental protection.
• Additionally, investments in advanced leachate treatment technology are prompted by regulatory requirements and the need to lessen the environmental impact of landfills.

The types analyzed in this report are:

• Effluent (Largest Category)
• Sewage
• Agricultural
• Leachate (Fastest-Growing Category)

Technology Analysis

• Electrochemical technology will be the fastest growing with a CAGR of 6.5% in 2024 due to the discharge of less residual impurities compared to conventional methods and a highly automated process allowing for remote operation and monitoring
• It is used to treat industrial wastewater, so as to recover valuable products, such as chemicals, metals, nitrogen, and salts.
• Electrochemical treatment is a method in which chemical oxidants are produced in situ through redox reactions on the surface of an electrodes.
• This can be done through various techniques, such as electrochemical oxidation and reduction, electrochemical coagulation, electrodialysis, and microbial electrochemical technology.
• Additionally, electrochemical treatment plants for drinking water, brackish water, or process water have flow rates from a few cubic meters up to 20,000 cubic meters per day.
• In wastewater treatment procedures, electrochemical methods are commonly used for low-to-medium wastewater flow rates, of up to approximately 500 cubic meters per day.
• The biological category will hold the largest market share due to the effectiveness and widespread use of biological agents in municipal wastewater treatment.
• Biological treatment processes utilize natural microbial activity to break down organic matter, converting harmful contaminants into less harmful by-products.
• This method is highly effective in treating municipal wastewater, which mainly consists of biodegradable organic matter.
• Moreover, biological treatment processes are generally more cost-effective compared to chemical and electrochemical methods.

The technologies analyzed in this report are:

• Physical
• Biological (Largest-Category)
• Chemical
• Electrochemical (Fastest-Growing Market)

Treatment System Analysis

• The centralized category will dominate the market, with a share of 65% in 2024.
• These systems are designed to handle high volumes of wastewater and typically include extensive infrastructure, such as sewer networks and treatment plants.
• The decentralized category will become the faster growing category, during the forecast period.
• This is because decentralized treatment systems are easy to install and portable, and they treat the wastewater generated from individual houses, hotels, factories, and apartments.
• Additionally, these systems are economical for communities as they do not require large capital, unlike centralized treatment systems, and have minimal operational and maintenance costs.

The treatment system analyzed in this report are:

• Centralized (Larger Category)
• Decentralized (Faster-Growing Category)

Application Analysis

• The municipal category will hold the larger market share, in 2024.
• The continuous growth of the global population and increase in the rate of urbanization have led to a rise in the volume of municipal wastewater.
• Thus, as cities and towns are expanding, they are necessitating the development and expansion of municipal wastewater treatment infrastructure.
• The industrial category will become the faster growing with a CAGR of 6.2% in the forecast period.
• This is because industries generate a large amount of wastewater, which needs to be treated before being discharged into lakes and rivers.
• Additionally, the growing environmental concerns and those related to the health of people living close to industries and the stringent government regulations for wastewater discharge by industries are vehemently promoting the setup of wastewater treatment plants in the sector.
• Moreover, more-effective technologies are being developed for industrial wastewater treatment.

The applications analyzed in this report are:

• Industrial (Faster-Growing Category)
• Municipal (Larger Category)

Geographical Analysis

• The APAC region will hold the largest market share, of 35%, in 2024, and it is expected to witness the greatest growth, of around 6.8%, during the forecast period among all regions.
• Currently, China generates the highest revenue in the region, followed by India.
• The major factor attributed for the market growth is the expanding power, mining, oil & gas, pulp, chemicals, and other sectors.
• The increase in the demand for potable water results in the rising focus on wastewater treatment, as these industries consume a huge amount of water and generate voluminous effluents.
• Industries are upgrading and constructing advanced treatment facilities as a result of the government's strict laws and regulations designed to reduce industrial pollution.
• The Chinese government's "Water Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan" underscores the importance of improving wastewater treatment infrastructure.
• Additionally, there is a severe water shortage in many APAC countries, especially in South and Southeast Asia, which has increased attempts to clean and utilize wastewater.
• For instance, Singapore's "NEWater" initiative, which involves recycling treated wastewater into potable water, sets a standard for innovative water management.
• The rapid urbanization in countries like China, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam has increased the burden on existing water resources.
• Urban areas are implementing advanced wastewater treatment systems to manage the growing volumes of municipal and industrial wastewater.

The regions analyzed in this report are:

• North America
  • U.S. (Largest Country)
  • Canada (Fastest-Growing Country)
• Europe
  • Germany (Largest Country)
  • France
  • U.K. (Fastest-Growing Country)
  • Italy
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia-Pacific (APAC) (Largest and Fastest-Growing Region)
  • China (Largest Country)
  • India (Fastest-Growing Country)
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Rest of APAC
• Latin America (LATAM)
  • Brazil (Largest Country)
  • Mexico (Fastest-Growing Country)
  • Rest of LATAM
• Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • GCC (Largest-Country)
  • South Africa (Fastest-Growing Country)
  • Rest of MEA

Wastewater Treatment Plants Market Share

The wastewater treatment plants market is fragmented in nature because the market is divided geographically, with strong regional players catering to specific needs and regulations. Major international companies, such as Veolia Environnement and SUEZ SA dominate the market with their extensive portfolios of advanced technologies and comprehensive services. However, numerous smaller and regional firms also play a crucial role, particularly in developing and emerging markets, where they cater to specific local needs and regulatory requirements. Additionally, the presence of these smaller players adds to the market's competitive dynamics, as they often offer specialized solutions and cost-effective services that can address niche market segments or specific local challenges.

Wastewater Treatment Plants Market News

• In November 2023, EDF Energy selected Veolia's technological solution, in collaboration with REEL, for the development, production, and deployment of mobile units designed to treat contaminated water in the event of a nuclear accident.
• In May 2023, ZwitterCo Inc. collaborated with Mott Corporation to develop membranes for treating challenging wastewater and introduce novel filtration and nutrient management solutions. 
• In March 2023, Aquatech International partnered with Fluid Technology Solutions Inc. to collaborate on the development of next-generation solutions for improved brine concentration, advanced separation, and water reuse.
• In January 2023, Xylem Inc. signed an agreement under which it acquired Evoqua.