Liquid Waste Management Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Source (Residential, Commercial & Industrial), By Industrial (Paper & Pulp, Chemical & Petrochemicals, Food & Beverages, Textile & Tannery and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The global liquid waste management market size was USD 65.93 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 85.02 billion by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.3% during the forecast period. North America dominated the liquid waste management market with a market share of 29.96% in 2018. Moreover, the U.S. liquid waste management market is projected to reach USD 22.29 billion by 2026, driven by growing environmental regulations and industrial waste disposal needs.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), liquid waste is defined as the waste material that passes through a 0.45-micron filter at a pressure of 75 psi. Liquid waste includes sewage as well as wastewater produced from different industries. Liquid waste can be hazardous or non-hazardous. It may contain organic matter which is beneficial for agriculture or it may contain synthetic chemicals & pathogens which are harmful to the environment. The basic aim of liquid waste treatment is to convert wastewater into acceptable effluent that can be disposed of on land, rivers, or at sea. Liquid waste undergoes primary, secondary & tertiary treatment. In primary treatment, suspended solids are screened & separated. In secondary treatment, dissolved biological matter is converted into solid forms mostly by water-borne bacteria. Further, in tertiary treatment, biological solids are neutralized and treated water is disinfected chemically or physically and then disposed of.   

GLOBAL LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT MARKET OVERVIEW & KEY METRICS

Market Size & Forecast:

• 2018 Market Size: USD 65.93 billion
• 2026 Forecast Market Size: USD 85.02 billion
• CAGR: 3.3% from 2018–2026

Market Share:

• North America led the global liquid waste management market in 2018 with a share of 29.96%, valued at USD 19.75 billion, up from USD 19.37 billion in 2017. The U.S. alone is projected to reach USD 22.29 billion by 2026, supported by stringent environmental regulations and the need for efficient industrial waste disposal solutions.
• By source, the residential segment dominated in 2018 due to high wastewater output from domestic usage—reportedly, 70–80% of water used in residential areas turns into wastewater. The commercial segment held a 5.8% share.
• By industry, paper & pulp led the industrial liquid waste generation segment, followed by chemical & petrochemical, textile, and food & beverage industries, including major wastewater sources like alcohol refineries and sugar manufacturing units.

Key Country Highlights:

• United States: A leader in wastewater treatment, with over 95% of collected wastewater treated and recycled. It hosts some of the largest plants globally, including in Chicago (1.44 billion GPD) and Boston (1.27 billion GPD).
• China & India: Rapid urbanization and industrial growth are driving demand for liquid waste treatment. India’s water demand is projected to reach 1.5 trillion cubic meters by 2030, intensifying the need for effective wastewater recycling systems.
• Germany: A mature wastewater infrastructure—96% of the population connected to secondary treatment systems as of 2016—contributes to Europe’s strong market position.
• Chile & Costa Rica: Latin America displays disparities in treatment levels—Chile treats over 90% of its wastewater, while Costa Rica treats only ~4%. The region is expected to benefit from a US$ 33 billion investment in wastewater infrastructure, according to the Development Bank of Latin America.
• GCC & South Africa: GCC countries increasingly use treated wastewater for agriculture and landscaping to mitigate water shortages. South Africa holds a significant share in MEA’s liquid waste market and continues expanding treatment capacities.

LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT MARKET TRENDS

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Liquid Waste Disposal Using Sunlight To Be The Key Market Trend

Researchers have developed an environment-friendly and economical technology to degrade contaminated liquid waste using sunlight. This new technology is expected to significantly reduce the waste-management expenditures of several industries. Disposal of liquid waste has always been challenging for industries, especially the ones operating in the manufacturing sector. The existing technologies available for waste disposal are costly, owing to which many industries do not follow the protocols for liquid waste disposal. According to the Asia Journal of Chemistry, this novel technique will be enormously efficient in the degradation of toxic chemicals generated by companies in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, textiles, paper, agrochemicals, and others.

LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT MARKET Growth Factors

Increasing population & rapid urbanization leads to a higher need for liquid waste treatment

As the population is growing, the amount of liquid waste produced is rising which further leads to the higher necessity of liquid waste treatment systems globally. According to the United Nations Report, the global population is expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, 9.7 billion by 2050 and surpass 11 billion by 2100. Moreover, rapid urbanization across the world is fueling the need for wastewater treatment in urban areas. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the urban population in the world is projected to grow over 1.63% and 1.44% per year during 2020-25 and 2025-30 respectively. According to the United Nations, by 2050 over 68% of the world’s population is expected to live in urban areas.

Rising awareness about water pollution through water campaigns is boosting the market growth

Wastewater includes a number of pollutants and contaminants such as pathogenic micro-organisms, heavy metals, plant nutrients, and organic pollutants. When improperly treated wastewater is discharged into the environment, it can cause severe damage to the aquatic ecosystem as well as to humans. For instance, eutrophication is caused due to excessive nutrients received by water bodies from agricultural run-offs. According to UN-Water Analytical brief report, eutrophication reduced the biodiversity of rivers, lakes & wetlands by one-third across the world. Therefore, to increase awareness about water pollution, both government & private sector water companies are launching water campaigns. For instance, the ‘Love Water’ campaign was launched in U.K. in 2019. Over 40 environmental groups, water companies, charities, and regulatory authorities joined their hands together to raise awareness about water pollution and the importance of water in the future. Such activities are expected to boost demand for liquid waste treatment over the forecast period.

Stringent government regulations are forcing manufacturers to adopt wastewater treatment

Government authorities such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) imposed strict regulations on the discharge limits of pollutants in wastewater. For instance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued ‘Effluent Guideline’ regulations for industries under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The maximum contamination level allowed in discharge depends on industry type and the levels has been set as per the performance of treatment systems. Violation of these guidelines or regulations leads to an environmental penalty. Environmental penalty results in case of surpassing the discharge levels, accidental or abnormal release of pollutants and failure of discharge reporting. Therefore, manufacturers must treat & dispose of wastewater properly which in turn is boosting the growth of the market of liquid waste management.

MARKET RESTRAINT

The high cost of liquid waste treatment

Typically, the treatment capacity of the individual country is dependent on its income. In high-income countries the treatment capacity is over 70% of the wastewater production as compared to 8% in low-income countries. Also, in comparison with solid waste, liquid waste is difficult to collect & process. The liquid waste easily pollutes the land or freshwater resources. Therefore, it should be handled carefully. Moreover, over the period, liquid waste treatment plants become less efficient due to steady build-up within piping systems.

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

The rising water crisis globally is creating new opportunities for liquid waste management

The lack of proper infrastructure and awareness about wastewater recycling resulted in the over-exploitation of freshwater resources across many countries. According to United Nation Environment Program report, the demand for water will increase by 50% by 2030. Moreover, over 3.5 million people live in Africa, Asia and Latin America are infected with water-related diseases and more than 0.8 million people die every year due to drinking contaminated water. Liquid waste management can effectively release the burden on freshwater resources and can save many lives. Recycled wastewater can be used in the irrigation of public parks, roads, sports academies, air condition systems, private gardening, concrete mixing and others. In the agriculture sector, nutrient-enriched recycled water can be used to fertilize crops. In power generation plants, high quantity of water is needed to cool the towers. Recycled wastewater can fulfill this requirement and can reduce the load on high-quality water usage.

LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT MARKET SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS

By Source Analysis

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The residential segment dominated the Global Liquid Waste Management Market in 2018

Based on source, the global liquid waste management market is segmented as residential, commercial and industrial.

The residential segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the global liquid waste management market in 2018. The segment is expected to lead the market of liquid waste management during the forecast period due to the higher production of wastewater through residential buildings. For instance, according to the Central Public Health & Environment Engineering Organization (CPHEEO) report, about 70-80% of total water supplied to domestic applications is converted to wastewater after use. The Commercial segment is expected to hold a 5.8% share in 2018.

By Industrial Analysis

The industrial segment is further sub-divided into paper & pulp, chemical & petrochemicals, food & beverages, textile & tannery, and others. In 2018, paper & pulp industry held a major market share in the global liquid market followed by the chemical & petrochemical industry. The amount of waste generated in paper & pulp industry is high as compared to other industries. In the food & beverage industry, alcohol refineries, sugar manufacturing & meat processing industry are the largest sources of wastewater generation.

