PUBLISHER: Prescient & Strategic Intelligence | PRODUCT CODE: 1803291
PUBLISHER: Prescient & Strategic Intelligence | PRODUCT CODE: 1803291
U.S. Waste Water Treatment Market Size & Share Analysis - Emerging Trends, Growth Opportunities, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2025 - 2032)
The U.S. waste water treatment market was valued at USD 121.4 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to USD 204.7 billion by 2032, advancing at a CAGR of 6.9%. This growth is driven by increasing environmental regulations, urbanization, aging infrastructure, and growing concerns about water scarcity. More than 50% of U.S. rivers and streams and around 30% of lakes are polluted, while 46 million Americans either lack access to clean water or have access to polluted water. These issues have prompted the growing adoption of advanced treatment technologies like membrane filtration, UV disinfection, biological treatments, and water reuse systems.
The demand for advanced solutions is further fueled by the need for water recycling and creating a circular water economy. The government has been actively supporting wastewater infrastructure development, with significant funding for projects aimed at improving water quality. This includes financial assistance to rural, small, and tribal communities that face wastewater treatment challenges. With more than 14,000 wastewater treatment plants across the U.S., the market continues to grow due to the push for modernization and the increasing need to meet stricter water quality standards.
The adoption of advanced technologies such as reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, and membrane bioreactors is improving operational efficiency and making wastewater treatment systems more effective. Digital technologies like IoT, AI, and data analytics are also being incorporated to optimize plant operations and enhance monitoring capabilities. In addition, increasing focus on water reuse and recycling is leading to a rise in demand for solutions that minimize the discharge of wastewater into natural bodies, creating a more sustainable water management approach.
The equipment category is the largest in the market, accounting for 75% of the share in 2024. This is driven by the high capital investment required for large-scale wastewater treatment systems, including filtration, biological treatment, and sludge management. The fastest-growing category is services, including the designing, installation, operations, and maintenance of wastewater treatment systems, as municipalities and industries increasingly turn to specialized service providers for their needs. Surface water treatment remains the largest category, with 70% of the market share, as surface water continues to be the primary source for municipal and industrial water management. Secondary treatment processes are the most widely used, while tertiary treatments are gaining traction due to the rising demand for higher-quality effluent.
Municipal wastewater treatment is the largest end-use segment, comprising around 65% of the market revenue in 2024. This segment continues to grow due to rapid urbanization and the increasing pressure on aging infrastructure. The Southern U.S. leads the market with a 40% share, driven by high industrial activity, population growth, and infrastructure development. The West is the fastest-growing region, driven by investments in wastewater treatment facilities and water recycling initiatives to address the region's water scarcity challenges.
The market remains fragmented, with many small regional players offering niche solutions, while large players such as AECOM, Aquatech International, Black & Veatch, Ecolab, and Xylem dominate the equipment segment. Recent developments in the market include Xylem's acquisition of Evoqua Water Technologies for USD 7.5 billion in 2023, broadening its service offerings and strengthening its market position.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Research Scope
- 1.1. Research Objectives
- 1.2. Market Definition
- 1.3. Analysis Period
- 1.4. Market Size Breakdown by Segments
- 1.4.1. Market Size Breakdown, by Offering
- 1.4.2. Market Size Breakdown, by Water Source
- 1.4.3. Market Size Breakdown, by Process
