Wastewater Treatment Services Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Industry (Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Pulp & Paper, Petrochemical, Semiconductor, Others), By Treatment Technologies (Membrane Separation, Reverse Osmosis Membranes, Ultrafiltration Membranes, Micro-Filtration Membrane, Nano-Filtration Membrane, Others), By Process (Primary Treatment, Secondary Treatment, Tertiary Treatment), By Region, By Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 59.12 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.14%
Fastest Growing Segment	Tertiary Treatment
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 84.53 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Wastewater Treatment Services Market will grow from USD 59.12 Billion in 2025 to USD 84.53 Billion by 2031 at a 6.14% CAGR. Wastewater treatment services encompass the specialized management, operation, and maintenance of facilities designed to process industrial and municipal effluents into environmentally safe water. The market is primarily driven by escalating regulatory pressures to minimize environmental pollution and the urgent need for water reuse strategies due to global freshwater scarcity. Additionally, rapid urbanization necessitates the expansion of sanitation infrastructure, while industrial entities increasingly outsource complex treatment operations to ensure compliance and focus on core production activities.

Despite these strong growth catalysts, the sector faces a significant challenge regarding the immense capital required for infrastructure modernization and capacity expansion. The financial strain on utilities often delays necessary upgrades, impeding service delivery and broader market adoption. According to the American Water Works Association, in 2025, financing capital improvements was identified as the leading industry challenge, with only 41 percent of utilities reporting they felt fully capable of covering these essential costs through current rates and fees.

Key Market Drivers

Modernization and retrofitting of aging municipal infrastructure acts as a primary catalyst for the global wastewater treatment services sector. Utilities globally are compelled to upgrade deteriorating sewer systems and treatment plants to prevent overflow events and meet tightening effluent standards. This operational necessity drives the outsourcing of maintenance and upgrade projects to specialized service providers capable of managing complex capital improvements. The scale of investment required to address these structural deficiencies is unprecedented, directly increasing the volume of service contracts available to market players. According to Ofwat, July 2024, in the 'PR24 Draft Determinations', a record spending package of £88 billion was proposed for water companies in England and Wales to deliver infrastructure improvements and service enhancements over the next five years.

The escalating demand for water reclamation and reuse strategies further propels market expansion as industries and municipalities seek to mitigate physical water risks. Operational frameworks are shifting from linear treatment models to circular systems where wastewater is purified for industrial cooling, irrigation, or aquifer recharge. This transition necessitates the deployment of specialized tertiary treatment protocols, creating robust opportunities for firms offering filtration and disinfection services. Highlighting the resource pressure driving this trend, according to the United Nations, March 2024, in the 'United Nations World Water Development Report 2024', agriculture accounts for roughly 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals, creating a critical imperative to substitute potable water with treated effluent. This shift is supported by substantial federal funding; according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, in 2024, nearly $5.8 billion was allocated through State Revolving Funds to support essential water infrastructure projects.

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Key Market Challenges

The immense capital required for infrastructure modernization and capacity expansion constitutes a significant impediment to the growth of the Global Wastewater Treatment Services Market. Utilities face substantial financial burdens as they attempt to upgrade aging systems while adhering to stricter environmental regulations. This fiscal pressure often forces decision-makers to postpone essential projects or scale back on external service contracts, thereby limiting opportunities for market expansion. The inability to secure sufficient funding creates a backlog of deferred maintenance that restricts the adoption of comprehensive treatment solutions.

The magnitude of this funding deficit is evident in recent industry assessments which highlight the disparity between necessary upgrades and available capital. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, in 2024, the annual funding gap for water and wastewater infrastructure in the United States was estimated at $91 billion. This statistic underscores the acute financial strain that prevents utilities from fully addressing their operational needs. As capital constraints persist, the service market experiences a direct slowdown, with potential projects being delayed until adequate financial resources can be mobilized.

Key Market Trends

The Adoption of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Twin Technologies is fundamentally reshaping the service landscape by enabling utilities to transition from reactive repairs to predictive asset management. Service providers are increasingly deploying machine learning algorithms to create virtual replicas of treatment facilities, allowing for the simulation of operational scenarios and the optimization of energy usage without physical intervention. This digital transformation is being actively accelerated by substantial industry-specific funding designed to de-risk technological integration; for instance, according to BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, October 2025, in the article 'How AI and digital innovation are transforming the UK water industry', the regulatory body Ofwat increased its Innovation Fund to £600 million to support the scaling of such advanced digital solutions across the water sector.

Simultaneously, the Utilization of Advanced Oxidation Processes for Micro-Pollutant Removal has emerged as a high-growth service segment, driven by intensifying focus on eliminating persistent organic pollutants like PFAS from water cycles. Unlike conventional biological methods, these specialized tertiary treatment protocols are essential for degrading recalcitrant chemicals, compelling industrial and municipal clients to contract targeted purification services to ensure compliance with tightening environmental standards. The commercial viability of this segment is rapidly expanding; according to Veolia, November 2025, in the 'Key Figures at 30 September 2025' report, the company explicitly targets generating $1 billion in PFAS treatment revenue by the end of the decade, underscoring the lucrative opportunities available for providers capable of deploying these complex chemical engineering solutions.

