Industrial Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Size and Share
Market Overview
| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025) | USD 12.23 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 18.70 Billion |
| Growth Rate (2025 - 2030) | 8.86% CAGR |
| Fastest Growing Market | Middle East and Africa |
| Largest Market | Asia Pacific |
| Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0. |
|
Industrial Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The Industrial Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market size is estimated at USD 12.23 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 18.70 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 8.86% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
These headline figures establish the current market size and the growth rate benchmark that guides capital-allocation decisions across end-user industries. Robust demand is anchored in three inter-locking forces: increasingly stringent zero-liquid-discharge mandates in both mature and emerging manufacturing hubs, proven gains in membrane system efficiency, and sharp rises in water usage intensity across semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and data centers. Equipment suppliers that combine process know-how with digital optimization tools are winning new installations as plant operators weigh regulatory penalties against the comparatively lower lifetime costs of advanced treatment. Asia-Pacific remains the largest buyer, yet Middle Eastern megaprojects and North American retrofit programs are injecting regional dynamism that will keep the industrial wastewater treatment equipment market on a multi-year growth path.
Key Report Takeaways
- By equipment type, membrane systems led the industrial wastewater treatment equipment market with a 31.4% revenue share in 2024, while evaporation and crystallization systems are projected to post the fastest 9.4% CAGR through 2030.
- By process stage, secondary treatment captured 42.3% of the industrial wastewater treatment equipment market share in 2024, whereas resource recovery and reuse solutions are advancing at a 9.1% CAGR to 2030.
- By end-use industry, oil and gas accounted for 18.7% of the industrial wastewater treatment equipment market size in 2024, but semiconductors and electronics are forecast to rise at a 9.5% CAGR over the same horizon.
- By capacity, installations exceeding 10,000 m³/day controlled 45.2% of demand in 2024, yet systems below 1,000 m³/day are growing quickest at a 10.2% CAGR.
- By service mode, new installations represented 64.3% of 2024 spend, while mobile and rental units are expanding at a 10.1% CAGR.
- By geography, Asia-Pacific held 38.5% of global revenue in 2024, and the Middle East is projected to log the highest 9.7% regional CAGR to 2030.
Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
| Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stringent discharge regulations and ZLD mandates | +2.1% | Global, with early adoption in EU and North America | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Rising adoption of MBR and advanced filtration | +1.8% | APAC core, spill-over to MEA and South America | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Water-reuse and circular-economy initiatives | +1.4% | Global, with focus on water-stressed regions | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Growth in high-water-intensity sectors | +1.3% | APAC and North America, semiconductor hubs | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Nanobubble and electro-oxidation breakthroughs | +0.9% | Global, early adoption in developed markets | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| AI-driven real-time optimization | +0.7% | North America and EU, expanding to APAC | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Stringent Discharge Regulations and ZLD Mandates
Heightened enforcement of zero-liquid-discharge laws is producing a non-discretionary equipment spend cycle. The EU Industrial Emissions Directive, mirrored by frameworks in China and India, now treats liquid-waste elimination as a baseline compliance requirement. Semiconductor fabs illustrate the shift, with new plants integrating on-site crystallizers able to manage high-salinity brines.[1]U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Reference Guide to Treatment Technologies for Mining-Influenced Water,” epa.gov Regulatory penalties that can halt production have reset corporate risk models and accelerated procurement of high-performance systems that guarantee discharge-free operation.
Rising Adoption of MBR and Advanced Filtration
Membrane bioreactors are winning retrofit projects because they deliver 99% solids removal in a compact footprint, a critical advantage where land costs or plant layouts preclude large clarifiers. Moving-bed biofilm reactors achieve over 90% COD removal and reduce sludge haulage volume, supporting operating-cost cuts in pharmaceutical facilities. [2]Hatem Asal Gzar et al., “Application of Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor for Treatment of Industrial Wastewater,” iopscience.iop.org Integration of AI-driven fouling prediction is shaving 15-20% off membrane cleaning costs, enhancing total life-cycle economics.
Water-Reuse and Circular-Economy Initiatives
Board-level sustainability mandates push manufacturers toward 90% on-site recycling targets by 2030, transforming wastewater into an operating resource. Produced-water units in oil and gas recover more than 95% of flow, lowering freshwater withdrawals and trucking charges simultaneously. Forward osmosis-reverse osmosis hybrids in mining now achieve 80% brine reduction, validating the financial case for closed-loop designs where water pricing is trending upward.
