Global Secondary Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Size Study & Forecast, by Technology, Purpose, Design, Capacity, Control System, and Regional Forecasts 2025-2035
The Global Secondary Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market is valued at approximately USD 13.25 billion in 2024 and is projected to expand at a robust CAGR of 5.69% over the forecast period 2025-2035. With environmental stewardship becoming a strategic imperative across industries and municipalities, the focus has sharply pivoted toward advanced wastewater treatment methods-particularly secondary treatment systems that efficiently remove dissolved and suspended biological matter. These systems, which employ biological processes like activated sludge and trickling filters, serve as an indispensable line of defense against waterborne contaminants and are pivotal in restoring water to a reusable or discharge-ready state. As the global population accelerates urbanization and industries intensify their water dependency, the market for scalable and energy-efficient secondary treatment equipment continues to gain powerful momentum.
The evolving dynamics of water governance and stringent regulatory mandates are reinforcing the need for optimized and resilient secondary treatment infrastructure. From industrial parks to urban utilities, players are increasingly deploying membrane bioreactors and sequencing batch reactors to enhance effluent quality while minimizing ecological footprints. Furthermore, innovations in automation and digital controls-ranging from semi-automated to fully integrated SCADA systems-are revolutionizing operational reliability and data-driven process management. Another defining trend is the transition toward modular and upgradable treatment systems, offering greater flexibility for decentralized operations and future capacity enhancements. The push for circular water economies and industrial water reuse also opens lucrative avenues for equipment manufacturers catering to zero liquid discharge (ZLD) objectives.
Regionally, North America captured a dominant share of the market in 2024, fueled by modernized infrastructure, high per capita water usage, and strong regulatory oversight under bodies like the EPA. The United States, in particular, is spearheading wastewater infrastructure upgrades supported by federal stimulus and green funding initiatives. Meanwhile, Europe remains a front-runner in adopting next-generation technologies thanks to the EU Water Framework Directive and ambitious sustainability goals across member states. However, Asia Pacific is poised to outpace other regions in growth terms, underpinned by aggressive urban expansion, surging industrial output, and heightened water scarcity in megacities across China, India, and Southeast Asia. Infrastructure buildouts, paired with smart-city deployments and public-private partnerships, are actively steering the region's wastewater treatment capabilities into a new era of efficiency and scalability.
Major market player included in this report are:
Evoqua Water Technologies
Veolia Environnement S.A.
Xylem Inc.
SUEZ SA
Pentair plc
Kurita Water Industries Ltd.
DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
Hitachi Zosen Corporation
Thermax Limited
IDE Technologies Ltd.
AECOM
Huber SE
Aquatech International LLC
Toshiba Water Solutions
Ecolab Inc.
Global Secondary Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Report Scope:
Historical Data - 2023, 2024
Base Year for Estimation - 2024
Forecast period - 2025-2035
Report Coverage - Revenue forecast, Company Ranking, Competitive Landscape, Growth factors, and Trends
Regional Scope - North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; Middle East & Africa
Customization Scope - Free report customization (equivalent up to 8 analysts' working hours) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope*
The objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values for the coming years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within the countries involved in the study. The report also provides detailed information about crucial aspects, such as driving factors and challenges, which will define the future growth of the market. Additionally, it incorporates potential opportunities in micro-markets for stakeholders to invest, along with a detailed analysis of the competitive landscape and product offerings of key players. The detailed segments and sub-segments of the market are explained below:
By Technology:
Activated Sludge Process
Membrane Bioreactors
Trickling Filters
Sequencing Batch Reactors
By Purpose:
Municipal Wastewater Treatment
Industrial Wastewater Treatment
Water Reuse
By Design:
Packaged Equipment
Custom Engineered Systems
Upgradable Systems
By Capacity:
Small Scale (less than 1 MGD)
Medium Scale (1-10 MGD)
Large Scale (over 10 MGD)
By Control System:
Manual Control
Semi-Automated Control
Fully Automated Control
By Region:
North America
U.S.
Canada
Europe
UK
Germany
France
Spain
Italy
Rest of Europe
Asia Pacific
China
India
Japan
Australia
South Korea
Rest of Asia Pacific
Latin America
Brazil
Mexico
Middle East & Africa
UAE
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
Rest of Middle East & Africa
Key Takeaways:
Market Estimates & Forecast for 10 years from 2025 to 2035.
