Tertiary Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Equipment Type (Filtration Systems, Disinfection Systems, Membrane Systems, Chemical Treatment Equipment, Others), By Application (Municipal Water Treatment, Industrial Wastewater Treatment, Agricultural Water Treatment, Commercial & Residential Water Treatment), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 30.93 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.06%
Fastest Growing Segment	Filtration Systems
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 41.59 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Tertiary Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market is projected to grow from USD 30.93 Billion in 2025 to USD 41.59 Billion by 2031 at a 5.06% CAGR. Tertiary water and wastewater treatment equipment encompasses advanced systems designed to refine effluent quality beyond conventional primary and secondary processes, ensuring adherence to stringent environmental discharge standards and suitability for reuse. Key drivers propelling this market include the global escalation of water scarcity, necessitating advanced solutions for water recycling and reuse, alongside increasingly rigorous environmental regulations imposing higher standards on treated water discharge. Rapid urbanization and industrialization further intensify the demand for sophisticated treatment technologies to manage growing wastewater volumes effectively.

This market expansion is fundamentally supported by significant infrastructure investment needs. According to the Value of Water Campaign, a coalition of water organizations, in November 2025, approximately $3.4 trillion will be required between 2025 and 2044 for U.S. drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure modernization alone. A significant challenge impeding market growth remains the substantial upfront capital expenditure and ongoing operational costs associated with implementing and maintaining advanced tertiary treatment systems, particularly in regions with limited financial resources.

Key Market Drivers

Stringent environmental regulations and discharge standards represent a primary catalyst for the Global Tertiary Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market, compelling industries and municipalities to upgrade treatment capabilities. Governments and regulatory bodies are enforcing stricter effluent quality parameters to protect aquatic ecosystems and public health. This escalation in regulatory rigor directly necessitates the adoption of advanced tertiary treatment processes. For instance, according to SUSBIO ECOTREAT, September 2025, in the "Essential Guide: Packaged Sewage Treatment Plant Compliance Requirements for 2025," new sewage treatment plants commissioned after June 1, 2019, in India must meet stringent parameters including a Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of ≤10 mg/L, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of ≤50 mg/L, and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) of ≤10 mg/L. These exacting limits are generally only attainable through tertiary treatment solutions, thus stimulating demand for associated equipment.

The escalating global water scarcity and the consequent imperative for water reuse also significantly drive the tertiary treatment market. As freshwater resources become increasingly strained, societies are turning to treated wastewater as a viable alternative, requiring advanced purification for safety and quality. This push for circular water management directly fuels investment in tertiary systems capable of transforming effluent into reusable water sources. According to the International Trade Administration, September 2025, in "China - Environmental Technology," under China's 14th Five-Year Plan, China aims to add 15 million cubic meters per day of reclaimed water capacity by 2025. This emphasis on water reclamation expands the market for tertiary treatment technologies. According to the International Trade Administration, in 2023, China's water reuse market generated $2.07 billion.

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Key Market Challenges

A significant challenge impeding the growth of the Global Tertiary Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market is the substantial upfront capital expenditure and ongoing operational costs associated with implementing and maintaining advanced tertiary treatment systems. These high financial outlays create a formidable barrier to adoption, particularly for municipalities and industrial facilities operating with constrained budgets. The requirement for significant initial investment often delays or prevents the upgrade to more advanced treatment technologies, even when environmental regulations necessitate improved effluent quality.

These financial hurdles directly limit the market's expansion. According to the Metro Vancouver Liquid Waste Committee Agenda Package, in October 2025, the total 2026 Capital Expenditure targets for liquid waste services, including investments in advanced treatment facilities such as the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, were $981.4 million. This substantial allocation underscores the considerable financial resources required for advanced treatment infrastructure. The continuous operational expenses for specialized chemicals, energy consumption, and skilled labor further strain financial resources, diminishing the attractiveness of these advanced systems despite their environmental benefits.

Key Market Trends

Advanced Membrane Technology Integration presents a pivotal trend, revolutionizing tertiary water treatment by offering superior contaminant removal and efficient water reclamation. These advanced systems, including membrane bioreactors and nanofiltration, effectively remove microplastics, pathogens, and dissolved solids, enabling high-quality effluent suitable for various reuse applications. Evolution in membrane materials and configurations, such as fouling-resistant membranes, enhances operational longevity and reduces maintenance, lowering the total cost of ownership. This advancement supports circular water management. For instance, according to METAWATER Co., Ltd., April 2025, in its 'Consolidated Financial Results for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2025', the company reported net sales of 179,094 million yen, an 8.2% increase year-on-year, driven by performance in its environmental engineering and solution businesses.