REGIONAL ANALYSIS

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North America

North America held largest market share in the global liquid waste management market in 2018 followed by Asia Pacific. The region is expected to lead the market during the forecast period. In North America, the U.S. is a prime market for liquid waste management. In the region, over 95% of wastewater collected is treated and then recycled. Moreover, five of the biggest wastewater treatment plants are established in the U.S. For instance, Chicago & Boston has a wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 1.44 billion gallons per day and 1.27 billion gallons per day respectively.

• North America witnessed a growth from USD 19.37 Billion in 2017 to USD 19.75 Billion in 2018.

Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region in the global market of liquid waste management during the forecast period. Increasing population in emerging economies such as China, and India backed by favorable growth of the industrial sector in the region are the key factors driving the liquid waste management market growth. Moreover, increasing use of water by highly populous countries is expected to increase need for liquid waste treatment and recycling to suffice the water requirements in the future. According to the Central Pollution Control Board estimation, India’s water demand is expected to rise to 1.5 trillion cubic meters by 2030. 

Europe

Europe is a well-established market for liquid waste management. In most European countries, the percentage of the population connected to wastewater treatment systems is high. For instance, according to Eurostat, in 2016, 96% of the population in Germany was connected to at least one secondary urban wastewater treatment system.   

Latin America

In Latin America, there is a large disparity in the levels of wastewater treatment. For instance, Chile treats over 90% of the wastewater whereas Costa Rica treats approximately 4% of its wastewater. On average, only 50% of the population in Latin America is connected to wastewater treatment facilities. However, increasing investment in the wastewater industry is projected to create market opportunities for the growth of the market in Latin America. The Development Bank of Latin America estimated that over US$ 33 billion will be spent on wastewater treatment.

Middle East & Africa

The Middle East & Africa region, South Africa held a significant revenue share in the liquid waste management market. In GCC, most of the countries use treated wastewater for agriculture & landscape irrigation. These countries are aiming to increase the use of recycled water to reduce water shortages in the region.

List of Top Liquid Waste Management Companies:

• Veolia Environmental Services
• SUEZ Environment SA
• Xylem
• Evoqua Water Technologies Corporation
• Covanta Holding Corporation
• Clean Harbors, Inc.
• GFL Environmental Inc.
• Cleanaway
• Aqua America Inc.
• Hulsey Environmental Services
• Enva
• Environmental Recovery Corporation
• AB Environmental

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• February 2020: SUEZ NWS, Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP) and SAIC Motor entered into a partnership to recover hazardous liquid waste in an Industrial park. The new joint venture has been established by SUEZ to provide high-quality waste treatment services to SCIP & SAIC and to expand into the Chinese Market.
• June 2019: AngloGold Ashanti, the world’s third-largest gold producer from South Africa entered into a contract with Veolia Ghana Limited for all water treatment plants in Ghana. Veolia will manage four wastewater treatment plants for three years.
• March 2019: Aqua America Inc. planned to invest US$ 555 million to develop water & wastewater system across eight states in the U.S. Some of the largest projects are Aqua Indiana, Aqua Illinois, Aqua New Jersey, Aqua North Carolina, Aqua Ohio, Aqua Pennsylvania, Aqua Texas, and Aqua Virginia.
• November 2018: Veolia, Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) and National de Recherche en Sciences et Technologies pour l'Environnement et l’Agriculture (IRSTEA) continued their collaboration for next five years in waste water management for sustainable agriculture.

REPORT COVERAGE

An Infographic Representation of Liquid Waste Management Market

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The liquid waste management market report provides both qualitative & quantitative insights into liquid waste management across the world. Quantitative insights include market sizing of liquid waste management in terms of value (US$ Billion) across each segment, sub-segment, and region profiled in the scope of the study. Also, it provides waste management market share analysis and growth rates of the segment, sub-segment, and key counties across each region. Qualitative insight covers the elaborative analysis of market drivers, restraints, growth opportunities, and key trends related to liquid waste management.

Moreover, the competitive landscape section provides detailed company profiling of key players operating in the market covering their business overview, key management, key geographic operations, business strategies, and SWOT analysis.

REPORT SCOPE & SEGMENTATION