Zero Liquid Discharge Systems Market Report 2026

The zero liquid discharge systems market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $7.02 billion in 2025 to $7.63 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to industrial water pollution control, regulatory discharge limits, expansion of thermal power plants, water scarcity concerns, growth in heavy industries.

The zero liquid discharge systems market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $10.6 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to stricter environmental regulations, rising industrial water reuse needs, expansion of petrochemical projects, growth in mining operations, adoption of circular water management. Major trends in the forecast period include rising adoption of industrial water recycling, expansion of hybrid zld system deployments, growing use of membrane based technologies, integration of energy efficient evaporation systems, focus on complete wastewater elimination.

The growth in urbanization is expected to drive the expansion of the zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems market going forward. Urbanization refers to the large-scale movement of populations from rural to urban areas. As urban populations increase, the demand for energy and water rises, leading to greater pressure on water resources and wastewater management systems. This growing need supports the adoption of ZLD systems, which help industries and municipalities manage wastewater more efficiently by ensuring no liquid waste is discharged into the environment. For example, according to a 2022 report by the World Bank, more than 50% of the global population lives in urban areas, and this number is projected to reach 6 billion by 2045 - an increase of 1.5 times. Additionally, by 2030, global urban built-up land is expected to expand by an additional 1.2 million km², with urban area growth occurring up to 50% faster than population growth. Therefore, increasing urbanization is driving the growth of the ZLD systems market.

Major companies in the zero liquid discharge systems market are focusing on developing advanced high-recovery treatment technologies such as electrodialysis reversal (EDR) systems to boost water reuse, enhance resource recovery, reduce fouling, and ensure reliable operation under challenging industrial conditions. For example, in October 2025, QUA, a US-based membrane technology company, launched EDR-Q, an advanced electrodialysis reversal solution designed for high-recovery desalination, water reuse, and specialized industrial applications. EDR-Q enables selective ion removal and resource recovery for industries such as food and beverage, critical minerals, and wastewater treatment. The system employs automatic polarity reversal to minimize fouling and scaling, supports up to 95% water recovery, and performs efficiently under high silica, sulfate, and turbidity conditions. With chemical-free in situ cleaning, wide pH tolerance, low maintenance requirements, and compact modular models offering flow rates from 1.5 to 9 m³/hr, EDR-Q provides a cost-efficient and robust ZLD solution.

In February 2023, Gradiant, a US-based water technology company, acquired Advanced Watertek for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition enables Gradiant to strengthen its presence in the rapidly growing Middle Eastern market and expand the deployment of its full suite of technologies to meet rising demand for sustainable water management solutions. Advanced Watertek is a UAE-based provider of zero liquid discharge systems.

Major companies operating in the zero liquid discharge systems market are Alfa Laval AB, Aquatech International LLC, ENCON Evaporators, GEA Group, Oasys Water Inc., Veolia Water Technologies, Suez SA, Condorchem Envitech, Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, Aquarion AG, IDE Technologies Ltd., Thermax Global, GE Water & Process Technologies, 3v Green Eagle SpA, Doosan Hydro Technology, Praj Industries Limited, Andritz AG, H2O GmbH, SafBon Water Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ion Exchange India Ltd., Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation, Petro Sep Corporation, Fluence Corporation Limited, Kurita Water Industries Ltd., Arvind Envisol Limited, Hydro Air Research Italia S.r.l., Samco Technologies Inc., Lenntech B.V., Saltworks Technologies Inc.

North America was the largest region in the zero liquid discharge systems market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the zero liquid discharge systems market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the zero liquid discharge systems market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The zero liquid discharge systems market consists of sales of ultrafiltration systems, reverse osmosis systems, crystallization units, and fractional electro-deionization systems. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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