United States Secondary Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market, By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2020-2030F

The United States Secondary Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market was valued at USD 19.71 Billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 25.00 Billion by 2030, rising at a CAGR of 3.89%. Market expansion is driven by increased urbanization, industrial growth, and stringent environmental mandates requiring effective wastewater management. Secondary treatment, which targets the biological removal of dissolved and suspended matter, plays a crucial role in enabling municipalities and industries to meet discharge regulations. Regulatory enforcement - particularly under frameworks such as the Clean Water Act - continues to drive investment in advanced secondary treatment systems. These regulations mandate high levels of wastewater purification before discharge into natural water bodies, leading to sustained demand for biological treatment, clarification, filtration, and disinfection technologies across the country.

Key Market Drivers

Stringent Environmental Regulations Encouraging Equipment Upgrades

Environmental compliance is a major driver in the U.S. secondary treatment market, with federal oversight led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Regulations such as the Clean Water Act enforce strict pollution discharge limits, pushing municipal and industrial operators to invest in advanced treatment systems. These mandates have accelerated the modernization of existing infrastructure and the adoption of newer equipment to meet regulatory benchmarks. The focus on improving water quality and preserving aquatic ecosystems continues to generate steady demand for effective secondary treatment technologies.

Key Market Challenges

High Capital and Operational Costs

A key challenge in the U.S. secondary water and wastewater treatment equipment market is the substantial cost burden associated with advanced systems. Technologies such as membrane bioreactors (MBRs), sequencing batch reactors (SBRs), and activated sludge systems involve high upfront investment, which can deter adoption - especially for smaller municipalities or industrial operators with constrained budgets.

Ongoing operational costs, including skilled labor, energy use, and component replacement, further strain financial resources. Energy expenses alone can account for up to 30% of operational budgets in typical treatment plants. Funding limitations and uncertainty around long-term returns also hinder infrastructure upgrades. While programs like the Clean Water State Revolving Fund offer support, competition for these funds remains high. As a result, cost barriers continue to impact deployment, particularly in economically disadvantaged or rural regions.

Key Market Trends

Growing Demand for Decentralized Treatment Solutions

Decentralized wastewater treatment systems are gaining traction in the U.S. as a flexible and scalable solution, especially in areas where centralized infrastructure expansion is financially or logistically impractical. These systems are being adopted in rural communities, industrial zones, residential clusters, and resorts due to their modular design and ease of deployment.

By enabling treatment closer to the source of wastewater generation, decentralized systems reduce pressure on centralized plants and minimize infrastructure costs such as long-distance piping. Technological advances, particularly in biological and membrane treatment processes, have improved the performance of decentralized units, making them a viable alternative to traditional systems. This trend is particularly relevant as municipalities seek cost-effective ways to manage growing wastewater volumes amid budget constraints and aging infrastructure.

Key Market Players

• Veolia Environnement SA
• Xylem Inc.
• SUEZ SA
• Pentair plc
• Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
• Aquatech International LLC
• Ecolab Inc.
• Ovivo Inc.
• Toshiba Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
• Parkson Corporation

Report Scope:

In this report, the United States Secondary 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:

United States Secondary Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market, By Equipment Type:

• Biological Treatment Equipment
• Clarification Equipment
• Filtration Equipment
• Disinfection Equipment

United States Secondary Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market, By Application:

• Municipal Wastewater Treatment
• Industrial Wastewater Treatment

United States Secondary Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market, By Region:

• North-East
• Mid-West
• West
• South

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the United States Secondary Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market.

Available Customizations:

With the given market data, the publisher offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report.

Company Information

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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