Pradip Shitole
7 May 2025
Curious how industrial wastewater treatment solutions make wastewater safe for discharge and reuse? Here are the leading companies that make it possible.
Industries globally utilize water for diverse processes, including washing, cooling, steam generation, and even as raw material in production. This water often gets contaminated with pollutants like solids, chemicals, and other substances that are then discharged as wastewater. Industrial wastewater poses significant environmental and health problems, making effective treatment and management crucial.
Industrial wastewater treatment solutions help remove pollutants, enable water reuse, and comply with discharge standards. In this blog post, we shed light on the basics of industrial wastewater treatment and its various methods. Also, we cover the top companies offering industrial wastewater treatment solutions. Keep reading!
What Is Industrial Wastewater Treatment?
Industrial wastewater treatment refers to the process of treating wastewater produced as a by-product by almost any industry. It covers the processes and mechanisms used to treat wastewater that has been polluted in some form by chemical or industrial activities. Industrial wastewater treatment makes the wastewater safe for discharge or reuse, thereby protecting the environment and public health.
The need for high-recovery wastewater management solutions that help meet the complex regulatory and sustainable water demands is growing as industries continue to generate huge amounts of wastewater. The water and wastewater treatment equipment market is poised to register a robust CAGR of 5.4% from 2022 to 2030, reaching USD 84.43 billion by 2030.
Traditional Industrial Wastewater Treatment Processes Listed
Here’s a look at some of the commonly used traditional industrial wastewater treatment processes:
Physical Treatment: This primary industrial wastewater treatment process involves the removal of solid particles and contaminants. It includes processes such as filtration, sedimentation, and screening.
Biological Treatment: This is a form of secondary treatment that involves the use of specific microorganisms for breaking down organic compounds. Microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, and algae degrade organic contaminants in wastewater and convert them into less harmful substances and biomass.
Chemical Treatment: Chemical wastewater treatment is a form of tertiary treatment that employs chemical reactions or additives to remove dissolved substances and contaminants. For example, oxidation, pH adjustments, and reduction reactions are used to neutralize alkalinity or acidity to improve biodegradation and remove specific contaminants. Chemical treatment is commonly used to target specific pathogens and pollutants to improve overall water quality.
Advanced Technologies for Treating Industrial Wastewater
Advanced industrial wastewater treatment technologies are used to remove specific pollutants and achieve high-quality water for reuse. They include:
Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs): AOPs refer to a group of chemical techniques that employ strong oxidants like hydroxyl radicals. These oxidants break down the organic and inorganic pollutants into less harmful substances.
Membrane Technologies: Membrane filtration technologies help concentrate and separate contaminants, dissolved solids, and suspended particles. Commonly used membrane technologies for industrial wastewater treatment include microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO).
Major Companies Offering Industrial Wastewater Treatment Solutions
Here’s an overview of the major companies offering industrial wastewater treatment solutions:
Founded: 1923
Headquarters: Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
Ecolab Inc. is an American corporation specializing in water treatment, purification, cleaning, and hygiene solutions across various industries. The company offers services to sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, food processing, and manufacturing. Ecolab, through its water brand Nalco Water, provides comprehensive industrial wastewater treatment solutions. Its key wastewater treatment and solutions include system audits, wastewater troubleshooting, wastewater treatment training, primary and secondary treatment solutions, solids dewatering optimization, and water reuse and recycling.
DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
Launched: June 2020
Headquarters: Wilmington, Delaware, US
DuPont de Nemours, Inc. offers a comprehensive suite of industrial wastewater treatment solutions through its Water Solutions division. These solutions are aimed at addressing the issues of wastewater reduction, treatment, and reuse. The company’s key product offerings include IntegraTec Ultrafiltration (UF), FilmTec Fortilife Reverse Osmosis (RO), and AmberLite Ion Exchange Resins.
Formed: November 2006
Headquarters: Waltham, Massachusetts, US
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is an American life science and research company. It is renowned for being a global supplier of analytical instruments. In addition, the company offers specialty diagnostics, clinical development solutions, laboratory biotechnology, and pharmaceutical services. Thermo Fisher Scientific offers a wide range of industrial wastewater treatment solutions designed to meet stringent regulatory standards and ensure environmental safety. Its key products and solutions include Thermo Scientific AquaSensors AnalogPlus pH Sensors, AquaSensors DataStick Dissolved Oxygen Measurement System, AquaSensors DataStick Suspended Solids Turbidity Measurement System, and Orion 3106 COD Analyzer.
3M Company
Formed: June 1902
Headquarters: Two Harbors, Minnesota, US
3M Company is one of the world's leading conglomerates. The company operates across multiple segments, including safety and industrial, transportation and electronics, health care, and consumer. 3M’s industrial wastewater treatment solutions are designed to address water quality issues across several sectors. It offers advanced filtration systems, membrane technologies, and gas management solutions that help businesses enhance efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, and promote sustainability in wastewater management.
Honeywell International Inc.
Formed: 1999
Headquarters: Morristown, New Jersey
Honeywell International Inc. is a diversified multinational conglomerate corporation. The company provides solutions and services across various sectors, including building technologies, aerospace, performance materials, and safety and productivity solutions. Its industrial wastewater treatment solutions are designed to cater to the diverse needs of various sectors. The company’s major offerings include XCeed Bioreactor System, Membrane Bioreactors, Anaerobic and Aerobic Treatment, and Dewatering Technologies.
To Sum It Up
Industrial wastewater is a growing concern in several regions globally. Industrial wastewater treatment solutions assist with the effective management and treatment of wastewater. In recent years, several governments worldwide have introduced stringent regulations on wastewater released from industrial activities. This has prompted companies to increase their R&D spending to offer effective wastewater treatment solutions. With time, the industrial wastewater treatment solutions market is expected to see the introduction of new entrants offering efficient and cost-effective solutions.