A Snapshot of the Latest Wastewater Treatment TechnologiesA Snapshot of the Latest Wastewater Treatment Technologies

Wastewater treatment technologies are rapidly evolving to meet stricter regulations, address water scarcity, and improve sustainability. New systems emphasize chemical-free processes, energy efficiency, AI-driven monitoring, and decentralized solutions, enabling industries and municipalities to reduce costs, comply with regulations, and minimize environmental impacts.

Arlene Karidis, Freelance writer

January 23, 2025

4 Min Read
Desintegrator / Alamy Stock Photo

Wastewater treatment technologies are fast evolving, designed to address emerging industry priorities. At the top of the list are complying with tightening discharge limits and generating recycled water for reuse as clean supplies dwindle.  

Options are coming online that, unlike most of their predecessors, require no or almost no chemicals that generate secondary waste. And these more sophisticated systems tend to be much less energy intensive.

Among next-gen options gaining traction are powerful oxidants that break down pharmaceuticals and other persistent organic manufacturing residues.

Also emerging are advanced filtration systems that combine reverse osmosis, activated carbon, ultraviolet light, and/or other methods to deal with a broader band of contaminants, from heavy metals to a spectrum of microorganisms. They are rendering water clean enough for irrigation, manufacturing, and sometimes drinking water.

Even artificial intelligence and IoT have found a place in the wastewater treatment world.  These smart technologies are proving valuable for advanced data analysis and reporting. They perform predictive modeling to show trends and alert operators of potential issues. And they monitor operations 24/7 in real time, keeping tabs on effluent quality and conditions that impact it.

Tech developers are rolling out customized features and designs for specific industries and applications aiming to improve efficiency and ideally cut costs. Their approaches vary. Some are eliminating a preliminary step.  Others are combining multiple processes.

Everfilt recently launched a system for the brewery and distillery sectors that integrates three filtration stages into one compact unit. It’s one of a number of industrial wastewater treatment designs tucked in the company’s portfolio.

Membrion found a way to eliminate the pretreatment stage with its desalination technology. The system leverages electricity to pull ions out of feedwater across membranes and into a concentrate. The membranes are made of ceramic that can withstand extreme wastewater conditions –that’s the key to eliminating that first costly step to remove certain harsh contaminants.  

Veolia Water Technologies has carved its way into the smart wastewater management niche by integrating applications and sensors to monitor treatment plant operations, run from a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) center. Sold under the brand, CISPEO, products include a probe that controls the addition and minimizes the use of reagents; a control system for sludge incineration furnaces; and an application that reduces energy use in biological sludge tanks.

Expect to see more automated, smarter technologies down the pike with their developers promising ROIs from savings in energy, labor, and overall operational costs, coupled with an easier path to compliance.

Another transpiring trend, especially as utilities struggle to manage increasing loads, is a move away from dependence on centralized infrastructure. Rather generators are starting to process their wastewater on site, with potential for multiple advantages, beginning with minimizing transportation-related emissions. Hauling to large, energy-devouring facilities is a carbon intensive-process—up to 10 percent of all global emissions are associated with moving and treating dirty water.

Decentralized systems require no extensive infrastructure. Their modular designs have a small footprint, lowering operator’s costs. At the same time, generators lighten municipal plants’ loads and know that whether those plants’ rules change or not, they have an answer for their wastewater. 

Aquacycl is one of a few companies offering onsite treatment systems—one to eliminate a persistent problem found in almost every wastewater holding tank: hydrogen sulfide gas. This system follows on the heels of another Aquacycl product that targets organic carbon with “bugs” that release electrons. The electrons generate electricity that speeds up treatment but also comes with another benefit: the renewables power the system.

Besides newer more sophisticated systems that are now available to manufacturers, others are designed for wastewater treatment plants.

At the start of 2025, Tucson announced it will move forward on a plan to build a whole new, upgraded treatment facility from the ground up. The $86 million plant will be Arizona’s first to purify wastewater to drinking water standards.

It will happen through a three-step process and is expected to save significant volumes of Colorado River water.

More is to come and likely soon. The global water and wastewater treatment industry is projected to grow from $323 billion in 2023 to $536 billion by 2030, reports Fortune Business Insights. In the U.S. alone the water and wastewater treatment market is expected to hit 314.96 billion by 2032.

Behind this boom is a swelling population and an amplified focus on climate and sustainability, coupled with more stringent water quality regulations, especially as emerging contaminants like PFAS gain more attention.

Keeping pace with the shifting landscape will require cities and industries to invest in these leading-edge technologies—not just for their operation’s health, but for the environment.

It’s a major investment, and there is no one-size-fits-all application. With that, identifying the best fit will take some research.

Read more about:

Wastewater

About the Author

Arlene Karidis

Freelance writer, Waste360

Arlene Karidis has 30 years’ cumulative experience reporting on health and environmental topics for B2B and consumer publications of a global, national and/or regional reach, including Waste360, Washington Post, The Atlantic, Huffington Post, Baltimore Sun and lifestyle and parenting magazines. In between her assignments, Arlene does yoga, Pilates, takes long walks, and works her body in other ways that won’t bang up her somewhat challenged knees; drinks wine;  hangs with her family and other good friends and on really slow weekends, entertains herself watching her cat get happy on catnip and play with new toys.

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