Wastewater Treatment Procurement Intelligence Report, 2023 - 2030 (Revenue Forecast, Supplier Ranking & Matrix, Emerging Technologies, Pricing Models, Cost Structure, Engagement & Operating Model, Competitive Landscape)

Wastewater Treatment Category Overview

The wastewater treatment category is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2023 to 2030. Wastewater primarily can be divided into industrial, domestic, and stormwater run-off, which can be further segregated into blackwater and greywater. Similarly, its treatment can be classified into four stages - preliminary or pretreatment, primary, secondary, and tertiary treatments. Among these, the tertiary segment accounted for 44% of the total share in 2022. According to the UN estimates, more than 55% of the population lives in urban areas and it is anticipated to increase to 68% by 2050. As communities grow, it becomes increasingly challenging to provide essential services such as wastewater treatment and amenity spaces. This is due to limited land availability and, the high costs of acquiring land and building infrastructure to meet the increased demand for these services. Therefore, the growth of the category is mainly attributable to increasing urbanization and a high requirement for clean water and sewage water/waste management. Further, the growing environmental concerns with proper disposal and discharge methods are likely to aid category expansion.

In this category, several types of plants are used to treat different kinds of wastewater such as - Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), Common and Combined Effluent Treatment Plants (CEPTs), Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs), Activated Sludge Plants (ASPs), and others. The wastewater treatment industry has significantly improved through the adoption of new technologies such as - oxygen membrane aeration biofilm reactors for high oxygen transfer rates, an increase in biological treatment capacity with a lower carbon footprint, advanced oxidation, thermal hydrolysis, and the use of IoT in many facilities. For instance, IoT sensors are used in plants to gather information on operational efficiency, water quality, pollutants, performance and monitoring, and detection of hazardous and residual chemicals.

The global wastewater treatment category is characterized by a high degree of fragmentation. In the U.S. alone there are more than 23,000 wastewater utilities, a number that significantly surpasses other developed nations such as the U.K. and Australia. As of June 2023, in the U.S., the water and wastewater landscape is highly fragmented with the presence of 48,000+ community water systems and 23,481 wastewater treatment plants/sites. The treatment plants cater to around 267 million people in the nation. 78% of water systems (i.e., small ones) serving less than 3,300 people are undercapitalized and unable to keep up with increasing compliance costs.

Most of the players have moderate to low bargaining power. Industry players recognize that the water and wastewater utility industry suffers from inefficiencies, which are predominantly manifested in limited competition that results in higher prices. It is further challenging for suppliers and contractors to become aware of (and reply to) bids and RFPs in a timely manner due to the fragmented nature of the market. As a result, many organizations are considering consolidation strategies like annexation and acquisition, from municipalities to investor-owned utilities.

• For instance, in May 2023, Xylem announced the acquisition of Evoqua Water Technologies, one of the leading companies in this category. The combined company will have the most advanced platform, technologies, and integrated capabilities across the entire water cycle utility sector. Through their collaborative efforts, the two companies aimed to meet the critical requirements of companies/ consumers in energy, chemicals, environmental, water, and transportation.

The wastewater, before being properly discharged into the environment, must be properly treated and purified in a treatment plant. Hence it is essential to distinguish between fixed and operational costs to manage and optimize the finances of the facility. In this category, there are mainly two types of costs - fixed and operational. If we take the example of STP, the major fixed costs include - the cost of design and engineering, construction, land purchases and obtaining necessary permits, equipment and technology, legal, and contingency. For any treatment plant, on average, the operational costs include - labor, energy, reagents and chemicals/materials, sludge management/disposal, repairs and maintenance, and overhead/miscellaneous costs. Costs related to administrative expenses, utilities, any compliance or regulatory requirements, and insurance can be considered under overheads. Operational costs can account for between 45 - 50% of the total costs. If we further break it down, then energy consumption can account for between 10 - 30% of the total operating costs.

Some of the factors which can have an impact on the total costs are - the size or load capacity of the plant, topography and geographical location of the facility, supply of energy, degree of automation, treatment and methods used in the processes, and method of disposal. The particular equipment utilized in a system will be largely determined by the sort of treatment companies want and the particularities of their process and facility. For instance, reduced flow rates correspond to reduced capital expenditures in industrial water treatment systems. Increasing the flow by 50% can increase the costs by about 20%. Similarly, the cost of engineering is around 10 - 15% of the total project cost and is generally phased over the course of the project. Simple, low-flow systems can cost as low as USD 45,000 compared to high-end capacity systems that can cost around tens of millions of dollars. For instance, when it comes to food and beverage manufacturing, technology is typically used to remove biological contaminants (such as membrane bioreactors) and oil/grease (using dissolved air flotation). Depending on the levels of BOD and limit of discharges, at 100 GPM, the treatment equipment can be anywhere around USD 500,000 to over 1 million.

Singapore, Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands, and Sweden are among the top countries having the best sewage treatment plants in the world. Singapore's advanced wastewater infrastructure and strict water quality standards make it a global leader in this category. When selecting vendors, companies in various end-user industries assess them based on the knowledge they possess and the equipment they offer (such as filtration systems, membranes, and boiler systems), to ensure that it meets their specific requirements. They also evaluate the various chemicals used for treatment, the frequency of service visits (annual, quarterly, or monthly), payment options, the risks associated with the service, and negotiate and compare proposals from multiple vendors. Additionally, it is important to ensure vendors adhere to compliance and testing requirements. 

Wastewater Treatment Procurement Intelligence Report Scope