Report on the Global Water Management Systems Market and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The Global Water Management Systems Market is projected to experience significant growth, expanding from USD 17.74 Billion in 2024 to USD 67.34 Billion by 2035, reflecting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.89%. This expansion is critically linked to the global pursuit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). The increasing demand for these systems is driven by global pressures such as population growth, rapid urbanization, and industrial development, which intensify the need for efficient and sustainable water resource management. The market’s trajectory underscores a global shift towards technology-driven solutions to ensure water security, build resilient infrastructure, and promote climate action, aligning with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Market Overview and its Contribution to Sustainable Development

Market Projections and Growth Drivers

The market for advanced water management systems is expanding in response to critical global challenges. This growth is essential for achieving key sustainability targets.

• 2024 Market Valuation: USD 17.74 Billion
• 2035 Market Forecast: USD 67.34 Billion
• Forecast Period CAGR (2025–2035): 12.89%

Primary drivers include stringent environmental regulations, the growing adoption of smart technologies (IoT, AI), and an urgent need to address water scarcity and wastage. These factors directly support the principles of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting efficiency and reducing resource depletion.

Core Alignment with SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Water management systems are fundamental to the successful implementation of SDG 6. By leveraging technology, these systems facilitate:

• Improved water quality monitoring and treatment.
• Significant reduction in water loss through leak detection and smart metering.
• Efficient and equitable distribution of water resources in urban and rural areas.
• Enhanced sanitation infrastructure management.

Regional Analysis and SDG Implementation

North America: Modernizing Infrastructure for SDG Compliance

North America is projected to generate the highest demand, driven by the need to upgrade aging water infrastructure and adhere to strict environmental standards. The region’s focus on adopting smart water technologies, such as IoT-based monitoring and advanced metering, directly contributes to achieving targets within SDG 6 and SDG 9. These innovations are crucial for reducing water loss, optimizing resource allocation, and building climate-resilient water systems in line with SDG 13.

Asia Pacific: Accelerating Growth to Meet Urban and Rural Water Needs

The Asia Pacific region is expected to exhibit the fastest growth, fueled by rapid urbanization and industrialization. Governments are investing heavily in smart city initiatives and integrated water management solutions to address acute water scarcity and mitigate the impacts of floods and droughts. This proactive approach is vital for making progress on SDG 6 and building sustainable communities as outlined in SDG 11.

Key Market Trends Driving SDG Achievement

The evolution of the water management market is characterized by several key trends that are instrumental in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Integrated Water Management and Digitalization: Utilizes AI and real-time data to optimize resource distribution, directly supporting SDG 6 and enhancing infrastructure resilience (SDG 9).
2. Decentralized and Modular Water Treatment Solutions: Provides flexible and scalable water treatment, improving access in remote and underserved regions in alignment with SDG 6.
3. Smart Water Management and IoT-Enabled Monitoring: Enables real-time tracking of water consumption and quality, reducing waste and promoting responsible use (SDG 12).
4. Sustainable Infrastructure Development: Focuses on energy-efficient systems and eco-friendly materials, contributing to SDG 9 and SDG 11.
5. Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategies: Incorporates predictive forecasting and nature-based solutions to protect water systems from climate change impacts, a core component of SDG 13.
6. Advanced Water Treatment Technologies: Ensures higher standards of water purity, essential for public health and achieving SDG 6.
7. Circular Economy and Water Reuse Initiatives: Promotes the recycling and reuse of water, reducing the strain on freshwater resources as advocated by SDG 12.
8. Cybersecurity in Water Infrastructure: Protects critical water systems from digital threats, ensuring the security of essential services under SDG 9.
9. Flood Prevention and Nature-Based Solutions: Manages stormwater and reduces flood risk in urban areas, enhancing community resilience (SDG 11).
10. Blockchain for Water Management: Offers transparent and secure tracking of water quality and resource allocation, improving governance and accountability for SDG 6.

Leading Corporations and their Contribution to SDGs

Top Market Participants

1. Veolia Environnement S.A.
2. Suez SA
3. Xylem Inc.
4. American Water Works Company, Inc.
5. Pentair plc
6. Saur Group
7. Badger Meter, Inc.
8. Ecolab Inc.
9. Aqua America, Inc.
10. Kurita Water Industries Ltd.
11. Evoqua Water Technologies
12. Danaher Corporation
13. Griffin Water Technologies
14. Mueller Water Products, Inc.
15. Calgon Carbon Corporation
16. Concept Technologies
17. GE Water & Process Technologies
18. Dow Water & Process Solutions
19. ITT Inc.
20. Lenntech Water Treatment Solutions
21. Aquatech International
22. IDEX Corporation
23. Nalco Water
24. Xerxes Corporation
25. Various regional players