Growth in High-Water-Intensity Sectors
Leading-edge semiconductor fabs consume up to 10 million gallons per day of ultrapure water. Each process-node advance tightens contaminant limits to parts-per-trillion, forcing multi-stage chains of RO, electrodeionization and UV units. Parallel growth in biologics production and the spread of liquid-cooled data centers compound demand in the industrial wastewater treatment equipment market, especially across East Asia and the US Sunbelt where new fabs and hyperscale campuses cluster.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| High CAPEX and OPEX of advanced systems | -1.6% | Global, particularly acute in emerging markets | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Membrane fouling and sludge-disposal issues | -1.2% | Global, with varying severity by application | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Shortage of skilled operators (EMDEs) | -0.8% | Emerging markets in APAC, Africa, South America | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Financing gaps for SME retrofits | -0.7% | Global, concentrated in developing economies | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
High CAPEX and OPEX of Advanced Systems
Zero-liquid-discharge packages for large petrochemical complexes can exceed USD 50 million in upfront spend in the industrial wastewater treatment equipment market, with operating costs consuming up to 25% of plant utility budgets. Energy inputs of 2–4 kWh per treated cubic meter expose membrane systems to electricity price shocks, and the need for specialized replacement parts complicates budget planning. Financing hurdles are steepest for small and mid-sized enterprises that struggle to secure long-tenor loans absent performance guarantees.
Membrane Fouling and Sludge-Disposal Issues
Persistent fouling inflates membrane replacement outlays to 20–30% of annual operating expenses in high-organic loads. Pharmaceutical waste streams rich in recalcitrant APIs demand aggressive chemical cleans that shorten module lifespans.[3]Kumudini Marathe, “Pharmaceutical Industry Wastewater: Technologies for Water Treatment and Reuse,” pubs.acs.orgMeanwhile, rising landfill fees and limited disposal infrastructure push sludge management costs upward by 8–12% per year in many industrial corridors, eroding ROI on advanced systems.
Segment Analysis
By Equipment Type: Membrane Systems Lead Innovation
Membrane systems accounted for 31.4% of 2024 revenue, giving them the largest slice of the industrial wastewater treatment equipment market. Their modularity allows operators to pair micro-, ultra- and nano-filtration in the same skid, handling both primary solids removal and final polishing. Evaporation and crystallization packages, although only a niche today, are tracking a 9.4% CAGR as regulators adopt discharge-free frameworks. This rate positions them to shift the industrial wastewater treatment equipment market size toward higher-margin engineered systems over the forecast window.
Continued R&D in fouling-resistant polymers, coupled with predictive cleaning algorithms, is sustaining double-digit order growth for membrane suppliers. Biological technologies such as MBBR and MBR maintain traction in organic-heavy streams that demand biodegradation before polishing. Clarifiers, dissolved-air-flotation cells and chemical dosing skids remain standard for primary solids and pH control, but their growth is limited by the superior contaminant spectrum of advanced membranes.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Process Stage: Secondary Treatment Dominance Challenged
Secondary biological processes contributed 42.3% of global 2024 revenue, reaffirming their role as the backbone of the industrial wastewater treatment equipment market. Yet resource-recovery systems are gaining at 9.1% per year, reflecting a structural pivot toward circular models where recovered metals or high-quality reuse water unlock new revenue lines. Performance data from acid-mine-drainage applications show profitable extraction of copper and zinc alongside clean water production, indicating that payback periods can compete with traditional neutralization.
The shift is altering procurement criteria: buyers now prioritize modularity that accommodates future recovery add-ons over single-purpose secondary clarifiers. Advanced-oxidation and membrane-distillation hybrids are co-opted into tertiary trains, driving the industrial wastewater treatment equipment market share of high-spec stages even if overall flow rates remain flat.
By End-Use Industry: Semiconductors Disrupt Traditional Patterns
Oil and gas remained the single-largest customer, commanding 18.7% of 2024 revenue in the industrial wastewater treatment equipment market. However, semiconductor and electronics contracts are expanding at a 9.5% CAGR, fast tracking them toward a top-tier position in the industrial wastewater treatment equipment market. Ultrapure standards at 5 nm and below require multiple membrane passes and point-of-use polishing, often doubling equipment counts compared to older fabs.
Food and beverage processors sustain stable demand for biological units that manage high-COD but low-toxicity effluents, while power generators upgrade cooling-water loops to meet thermal limits. Chemical producers, facing mixed inorganic-organic wastes, increasingly specify electro-oxidation cells followed by RO to break down complex molecules.