Segmental Insights

The tertiary treatment segment emerges as the fastest-growing category within the global wastewater treatment services market. This expansion is primarily driven by intensifying global water scarcity and the enforcement of rigorous environmental regulations regarding effluent discharge quality. Regulatory entities, such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency, are mandating stricter limits on contaminants, compelling industries and municipalities to adopt additional purification phases. Consequently, the demand for tertiary services is rising as organizations seek to facilitate water reclamation and reuse strategies, ensuring compliance with statutory standards while addressing the critical need for sustainable resource management.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific dominates the Global Wastewater Treatment Services Market, driven by rapid industrialization and extensive urbanization in major economies like China and India. This regional leadership is fundamentally supported by stringent regulatory frameworks enforced by institutions such as China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment and India’s Central Pollution Control Board. These bodies actively mandate rigorous effluent discharge standards and Zero Liquid Discharge protocols, compelling industries to engage professional services for compliance. Consequently, the escalating need for efficient water management and regulatory adherence directly fuels the sustained demand for design, operation, and maintenance services across the region.

Recent Developments

• In December 2024, LG Water Solutions expanded its presence in the global market by launching two new product lines, QuantumFlux and QuantumPure, at the IDRA World Congress. The QuantumFlux series features advanced ultrafiltration and membrane bioreactor membranes engineered with specialized chemistry to offer superior durability for challenging wastewater treatment applications. Concurrently, the company introduced the QuantumPure line of ion exchange resins to support high-performance water purification needs. These innovations were developed to complement the firm’s existing reverse osmosis portfolio, allowing it to offer a more comprehensive suite of solutions. The launch underscores the organization's commitment to addressing the increasing demand for reliable and efficient water treatment technologies.
• In August 2024, Veolia secured a major contract with Greater Lyon to modernize and manage the Saint Fons wastewater treatment plant, one of the largest facilities in France. Valued at €100 million over six years, this agreement aims to significantly improve the plant's environmental standards and operational efficiency. The project involves treating wastewater for the equivalent of one million inhabitants while reducing the site's carbon footprint through advanced integrated solutions. The company committed to lowering the facility's electricity and gas consumption and reducing chemical additive requirements. This initiative aligns with the group's strategic plan to deliver high-value, sustainable water management services.
• In August 2024, Nalco Water, an Ecolab company, entered into a strategic collaboration with Danieli to advance industrial water treatment solutions specifically for the metals industry. This partnership combines Nalco Water’s chemical and service expertise with Danieli’s technological experience to assist steelmakers and metal producers in enhancing production processes. The cooperation focuses on reducing carbon and water footprints while lowering capital and operating expenses through digitally enabled technologies. By leveraging shared research and development capabilities, the two entities aim to improve plant performance and reliability. The initiative highlights a growing trend of cross-industry alliances designed to address complex water management challenges in the industrial sector.
• In June 2024, SUEZ signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Serbian government to construct and operate the Veliko Selo wastewater treatment plant in Belgrade. This large-scale greenfield project, undertaken in consortium with another construction firm, is designed to treat 423,000 cubic meters of wastewater daily, serving a population of approximately 1.5 million. The facility will incorporate cutting-edge technologies to recover heat and enhance biogas production, contributing to the environmental protection of the Danube and Sava rivers. The agreement encompasses the long-term operation and maintenance of the plant, ensuring the transfer of technical know-how to local teams and reinforcing the company's position in the European wastewater services market.

Key Market Players

• Veolia Environnement S.A.
• Xylem Inc.
• Pentair plc
• Danaher Corporation
• ITT Inc.
• American Water Works Company, Inc.
• Essential Utilities, Inc.
• Siemens AG
• Stantec Inc.

By Industry	By Treatment Technologies	By Process	By Region
Manufacturing Pharmaceutical Chemical Pulp & Paper Petrochemical Semiconductor Others	Membrane Separation Reverse Osmosis Membranes Ultrafiltration Membranes Micro-Filtration Membrane Nano-Filtration Membrane Others	Primary Treatment Secondary Treatment Tertiary Treatment	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Wastewater Treatment Services Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Wastewater Treatment Services Market , By Industry:

• Manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical
• Chemical
• Pulp & Paper
• Petrochemical
• Semiconductor
• Others

• Wastewater Treatment Services Market , By Treatment Technologies:

• Membrane Separation
• Reverse Osmosis Membranes
• Ultrafiltration Membranes
• Micro-Filtration Membrane
• Nano-Filtration Membrane
• Others

• Wastewater Treatment Services Market , By Process:

• Primary Treatment
• Secondary Treatment
• Tertiary Treatment

• Wastewater Treatment Services Market , By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE