Water & Sewer Utilities Industry Profile

Companies in this industry operate water treatment and water supply systems; sewer systems and sewage treatment facilities; and steam and air-conditioning supply systems. Major companies include American Water, Cal Water, and Essential Utilities (all based in the US), along with Sabesp (Brazil), SUEZ and Veolia (both based in France), and Thames Water (UK).

Europe, Africa, and the Middle East are expected to see growth with the increased adoption of wastewater treatment projects, according to Meticulous Research. The global water and wastewater treatment, which was valued at $323.32 billion in 2023, and is expected to reach $617 billion by 2032.

The US commercial water and sewer utilities industry includes about 5,000 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $15 billion. The commercial industry is small compared to the water and sewer services operated by many regional and local governments in the US.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand depends on commercial and residential water needs, which are related to population growth and to the level of economic activity. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficiency of operations, because prices are fixed by public utility commissions (PUCs). Large companies have economies of scale in operations and the ability to raise capital for infrastructure improvements. Small companies can compete successfully through superior engineering or by serving desirable local markets. The US industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for ...