By Capacity: Small Systems Gain Momentum
Plants rated above 10,000 m³/day held 45.2% of purchase value in 2024, yet sub-1,000 m³/day units are rising fastest at 10.2% CAGR. Decentralized production models in specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing favor compact, containerized packages that can be commissioned within weeks. Innovations in skid-mounted MBR lines allow small sites to hit discharge targets without civil-works delays, broadening addressable demand.
Mid-range systems between 1,000 and 10,000 m³/day still appeal to multi-line food plants and regional pharmaceutical hubs where economies of scale outweigh site constraints. Suppliers that standardize designs across size classes reduce engineering hours and shorten delivery, enhancing competitiveness in every capacity bracket.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Service Mode: Mobile Solutions Reshape Market Dynamics
New fixed installations captured 64.3% of 2024 orders, underscoring ongoing greenfield industrial expansion. Yet mobile and rental fleets are advancing at a 10.1% CAGR, propelled by refinery turnarounds, sudden contamination events and phased renovation projects. The ability to pay monthly OPEX instead of large CAPEX cheques appeals to CFOs wary of over-investing ahead of regulation cycles.
Retrofit packages still occupy a large niche as legacy clarifiers and aeration basins fail to meet PFAS and micro-pollutant limits. Service integrators that can swap in temporary membrane trains while upgrading base facilities preserve plant uptime, a value proposition gaining currency across North America and Western Europe.
Geography Analysis
Asia-Pacific generated 38.5% of total sales in the industrial wastewater treatment equipment market in 2024, a reflection of rapid industrialization, higher water-stress indices and tougher local discharge codes. China’s memory-chip expansion and India’s rise in bulk pharmaceuticals require high-spec equipment, encouraging global vendors to establish regional manufacturing and aftermarket hubs. Governments are also mandating recycled-water quotas for new plants, embedding circular-economy logic into environmental permits.
The Middle East, though currently smaller, is advancing at a 9.7% CAGR. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 mining drive and the UAE’s refining upgrades need crystalizers capable of treating hypersaline brines generated by desalination. Public funding for mega-projects ensures capital availability, while technical skill gaps create opportunities for turnkey foreign integrators.
North America and Europe remain technologically mature regions where replacement cycles drive steady demand. Stricter PFAS discharge limits in several US states and the EU push tertiary-stage upgrades. Produced-water handling in shale basins keeps mobile-unit utilization high, whereas European chemical clusters invest in advanced oxidation and membrane trains to satisfy the Industrial Emissions Directive.
Competitive Landscape
The industrial wastewater treatment equipment market is moderately fragmented. Veolia, SUEZ and Xylem leverage end-to-end portfolios and global service reach to secure multi-site framework contracts. Niche players such as H2O Innovation and Axius Water target high-salinity or nutrient-rich streams with proprietary solutions, gaining share through performance differentiation. M&A intensity is rising as vendors acquire analytics firms to embed digital twins and predictive-maintenance modules into hardware offerings.
Technology leadership is determined by membrane chemistry, energy-efficient evaporation designs and AI-driven control logic. Suppliers touting fouling-resistant thin-film composites or nanobubble aeration packages report shorter payback periods, swaying risk-averse buyers. Private-equity inflows, evidenced by KKR’s and Bain Capital’s deals, inject growth capital that accelerates product road-maps and cross-border expansion.
Service models are shifting from equipment sales toward water-as-a-service subscriptions. Major integrators bundle remote monitoring, chemical supply and performance guarantees, allowing clients to book treatment costs as operating expenses while de-risking compliance. Vendors that align digital platforms with on-site service teams thus gain stickier recurring revenue.
Industrial Wastewater Treatment Equipment Industry Leaders
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Veolia Water Technologies
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SUEZ SA
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Xylem Inc.
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Evoqua Water Technologies
-
Ecolab Inc.
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Recent Industry Developments
- July 2025: Advanced Drainage Systems agreed to acquire Orenco Systems, expanding its onsite advanced treatment portfolio.
- February 2025: Pentair posted USD 4.1 billion 2024 sales and signalled a focus on sustainable water lines for 2025 growth.
- December 2024: United Flow Technologies bought The TDH Company, strengthening its US Southeast presence in municipal treatment.
- October 2024: Tsurumi completed its acquisition of Zenit Group, adding packaged plant manufacturing capability.
