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Water Utility Market Size, Share and Forecast 2026-2036

The global water utility market is worth USD 788 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 1.3 tn by 2036, growing at a 5.0% CAGR. United States is the largest country market and Water supply and distribution is the largest by service segment.

USD 788 bnMarket size 2026
USD 1.3 tnForecast 2036
5.0%CAGR 2026-2036
United StatesLargest country

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5 segmentation views25 countries2026 to 2036 yearly forecast

Market overview

The global water utility market is worth USD 788 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 1.3 tn by 2036, growing at a 5.0% CAGR. United States is the largest country market and Water supply and distribution is the largest by service segment.

ScopeRevenue earned by utilities from supplying drinking water and collecting and treating wastewater to households, businesses and industry.
IndustryServices and Utilities
Value 2025USD 750 bn
Value 2026USD 788 bn
Value 2036USD 1.3 tn
CAGR 2026-20365.0%
Volume 2026448,544 million cubic metres
Volume 2036543,658 million cubic metres
Average price 2026USD 1.76 per cubic metre
Report priceStarts from USD 1,999
PublishedNovember 2026

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Water Utility market size and forecast, 2026-2036

Exhibit 1The global water utility market is forecast to grow from USD 788 bn in 2026 to USD 1.3 tn by 2036, a rise of 63%Global market value in USD: 2025 base year, 2026 estimate and forecast to 2036. CAGR 2026 to 2036: 5.0%
Water Utility market value, 2025 to 2036Market value by year. 2025: USD 750 bn; 2026: USD 788 bn; 2027: USD 827 bn; 2028: USD 868 bn; 2029: USD 912 bn; 2030: USD 957 bn; 2031: USD 1,005 bn; 2032: USD 1,055 bn; 2033: USD 1,108 bn; 2034: USD 1,163 bn; 2035: USD 1,222 bn; 2036: USD 1,283 bn. Compound annual growth rate 2026 to 2036: 5.0%.2025788 bn20261,005 bn20311,283 bn20365.0% CAGR

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

YearMarket value
2026USD 788 bn
2027USD 827 bn
2028USD 868 bn
2029USD 912 bn
2030USD 957 bn
2031USD 1,005 bn
2032USD 1,055 bn
2033USD 1,108 bn
2034USD 1,163 bn
2035USD 1,222 bn
2036USD 1,283 bn

Water Utility market segmentation

By service

Exhibit 2Water supply and distribution is the largest segment by service, with 46.0% of 2026 revenueEstimated share of 2026 global revenue, by service
Water Utility market share by service, 2026Share of 2026 revenue by service. Water supply and distribution: 46.0%; Wastewater treatment: 34.0%; Wastewater collection: 20.0%.Water supply and distribution46.0%Wastewater treatment34.0%Wastewater collection20.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Water supply and distribution46.0%43.3%USD 362 bn4.4%
Wastewater collection20.0%19.8%USD 158 bn4.9%
Wastewater treatment34.0%36.9%USD 268 bn5.9%

By customer

Exhibit 3Residential adds the most revenue by customer, growing from USD 410 bn in 2026 to USD 637 bn by 2036Estimated revenue in USD by customer, 2026 and 2036 forecast
Water Utility market by customer, 2026 and 2036Revenue by customer in 2026 and 2036. Residential: USD 410 bn in 2026, USD 637 bn in 2036, change +56%; Commercial and institutional: USD 205 bn in 2026, USD 334 bn in 2036, change +63%; Industrial: USD 173 bn in 2026, USD 311 bn in 2036, change +80%.20262036 forecastChangeResidential+56%410 bn637 bnCommercial and institutional+63%205 bn334 bnIndustrial+80%173 bn311 bn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Residential52.0%49.7%USD 410 bn4.5%
Commercial and institutional26.0%26.1%USD 205 bn5.0%
Industrial22.0%24.2%USD 173 bn6.0%

By ownership

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Municipal utilities46.0%43.9%USD 362 bn4.5%
State and regional utilities22.0%21.0%USD 173 bn4.5%
Private and concession operators32.0%35.2%USD 252 bn6.0%

By billing basis

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Metered volumetric62.0%66.0%USD 488 bn5.7%
Flat rate and unmetered16.0%10.0%USD 126 bn0.2%
Fixed charges and connection fees22.0%24.0%USD 173 bn5.9%

By utility size

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Small (under 100,000 connections)18.0%16.0%USD 142 bn3.8%
Medium (100,000 to 1 million)34.0%33.0%USD 268 bn4.7%
Large (above 1 million)48.0%51.0%USD 378 bn5.6%

Top 25 countries for water utility by revenue

Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 73.5% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 92.6%.

