Market Snapshot

The water and wastewater treatment equipment market was valued at USD 64.95 billion in 2025, according to Polaris Market Research, and is projected to reach USD 104.24 billion by 2034, registering a CAGR of 5.40% from 2026 to 2034. Asia Pacific was the largest regional market in 2025. The market is estimated at USD 68.38 billion in 2026, the first year of the forecast period. The report links demand to population growth, urbanization, water scarcity and pollution, stricter regulations on water quality and discharge, and rapid industrialization.

Water Treatment Versus Wastewater Treatment

Polaris draws a clear distinction between the two disciplines. Water treatment purifies raw water so it is safe for drinking, industrial processing or commercial use. Wastewater treatment handles used or contaminated water before discharge, reuse or environmental release. The report describes wastewater treatment as more complex because of varying contaminant loads and biological treatment requirements. Its demand drivers include growing environmental regulations, wastewater recycling initiatives and industrial discharge management needs, while water treatment demand is linked to rising clean water demand, industrialization and water scarcity concerns.

Biological Treatment Gains Regulatory Support

By type, the biological segment is projected to grow at a robust pace of 5.8% in the coming years. Polaris notes that developed countries such as the U.S., Canada, Japan and Germany are enhancing the use of biological cleaning equipment by imposing stringent regulations to minimize water pollution in manufacturing sectors through eco-friendly methods. In wastewater plants, biological treatment works alongside aeration tanks, biological reactors, digesters and sludge processing, which the report lists among the equipment used in wastewater treatment.

Industrial Wastewater Treatment Needs

Industries such as chemicals and pharmaceuticals use water treatment equipment to purify process water, recycle wastewater and meet stringent discharge regulations. The report lists mining, oil and gas, textile, and pulp and paper among the industries that depend on industrial wastewater treatment, alongside municipal sewage treatment and chemical manufacturing. Pharmaceutical manufacturing, food and beverage processing and power generation appear among the applications for water treatment. For these users, compliance with discharge rules and the ability to reuse process water are central purchasing considerations.

𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:

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

Zero Liquid Discharge and Water Recycling

Among the technological advancements Polaris reviews, water recycling and zero liquid discharge systems stand out for sustainability. These technologies recover reusable water while minimizing wastewater discharge, supporting sustainability initiatives and helping industries comply with stringent environmental regulations. The report also covers advanced membrane technologies for large-scale water reuse and desalination, and energy-efficient desalination systems that use advanced energy recovery devices, low-pressure membranes and optimized process designs to reduce power consumption.

Smart Water Quality Monitoring and IoT

Smart water quality monitoring is another area of technology change. According to the report, AI-based sensors analyze pH, turbidity, chemical composition and contamination levels in real time, which improves treatment accuracy. IoT-enabled smart sensors continuously monitor parameters such as pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pressure and contaminant levels, enabling real-time data analysis, remote monitoring and faster response to operational issues. Automated filtration, including automated backwashing and self-cleaning filters, reduces manual intervention and maintenance requirements.

Digital Twin Technology and Robotics

Polaris also points to digital twin technology, in which virtual replicas of treatment plants simulate operational performance and maintenance scenarios using real-time data. The report states that this approach optimizes plant operations, reduces failures and improves long-term asset management. Robotic and autonomous inspection systems are increasingly used for pipeline inspection, tank cleaning and equipment monitoring in hazardous environments, improving worker safety and inspection accuracy. Together with digital twin technology, these tools show how plant owners can combine data and automation to manage complex treatment sites.

Competitive Landscape

The competitive insight section of the report lists 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. among the key companies. Recent product launches illustrate the digital focus: in April 2026, DuPont Water Solutions introduced the Reverse Osmosis Operations Advisor, an AI-enabled tool intended to help operators lower downtime and reduce the cost of treated water.

Regional Demand Drivers

Asia Pacific led in 2025 with a 32.0% revenue share, supported by manufacturing facilities in South Korea, India, China and Japan and by a growing population. North America is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.9%, supported by strict regulatory norms on water discharge, growing urbanization and government investment in treatment facilities. High awareness of water-borne diseases is also cited as a factor leading market growth in North America.

Conclusion

The water and wastewater treatment equipment market is moving toward connected, data-driven operations alongside traditional treatment stages. From biological treatment and zero liquid discharge to smart water quality monitoring and digital twin technology, the technologies described by Polaris Market Research show how treatment operators can respond to regulatory pressure and the need for reuse across municipal and industrial settings.

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