- 1.4.4. Market Size Breakdown, by End User
- 1.5. Market Data Reporting Unit
- 1.5.1. Revenue
- 1.6. Key Stakeholders
Chapter 2. Research Methodology
- 2.1. Secondary Research
- 2.1.1. Paid
- 2.1.2. Unpaid
- 2.1.3. P&S Intelligence Database
- 2.2. Primary Research
- 2.3. Market Size Estimation
- 2.4. Data Triangulation
- 2.5. Currency Conversion Rates
- 2.6. Assumptions for the Study
- 2.7. Notes and Caveats
Chapter 3. Executive Summary
Chapter 4. Market Indicators
Chapter 5. Industry Outlook
- 5.1. Industry Background
- 5.2. Market Dynamics
- 5.2.1. Trends
- 5.2.2. Drivers
- 5.2.3. Restraints/Challenges
- 5.2.4. Emerging Economies and Key Opportunities
- 5.2.5. Impact Analysis of Drivers/Restraints
- 5.3. Impact of COVID-19
- 5.4. Sociopolitical Impact
- 5.5. Porter's Five Forces Analysis
- 5.5.1. Bargaining Power of Buyers
- 5.5.2. Bargaining Power of Suppliers
- 5.5.3. Threat of New Entrants
- 5.5.4. Intensity of Rivalry
- 5.5.5. Threat of Substitutes
- 5.6. Innovation and Technology Trends
- 5.7. Economic and Regulatory Impact
- 5.8. Market Entry Strategies
Chapter 6. Competitive Landscape
- 6.1. List of Market Players and their Offerings
- 6.2. Market Share of Key Players (2024)
- 6.3. Competitive Benchmarking of Key Players
- 6.4. Product Benchmarking of Key Players
- 6.5. Recent Strategic Developments by Key Players
- 6.6. Company Leadership Matrix
Chapter 7. U.S. Market
- 7.1. Overview
- 7.2. Market Revenue, by Offering (2019-2032)
- 7.3. Market Revenue, by Water Source (2019-2032)
- 7.4. Market Revenue, by Process (2019-2032)
- 7.5. Market Revenue, by End User (2019-2032)
- 7.6. Market Revenue, by Country (2019-2032)
Chapter 8. Northeast Market
- 8.1. Overview
- 8.2. Economic Indicators
- 8.3. Demographics and Population Insights
- 8.4. Regional Hotspots
- 8.5. Growth Drivers
- 8.6. Challenges and Barriers
- 8.7. Competitive Strategies
- 8.8. Emerging Players
- 8.9. Import/Export Policies
- 8.10. Compliance Requirements
- 8.11. Emerging Investment Areas
- 8.12. Major Ongoing Projects
- 8.13. Market Size and Forecast
- 8.13.1. Market Revenue, by Offering (2019-2032)
- 8.13.2. Market Revenue, by Water Source (2019-2032)
- 8.13.3. Market Revenue, by Process (2019-2032)
- 8.13.4. Market Revenue, by End User (2019-2032)
Chapter 9. Midwest Market
- 9.1. Overview
- 9.2. Economic Indicators
- 9.3. Demographics and Population Insights
- 9.4. Regional Hotspots
- 9.5. Growth Drivers
- 9.6. Challenges and Barriers
- 9.7. Competitive Strategies
- 9.8. Emerging Players
- 9.9. Import/Export Policies
- 9.10. Compliance Requirements
- 9.11. Emerging Investment Areas
- 9.12. Major Ongoing Projects
- 9.13. Market Size and Forecast
- 9.13.1. Market Revenue, by Offering (2019-2032)
- 9.13.2. Market Revenue, by Water Source (2019-2032)
- 9.13.3. Market Revenue, by Process (2019-2032)
- 9.13.4. Market Revenue, by End User (2019-2032)
Chapter 10. West Market
- 10.1. Overview
- 10.2. Economic Indicators
- 10.3. Demographics and Population Insights
- 10.4. Regional Hotspots
- 10.5. Growth Drivers
- 10.6. Challenges and Barriers
- 10.7. Competitive Strategies
- 10.8. Emerging Players
- 10.9. Import/Export Policies
- 10.10. Compliance Requirements
- 10.11. Emerging Investment Areas
- 10.12. Major Ongoing Projects
- 10.13. Market Size and Forecast
- 10.13.1. Market Revenue, by Offering (2019-2032)
- 10.13.2. Market Revenue, by Water Source (2019-2032)
- 10.13.3. Market Revenue, by Process (2019-2032)
- 10.13.4. Market Revenue, by End User (2019-2032)
Chapter 11. South Market
- 11.1. Overview
- 11.2. Economic Indicators
- 11.3. Demographics and Population Insights
- 11.4. Regional Hotspots
- 11.5. Growth Drivers
- 11.6. Challenges and Barriers
- 11.7. Competitive Strategies
- 11.8. Emerging Players
- 11.9. Import/Export Policies
- 11.10. Compliance Requirements
- 11.11. Emerging Investment Areas
- 11.12. Major Ongoing Projects
- 11.13. Market Size and Forecast
- 11.13.1. Market Revenue, by Offering (2019-2032)
- 11.13.2. Market Revenue, by Water Source (2019-2032)
- 11.13.3. Market Revenue, by Process (2019-2032)
- 11.13.4. Market Revenue, by End User (2019-2032)
Chapter 12. Company Profiles
Chapter 13. Appendix
- 13.1. Sources and References
- 13.2. Related Reports
