Market Overview

The global water and wastewater treatment equipment market was valued at USD 64.95 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.40% during 2026 to 2034, according to Polaris Market Research. The market is estimated at USD 68.38 billion in 2026 and is expected to reach USD 104.24 billion by 2034. Demand is shaped by increasing global population and urbanization, growing water scarcity and pollution, stricter government regulations on water quality and discharge, and rapid industrialization.

What Treatment Equipment Does

Water and wastewater treatment equipment is used to purify water for safe consumption and to treat wastewater before its reuse. The portfolio includes filtration units, clarifiers, aerators, pumps and membranes, along with disinfection systems and devices for sludge treatment. The main goal is to remove contaminants such as suspended solids, harmful microorganisms, chemicals and organic matter. Municipal, industrial and commercial spaces use this equipment for safe drinking water production and industrial process water recycling, and it also helps users meet regulatory standards and promote sustainability.

Segmentation by Type, Process and Application

The report segments the market by type, process, application and region. By type, the categories are membrane separation, disinfection, biological, sludge treatment and others. By process, they are primary, secondary and tertiary. By application, the report separates municipal and industrial users. Regionally, it covers North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa, including countries such as the U.S., Germany, China, India, Brazil and Saudi Arabia. This structure lets equipment suppliers and project owners compare demand across treatment stages and end-use settings.

Membrane Separation Holds the Largest Type Share

The membrane separation segment held the largest revenue share of 28.0% in 2025, due to its high filtration efficiency and compact operating area. Polaris explains that membrane separation helps create high-quality, chemical-free treated water with excellent clarity and low turbidity, which contributed to its wide adoption. Its low energy consumption has also led many industries to turn to the system for removing water contaminants at a lower operating cost. The report adds that innovations in reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration and membrane bioreactors improve contaminant removal efficiency and water recovery rates.

𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:

https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/water-and-wastewater-treatment-equipment-market 

Tertiary Process Leads by Revenue

Based on process, the tertiary segment accounted for 44.0% of revenue in 2025. According to the report, the tertiary process is widely used to improve water emission quality before the water is reused or discharged into the ecosystem. At this stage, effluent is made suitable for reuse by removing elements such as viruses, bacteria and parasites. The segment's position is also attributed to its ability to support compliance with stringent environmental regulations, while agricultural irrigation and public water supply heavily use the tertiary process for water treatment.

AI-Based Predictive Maintenance and Smart Operations

Digital technologies are reshaping plant operations. Polaris highlights AI-based predictive maintenance, which detects equipment failures in pumps, membranes and filtration systems before breakdowns occur, reducing downtime and maintenance costs. The report also points to AI-driven optimization of aeration, pumping and filtration to reduce electricity consumption, leak and pipeline detection through analytics, automated process control, and remote plant monitoring that combines AI with IoT. For operators managing disinfection systems, membranes and other assets across multiple locations, these capabilities support more accurate and centralized management.

Urbanization and Regulation Support Demand

Urbanization is a primary market driver. The United Nations has stated that the global urban population is projected to increase to around two-thirds of the total population in 2050, which raises the need for infrastructure that supplies safe drinking water and manages sewage. Urbanization also encourages the construction of residential complexes, commercial spaces and industrial hubs, creating demand for clean water supply and effective wastewater management. Growing populations in India and China, along with government focus on safe drinking water, further support demand for treatment equipment.

Regional Outlook

Asia Pacific was the largest market in 2025, accounting for a 32.0% revenue share. Polaris attributes this to the high presence of manufacturing facilities in South Korea, India, China and Japan, a growing population and regulations on the safe discharge of wastewater. North America is anticipated to grow at a robust CAGR of 4.9% over the forecast years, owing to strict regulatory norms on water discharge, growing urbanization, the presence of prominent companies and government investment in treatment facilities.

Key Players and Recent Developments

Key players profiled in the report include Ashland Technologies, Aquatech International LLC Technologies, Calgon Carbon Corp., Danaher Corporation, Degremont SAS, Dow Solutions, DuPont, Ecolab Inc, Evoqua, GE Technologies, Kemira OYJ, Pentair plc, SUEZ, Veolia and Xylem Inc. In April 2026, DuPont Water Solutions launched the Reverse Osmosis Operations Advisor, an AI-enabled digital tool designed to help operators lower downtime and optimize system performance. In March 2025, the company launched WAVE PRO, an online modeling tool for ultrafiltration systems.

Conclusion

The water and wastewater treatment equipment market is set to expand from USD 64.95 billion in 2025 to USD 104.24 billion by 2034, supported by urbanization, tighter discharge rules and growing attention to reuse. Choices around membrane separation, the tertiary process, disinfection systems and digital maintenance tools will continue to influence how municipal and industrial buyers plan their equipment investments.

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