Exhibit 4United States is the largest country market at USD 173 bn in 2026, and the three largest countries hold 48.0% of global revenueEstimated 2026 revenue in USD and share of the global market, ten largest countries
Water Utility market, ten largest countries in 2026Ten largest countries by 2026 revenue. United States: USD 173 bn, 22.0%; China: USD 158 bn, 20.0%; Japan: USD 47.2 bn, 6.0%; Germany: USD 39.4 bn, 5.0%; United Kingdom: USD 31.5 bn, 4.0%; France: USD 31.5 bn, 4.0%; India: USD 31.5 bn, 4.0%; Brazil: USD 27.6 bn, 3.5%; Italy: USD 19.7 bn, 2.5%; Australia: USD 19.7 bn, 2.5%.United States173 bn 22.0%China158 bn 20.0%Japan47.2 bn 6.0%Germany39.4 bn 5.0%United Kingdom31.5 bn 4.0%France31.5 bn 4.0%India31.5 bn 4.0%Brazil27.6 bn 3.5%Italy19.7 bn 2.5%Australia19.7 bn 2.5%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

#CountryValue 2026Share 2026Value 2036CAGR 2026-36
1United StatesUSD 173 bn22.0%USD 258 bn4.1%
2ChinaUSD 158 bn20.0%USD 296 bn6.5%
3JapanUSD 47.2 bn6.0%USD 60.3 bn2.5%
4GermanyUSD 39.4 bn5.0%USD 52.6 bn2.9%
5United KingdomUSD 31.5 bn4.0%USD 47.5 bn4.2%
6FranceUSD 31.5 bn4.0%USD 44.9 bn3.6%
7IndiaUSD 31.5 bn4.0%USD 74.4 bn9.0%
8BrazilUSD 27.6 bn3.5%USD 50.0 bn6.1%
9ItalyUSD 19.7 bn2.5%USD 28.2 bn3.7%
10AustraliaUSD 19.7 bn2.5%USD 29.5 bn4.1%
11CanadaUSD 17.9 bn2.3%USD 29.1 bn5.0%
12SpainUSD 16.2 bn2.1%USD 26.4 bn5.0%
13South KoreaUSD 14.8 bn1.9%USD 24.1 bn5.0%
14NetherlandsUSD 13.5 bn1.7%USD 21.9 bn5.0%
15MexicoUSD 12.3 bn1.6%USD 19.9 bn4.9%
16RussiaUSD 11.2 bn1.4%USD 18.1 bn4.9%
17TurkeyUSD 10.2 bn1.3%USD 16.5 bn5.0%
18PolandUSD 9.2 bn1.2%USD 15.0 bn5.0%
19BelgiumUSD 8.4 bn1.1%USD 13.7 bn5.0%
20ArgentinaUSD 7.6 bn1.0%USD 12.4 bn5.0%
21South AfricaUSD 6.9 bn0.9%USD 11.3 bn5.0%
22IndonesiaUSD 6.3 bn0.8%USD 12.8 bn7.4%
23SwitzerlandUSD 5.7 bn0.7%USD 9.4 bn5.0%
24SwedenUSD 5.3 bn0.7%USD 8.6 bn5.0%
25EgyptUSD 4.8 bn0.6%USD 9.7 bn7.3%
Rest of worldUSD 58.4 bn7.4%USD 92.1 bn4.7%
Exhibit 5China and United States account for 45% of the USD 495 bn the market is forecast to add by 2036Forecast revenue added between 2026 and 2036 by country, in USD
Water Utility market, where the growth to 2036 comes fromRevenue added between 2026 and 2036. Market value 2026: USD 788 bn. China: +USD 139 bn; United States: +USD 84.6 bn; India: +USD 42.9 bn; Brazil: +USD 22.5 bn; United Kingdom: +USD 16.0 bn; 20 other countries: +USD 157 bn; Rest of world: +USD 33.7 bn. Market value 2036: USD 1.3 tn.Market value 2026788 bnChina+139 bnUnited States+84.6 bnIndia+42.9 bnBrazil+22.5 bnUnited Kingdom+16.0 bn20 other countries+157 bnRest of world+33.7 bnMarket value 20361.3 tn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

Competitive landscape

Group 1: Global leaders

  • Veolia
  • SUEZ
  • American Water Works
  • Beijing Enterprises Water
  • Aqualia
  • Thames Water
  • Anglian Water

Group 2: Regional and specialist players

  • Severn Trent
  • United Utilities
  • Sabesp
  • Essential Utilities
  • Yorkshire Water
  • Pennon Group
  • American States Water

Group 3: Emerging and niche players

  • Aguas Andinas
  • Manila Water
  • Copasa
  • Rand Water
  • Sydney Water

Research methodology

Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the water utility market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.

The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 5.0% is calculated from the resulting values.

The market is divided by service, by customer, by ownership, by billing basis, by utility size. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.

Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.

Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.

Read the full research methodology

Frequently asked questions

How big is the water utility market?

The global water utility market is estimated at USD 750 bn in 2025 and USD 788 bn in 2026.

How fast will the water utility market grow?

It is forecast to reach USD 1.3 tn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 5.0% from 2026, an increase of USD 495 bn.

Which country is the largest market for water utility?

United States is the largest market by revenue at USD 173 bn in 2026, 22.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 48.0%.

Which country is growing fastest?

Among the ten largest markets, India is growing fastest at 9.0% a year from 2026 to 2036.

Which water utility segment is largest?

In the by service split, Water supply and distribution is the largest segment with 46.0% of 2026 revenue.

Who are the leading water utility companies?

Global leaders include Veolia, SUEZ, American Water Works, Beijing Enterprises Water.

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