Global Industrial Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Report Scope
| Clarifiers and Dissolved Air Flotation |
| Membrane Systems (RO, UF/MF, NF) |
| Biological Treatment (MBR, SBR, MBBR, etc.) |
| Chemical Treatment (Coag./Floc., Disinfection) |
| Sludge Handling and Dewatering |
| Filtration and Separation (Sand, Cartridge) |
| Evaporation and Crystallization / ZLD |
| Primary Treatment |
| Secondary Treatment |
| Tertiary / Advanced Treatment |
| Resource Recovery and Water Re-use |
| Oil and Gas |
| Food and Beverage |
| Power Generation |
| Chemicals and Petrochemicals |
| Pulp and Paper |
| Mining and Metals |
| Pharmaceuticals |
| Semiconductors and Electronics |
| Textiles |
| Automotive and Metal Processing |
| < 1 000 |
| 1 000 – 10 000 |
| > 10 000 |
| New Installation |
| Retrofit and Up-gradation |
| Mobile / Rental Units |
| North America | United States | |
| Canada | ||
| Mexico | ||
| South America | Brazil | |
| Argentina | ||
| Rest of South America | ||
| Europe | Germany | |
| United Kingdom | ||
| France | ||
| Italy | ||
| Spain | ||
| Russia | ||
| Rest of Europe | ||
| Asia-Pacific | China | |
| India | ||
| Japan | ||
| South Korea | ||
| Australia | ||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | ||
| Middle East and Africa | Middle East | Saudi Arabia |
| United Arab Emirates | ||
| Turkey | ||
| Rest of Middle East | ||
| Africa | South Africa | |
| Egypt | ||
| Rest of Africa | ||
| By Equipment Type | Clarifiers and Dissolved Air Flotation | ||
| Membrane Systems (RO, UF/MF, NF) | |||
| Biological Treatment (MBR, SBR, MBBR, etc.) | |||
| Chemical Treatment (Coag./Floc., Disinfection) | |||
| Sludge Handling and Dewatering | |||
| Filtration and Separation (Sand, Cartridge) | |||
| Evaporation and Crystallization / ZLD | |||
| By Process Stage | Primary Treatment | ||
| Secondary Treatment | |||
| Tertiary / Advanced Treatment | |||
| Resource Recovery and Water Re-use | |||
| By End-use Industry | Oil and Gas | ||
| Food and Beverage | |||
| Power Generation | |||
| Chemicals and Petrochemicals | |||
| Pulp and Paper | |||
| Mining and Metals | |||
| Pharmaceuticals | |||
| Semiconductors and Electronics | |||
| Textiles | |||
| Automotive and Metal Processing | |||
| By Capacity (m³ /day) | < 1 000 | ||
| 1 000 – 10 000 | |||
| > 10 000 | |||
| By Service Mode | New Installation | ||
| Retrofit and Up-gradation | |||
| Mobile / Rental Units | |||
| By Geography | North America | United States | |
| Canada | |||
| Mexico | |||
| South America | Brazil | ||
| Argentina | |||
| Rest of South America | |||
| Europe | Germany | ||
| United Kingdom | |||
| France | |||
| Italy | |||
| Spain | |||
| Russia | |||
| Rest of Europe | |||
| Asia-Pacific | China | ||
| India | |||
| Japan | |||
| South Korea | |||
| Australia | |||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
| Middle East and Africa | Middle East | Saudi Arabia | |
| United Arab Emirates | |||
| Turkey | |||
| Rest of Middle East | |||
| Africa | South Africa | ||
| Egypt | |||
| Rest of Africa | |||
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current size of the industrial wastewater treatment equipment market?
The industrial wastewater treatment equipment market is valued at USD 12.23 billion in 2025.
How fast is the industrial wastewater treatment equipment market expected to grow?
The industrial wastewater treatment equipment market is projected to record an 8.86% CAGR, reaching USD 18.70 billion by 2030.
Which equipment type dominates sales?
Membrane systems held 31.4% of 2024 revenue, making them the largest equipment category.
Why are mobile and rental units gaining popularity?
They provide operational flexibility and convert large capital purchases into manageable operating expenses while plants undergo upgrades or handle emergencies.
Which region offers the fastest growth outlook?
The Middle East is forecast to post the highest 9.7% regional CAGR due to water-scarcity driven investments tied to industrial megaprojects.
What key restraint could slow adoption?
High capital and operating costs for advanced zero-liquid-discharge systems remain the most significant barrier, especially for small and mid-sized enterprises.
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