Food and Beverages Water and Wastewater Treatment Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Global Industry Analysis: By Type (Water Treatment, Wastewater Treatment) By Offering (Technologies, Chemicals, Automation and Control, Services) By Application (Dairy and Beverages, Meat and Seafood, Prepared and Packaged Foods, Fruits and Vegetables, Others) and Region Forecast 2020-2031

Food and Beverages Water and Wastewater Treatment Market size was valued at US$ 8.89 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 15.63 billion by 2031, growing at a significant CAGR of 8.4% from 2025-2031. The market refers to the segment of the water treatment industry that specializes in treating water used in food and beverage production as well as wastewater originating from processing. The market is being led by development in water use in food processing, tightening environmental laws, and customers' call for sustainable manufacturing processes. The escalating concerns over water scarcity and need for safe, high-quality water employed in manufacturing food and beverage products are forcing businesses to invest in advanced treatment technologies.

However, the market is limited by issues such as high installation and operating costs, complex regulatory compliance across markets, and challenges in substituting old infrastructure, which may limit take-up—especially amongst small to mid-sized enterprises.

Facts & Figures

• Globally, 42% of household wastewater is not treated or is inadequately treated before being released into the environment. This amounts to an estimated 113 billion cubic meters of untreated household wastewater annually.
• A significant portion of wastewater, estimated at 80% worldwide, flows back into the ecosystem without treatment or reuse, impacting water resources and potentially leading to health issues.
• A significant aspect of wastewater treatment involves recovering valuable nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium from wastewater.

Key Developments:

• In August 2023, Veolia Environment expanded its digital water platform to support food and beverage clients with real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance tools, aiming to improve operational efficiency and sustainability reporting.
• In July 2023, Xylem Inc. completed its merger with Evoqua Water Technologies, strengthening its portfolio in industrial water treatment, including tailored solutions for the food and beverage sector.
• In June 2023, DuPont launched a new line of reverse osmosis membranes designed specifically for high-efficiency water reuse in beverage processing plants, targeting reduced energy consumption and improved recovery rates.
• In May 2023, Kurita Water Industries introduced a modular wastewater treatment system in Southeast Asia, aimed at small and mid-sized food manufacturers seeking compact, scalable solutions.

Food and Beverages Water and Wastewater Treatment Market Segmentation:

Based on the type:

• Water treatment
• Wastewater treatment

The food and drinks industry water treatment market is committed to purifying incoming water to meet the high standards of quality and safety the food processing sector requires. This is achieved by removing physical, chemical, and biological contaminants through methods such as filtration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet disinfection, and activated carbon treatment. The goal is to supply water for production usage that is heavy metal-free, pathogen-free, and free of other impurities that could break product integrity or endanger consumers.

As consumers demand clean-label foods and beverages and regulatory agencies subject them to greater scrutiny, food and beverage manufacturers are spending on next-generation water treatment solutions that facilitate consistent quality, reduce operational risk, and align with sustainability plans. The segment is also seeing growth in intelligent monitoring and automation to simplify water use and minimize waste.

Based on the offering:

• Technologies
• Chemicals
• Automation and control
• Services

The technologies category in the market comprises certain physical, chemical, and biological systems that are employed for the treatment of effluent produced during food processing and purification of water. Membrane filtration (e.g., reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration), UV disinfection, activated sludge systems, dissolved air flotation, and advanced oxidation processes are some common technologies.

These systems are particularly intended for the removal of organic contaminants, pathogens, and chemical impurities to regulatory and quality requirements. The market is expanding with growing water reuse demand, tightening discharge regulations, and energy-saving, space-efficient systems to be integrated into existing food and beverage operations.

Based on the application:

• Dairy and beverages
• Meat and seafood
• Prepared and packaged foods
• Fruits and vegetables
• Others

The dairy and beverages segment within the market is of the most importance because it consumes a massive quantity of water in processing, cleaning, and formulation operations. Milk processing, cheese and yogurt manufacture, soft drinks, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages are all part of this segment that demand high sanitation and quality water levels. Water not only serves a constituent function but is also used in equipment sterilization and packaging and thus must be treated to prevent contamination and meet regulations.

Wastewater from such a treatment process is usually rich in organic solids, fat, and sugar that need sophisticated treatment technologies such as dissolved air flotation, membrane bioreactors, and anaerobic digestion. In response to increased consumer demand for clean-label goods and environmentally friendly practices, companies in the industry are spending significantly on water recycling technology, energy-efficient treatment technologies, and electronic monitoring devices to improve process efficiency and minimize the environmental footprint.