Report Overview

The wastewater treatment plants market in India is gaining significant traction due to stringent government regulations in India and increasing water pollution. Water and sewage treatment plants are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the residential sector, which also fuels the market's expansion

India Wastewater Treatment Plants Market- Industry Trends & Forecast Report 2027

The India wastewater treatment plants market stood at USD 2.6 billion in 2020 and is further projected to reach USD 5.3 billion by the year 2027, growing at the CAGR of 10.8% in the forecast period.  India’s wastewater treatment plants market is growing rapidly due to stringent government regulations in India and increasing water pollution. Moreover, water treatment and sewerage treatment plants are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the residential sector, which also fuels the market growth.

Source: BlueWeave Consulting

India Wastewater Treatment Plants Market- Overview

Wastewater treatment refers to the process of removing contaminants from sewage or wastewater to make them recyclable, reusable, and acceptable to the environment. Various processes such as phase separation, sedimentation, oxidation, biochemical oxidation, chemical oxidation, and others are followed for treating wastewaters. Different wastewater treatment plants have been established in India to treat wastewater from multiple industries and sectors. They include sewage, tertiary, industrial wastewater, agriculture wastewater, and leachate treatment plants. Several industries, in the absence of in-house wastewater treatment plants, resort to using municipal wastewater for their operations.

India Wastewater Treatment Plants Market Forecast and Trends

Growth Drivers

Increasing Water Pollution Levels in India

Water pollution has become a major concern in India due to the rapid growth of the population, increased corporate privatization, and the generation of industrial and human wastes. Niti Aayog reports that 70% of India's freshwater sources are contaminated. In terms of water quality, India ranks 120 out of 122 countries, which directly impacts the health of citizens and industrial production. As a result, India needs efficient wastewater treatment plants to keep up with its growing water consumption needs.

Strict Regulations Related to Industrial Emissions

India is witnessing immense growth in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, oil & natural gas, textiles, and others. The industries consume large volumes of water for manufacturing as well as other post-production operations. One of the major causes of water pollution in India is the use of fresh water in industries. Therefore, the central government and various state governments in India are laying strict environmental and water prevention and control regulations and seeking compliance from the industries to use wastewater when possible. This is anticipated to fuel the India wastewater treatment plants market in the forecast period.

Restraints

High Cost of Wastewater Treatment Operations

Establishing sewage treatment plants and processes is an extremely expensive undertaking. The high cost involved in the wastewater treatment system acts as a major restraining factor for the market growth, especially in a price-sensitive region such as India. Operating costs are high due to the energy used by wastewater treatment plants. Additionally, membranes such as those used for filtration are expensive as well, contributing to their expenses. In addition, membrane costs fluctuate based on their availability. Moreover, the cost variation raises questions about the feasibility of the treatment services.

Impact of COVID-19 on India Wastewater Treatment Plants Market

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic initially slowed India’s wastewater treatment plants market. Except for pharmaceuticals and IT, all industrial sectors have been adversely impacted by COVID-19. With the shutdown or limited operation of manufacturing plants across the nation, the demand for wastewater treatment witnessed a sharp decline. However, the increasing demand for wastewater treatment in the pharmaceutical sector of the country is expected to drive market growth in the forecast period.

India Wastewater Treatment Plants Market - By Type

Based on types, the India wastewater treatment plants market is segmented into municipal and industrial. Because of the financial support from the government, the municipal segment accounts for the largest share of the market. The government helps them to bear the cost of establishing physical plants. On the other hand, the industrial segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Compliance with environmental regulations prompts industries to develop onsite wastewater treatment plants, which is expected to drive the market during the forecast period.

India Wastewater Treatment Plants Market - By Plant Capacity

Based on plant capacity, the India wastewater treatment plants market is segmented into less than 50 MLD, 51-100 MLD, 101-200 MLD, and 201-500 MLD. Among this, the less than 50 MLD segment dominates the market. This is because there are 269 sewage treatment plants in India of which only 231 sewage treatment plants are operational. Due to this underperformance of sewage treatment plants, the treatment capacity is only 21% of the present sewage generation. However, the wastewater treatment capacity is anticipated to rise in the forecast period.

India Wastewater Treatment Plants Market - Regional Insights

Geographically, the India wastewater treatment plants market is segmented into North India, South India, East India, and West India. The Western region accounts for the largest market share because of the expanding industrialization in states like Maharashtra and Gujarat. For instance, the Mumbai-Pune industrial region and Gujarat industrial region require a large volume of water to support industrial production. As a result, the industries are resorting to recycled wastewater.  Moreover, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation recently suggested that industries buy and use its treatment water for industrial purposes.

India Wastewater Treatment Plants Market - Competitive Landscape

The leading players in the India wastewater treatment plants market are SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions, Thermax Ltd., Doshion Veolia Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd., VA Tech Wabag Ltd., Ion Exchange India Ltd., Larsen & Toubro Limited, Ecolab, Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd., Paramount Limited, Toshiba Water Solutions Private Limited, and other prominent players.

The market is highly concentrated among big players offering effective wastewater treatment methods and technologies. The company's significant investment in research and development activities to improve their stance in the market. They are continuously upgrading their products and launching a new and wide range of products to increase their product penetration. Furthermore, the adoption of competitive strategies like partnerships, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, etc., is also prominent in this market.

Recent Developments

• In October 2021, Hubert Enviro Care Systems (P) Ltd. (HECS), India’s leading environmental management company, recently launched its upgraded range of Compact FRP Sewage Treatment Plants - Ultima and Ultima+.

Scope of the Report

By Type

• Municipal
• Industrial

By Plant Capacity

• Less than 50 MLD
• 51-100 MLD
• 101-200 MLD
• 201-500 MLD

By Process

• Moving Bed Biological Reactor (MBBR)
• Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR)

By End-User

• Refineries
• Pharmaceuticals
• Power and Energy
• Steel and Iron
• Chemicals
• Paper & Pulp
• Sugar
• Textile
• Others

By Region

• North
• South
• East
• West