Annualized revenues and regional level analysis for each market segment.
Detailed analysis of geographical landscape with Country level analysis of major regions.
Competitive landscape with information on major players in the market.
Analysis of key business strategies and recommendations on future market approach.
Analysis of competitive structure of the market.
Demand side and supply side analysis of the market.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Global Secondary Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Report Scope & Methodology
1.1. Research Objective
1.2. Research Methodology
1.2.1. Forecast Model
1.2.2. Desk Research
1.2.3. Top-Down and Bottom-Up Approach
1.3. Research Attributes
1.4. Scope of the Study
1.4.1. Market Definition
1.4.2. Market Segmentation
1.5. Research Assumptions
1.5.1. Inclusion & Exclusion
1.5.2. Limitations
1.5.3. Years Considered for the Study
Chapter 2. Executive Summary
2.1. CEO/CXO Standpoint
2.2. Strategic Insights
2.3. ESG Analysis
2.4. Key Findings
Chapter 3. Global Secondary Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Forces Analysis
3.1. Market Forces Shaping The Global Secondary Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market 2024-2035
3.2. Drivers
3.2.1. Stricter Discharge Standards and Water Reuse Mandates (Key Driver)
3.2.2. Rising Urbanization and Industrial Wastewater Volumes (Key Driver)
3.3. Restraints
3.3.1. High Operational Expenditure and Energy Consumption (Key Restraint)
3.3.2. Complexity of Retrofitting Existing Infrastructure (Key Restraint)
3.4. Opportunities
3.4.1. Growth in Circular Economy and Zero Liquid Discharge Initiatives (Key Opportunity)
3.4.2. Adoption of Digital Process Controls and Automation (Key Opportunity)
Chapter 4. Global Secondary Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Industry Analysis
4.1. Porter's Five Forces Model
4.1.1. Bargaining Power of Buyers
4.1.2. Bargaining Power of Suppliers
4.1.3. Threat of New Entrants
4.1.4. Threat of Substitutes
4.1.5. Competitive Rivalry
4.2. Porter's Five Forces Forecast Model 2024-2035
4.3. PESTEL Analysis
4.3.1. Political
4.3.2. Economic
4.3.3. Social
4.3.4. Technological
4.3.5. Environmental
4.3.6. Legal
4.4. Top Investment Opportunities
4.5. Top Winning Strategies 2025
4.6. Market Share Analysis 2024-2025
4.7. Global Pricing Analysis and Trends 2025
4.8. Analyst Recommendations & Conclusion
Chapter 5. Global Secondary Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Size & Forecasts by Technology 2025-2035
5.1. Market Overview
5.2. Activated Sludge Process
5.2.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
5.2.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
5.3. Membrane Bioreactors
5.3.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
5.3.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
5.4. Trickling Filters
5.4.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
5.4.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
5.5. Sequencing Batch Reactors
5.5.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
5.5.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
Chapter 6. Global Secondary Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Size & Forecasts by Purpose 2025-2035
6.1. Market Overview
6.2. Municipal Wastewater Treatment
6.2.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
6.2.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
6.3. Industrial Wastewater Treatment
6.3.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
6.3.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
6.4. Water Reuse
6.4.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
6.4.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
Chapter 7. Global Secondary Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Size & Forecasts by Design 2025-2035
7.1. Market Overview
7.2. Packaged Equipment
7.2.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
7.2.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
7.3. Custom Engineered Systems
7.3.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
7.3.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
7.4. Upgradable Systems
7.4.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
7.4.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
Chapter 8. Global Secondary Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Size & Forecasts by Capacity 2025-2035
8.1. Market Overview
8.2. Small Scale (less than 1 MGD)
8.2.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
8.2.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
8.3. Medium Scale (1-10 MGD)
8.3.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
8.3.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
8.4. Large Scale (over 10 MGD)
8.4.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
8.4.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
Chapter 9. Global Secondary Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Size & Forecasts by Control System 2025-2035
9.1. Market Overview
9.2. Manual Control
9.2.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
9.2.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
9.3. Semi-Automated Control
9.3.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
9.3.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
9.4. Fully Automated Control
9.4.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
9.4.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
Chapter 10. Global Secondary Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Size & Forecasts by Region 2025-2035