The emergence of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) equipment marks another significant trend, addressing recalcitrant organic pollutants and contaminants of emerging concern that often evade conventional treatment. AOPs, including technologies like UV/hydrogen peroxide and electrochemical oxidation, generate highly reactive hydroxyl radicals to break down complex compounds into benign byproducts. This capability is vital for industrial wastewater and for producing ultra-pure water. Development of more energy-efficient and scalable AOP systems is increasing their viability and adoption across applications. Reflecting this, according to MDPI, January 2026, in its article 'Efficiency of Advanced Oxidation Processes for Treating Wastewater from Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling', electrochemical oxidation was identified as a cost-effective option for treating specific industrial wastewater, with costs of EUR 6.63/m3.

Segmental Insights

The Filtration Systems segment is a key growth driver in the Global Tertiary Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market. This rapid expansion is primarily fueled by increasingly stringent environmental regulations globally, which mandate higher water quality standards for discharged effluent and promote water reuse initiatives. Regulatory bodies, such as environmental protection agencies, compel industries and municipalities to adopt advanced filtration to effectively remove suspended solids, micropollutants, and nutrients like phosphorus. Furthermore, growing concerns over water scarcity necessitate advanced treatment for reliable water recycling and potable reuse, which filtration technologies efficiently support.

Regional Insights

North America emerges as a significant region within the Global Tertiary Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market. This leadership is largely attributable to the region's well-developed industrial and municipal infrastructure, which necessitates ongoing investments in upgrading facilities. Stringent environmental regulations, such as the Clean Water Act enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, mandate advanced wastewater treatment, including tertiary processes, before water discharge. These rigorous standards, coupled with increasing water reuse initiatives, compel both municipalities and industries to adopt sophisticated filtration and disinfection technologies. Additionally, the region benefits from continuous technological innovation and supportive funding programs aimed at sustainable water management solutions.

Recent Developments

• In February 2026, Salinity Solutions, a Birmingham-based company, showcased its HyBatch™ technology, an innovative water cleaning method designed for improved efficiency. This breakthrough research achieved notable energy savings of 30–55% compared to existing systems. The technology has broad applications, including treating urban wastewater and recovering up to 98% of water in industrial processes, leading to substantial cost reductions. HyBatch™ contributes to the global tertiary water and wastewater treatment equipment market by offering a sustainable solution for enhanced water purification and resource recovery.
• In January 2026, Karofi unveiled its Capacitive Deionization (CDI) technology at CES 2026, presenting an advanced, high-performance solution for modern water purification needs. This innovative system diverges from conventional salt-based softeners by employing electrically charged electrodes to remove dissolved ions, thereby eliminating the requirement for salt regeneration. The CDI technology offers adjustable Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) reduction, high water recovery efficiency, and reduced maintenance, representing a significant product launch in the tertiary water treatment equipment sector for enhanced water quality.
• In January 2025, KETOS announced a strategic collaboration with Siemens to enhance water quality solutions and improve management practices within the water industry. This partnership specifically targeted the municipal and industrial water markets, aiming to deliver more effective water quality management systems. The collaboration integrates advanced monitoring and analytical capabilities, which are crucial for optimizing tertiary treatment processes by providing real-time data to ensure compliance with stringent water quality standards and facilitate efficient resource recovery.
• In 2025, AMS commenced the commercial deployment of its proprietary SafeGuard™ H2O technology, transitioning from demonstrations to full-scale water treatment applications. This breakthrough involved containerized systems designed for rapid, modular installation, focusing on removing challenging contaminants like nitrates and hexavalent chromium. The technology's ability to generate electrolytic reagents on-site offers a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional methods, directly impacting the efficacy and efficiency of tertiary wastewater treatment in industrial and municipal settings.

Key Market Players

• Veolia Environnement SA
• Xylem Inc.
• SUEZ SA
• Pentair plc
• DuPont Water Solutions
• Aquatech International LLC
• 3M Company
• Calgon Carbon Corporation
• Toray Industries
• Fluence Corporation

By Equipment Type	By Application	By Region
Filtration Systems Disinfection Systems Membrane Systems Chemical Treatment Equipment Others	Municipal Water Treatment Industrial Wastewater Treatment Agricultural Water Treatment Commercial & Residential Water Treatment	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Tertiary Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market, By Equipment Type:

• Filtration Systems
• Disinfection Systems
• Membrane Systems
• Chemical Treatment Equipment
• Others

• Tertiary Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market, By Application:

• Municipal Water Treatment
• Industrial Wastewater Treatment
• Agricultural Water Treatment
• Commercial & Residential Water Treatment

• Tertiary Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment 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