Corporate Profiles in Sustainability

• Veolia Environnement S.A.: A global leader in delivering, treating, and recycling water. Veolia’s work directly supports SDG 6 by providing clean water to over 111 million people and advancing water reuse technologies, contributing to the circular economy principles of SDG 12.
• Suez SA: Specializes in digital water solutions and resource optimization. By providing drinking water and sanitation services to millions, Suez makes a significant contribution to SDG 6. Its focus on circular economy practices and resilient infrastructure supports SDG 11 and SDG 12.
• Xylem Inc.: A leading provider of water technology and analytics. Xylem’s IoT-enabled solutions for leak detection and process automation help utilities build resilient infrastructure (SDG 9) and conserve water, addressing the core challenges of SDG 6.
• American Water Works Company, Inc.: As the largest regulated water utility in the U.S., the company focuses on delivering reliable and safe water services, a foundational element of SDG 6. Its investments in infrastructure upgrades and digital management enhance sustainability and resilience.
• Pentair plc: Offers a portfolio of smart and sustainable water solutions. Pentair’s technologies for filtration, reuse, and efficiency support water conservation efforts globally, aligning with the objectives of SDG 6 and SDG 12.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the Global Water Management Systems Market directly and indirectly addresses several Sustainable Development Goals. The primary focus is on managing water resources efficiently and sustainably, but this connects to broader goals related to infrastructure, urban development, and climate action. The following SDGs are relevant:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This is the most central SDG discussed. The entire article revolves around technologies and strategies for managing water, which is the core of SDG 6. The text explicitly mentions the need to “reduce water waste,” address “water quality,” promote “water reuse,” and ensure “efficient distribution,” all of which are fundamental to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The article highlights the critical role of technology and infrastructure in water management. It discusses the “modernizing aging infrastructure,” “sustainable infrastructure development,” and the adoption of innovations like “IoT-enabled monitoring,” “AI, and data analytics.” These points directly relate to building resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The challenges of “rapid urbanization” and the development of “smart city initiatives” are identified as key drivers for the water management market. The article explains how these systems help make urban communities more resilient by managing water in “urban networks,” reducing water loss, and preparing for disasters like floods, which is essential for making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article explicitly lists “Climate resilience and adaptation strategies” as a top trend. It states that water management systems are being designed to “withstand droughts, floods, and other climate change impacts.” This directly connects to the goal of taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts by strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues and solutions discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. The article supports this through its focus on “advanced water treatment technologies,” “circular economy and water reuse initiatives,” and “water quality monitoring.”
  • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. This is addressed by the article’s emphasis on “smart water management” to achieve “significant reductions in water loss,” “improve operational efficiency,” and “optimize resource allocation.”
  • Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate. The trend of “Integrated water management and digitalization” mentioned in the article directly aligns with this target, using “real-time data to balance demand, optimize distribution, and support rapid responses.”

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being. The article’s discussion of the “need to modernize aging infrastructure” and the focus on “sustainable infrastructure development” and “resilient infrastructure upgrades” directly corresponds to this target.
  • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. This is reflected in the trend of “Sustainable infrastructure development,” which focuses on “reducing energy usage, carbon footprint, and incorporating circular economy principles.”

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected… by disasters, including water-related disasters. The article addresses this by highlighting solutions for “Flood prevention,” “smart flood barriers,” and strategies to manage “droughts and floods,” thereby increasing resilience to water-related disasters.
  • Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters. The mention of “smart city initiatives” and “climate resilience and adaptation strategies” for urban areas aligns with this target.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. This is a central theme in the article, which lists “Climate resilience and adaptation strategies” as a key trend and describes systems designed to “withstand droughts, floods, and other climate change impacts.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress, even if it does not cite official SDG indicator codes. These are based on the outcomes and metrics of the technologies discussed:

• Indicators for SDG 6

  • Degree of integrated water resources management implementation (Indicator 6.5.1): The adoption rate of “Integrated water management and digitalization” systems serves as a direct measure.
  • Change in water-use efficiency (Indicator 6.4.1): Progress can be measured by “significant reductions in water loss,” which is a key outcome of “smart meters, sensors, and advanced analytics.”
  • Proportion of wastewater safely treated (Indicator 6.3.1): The deployment of “decentralized and modular water treatment solutions” and “advanced water treatment technologies” implies an increase in this proportion. The number of treatment plants managed by companies like Veolia is a concrete metric.

• Indicators for SDG 9

  • Investment in sustainable and resilient infrastructure: The projected market growth from “USD 17.74 Billion in 2024 to USD 67.34 Billion by 2035” is a strong financial indicator of investment in this area.
  • Reduction in carbon footprint/energy usage: The focus on “reducing energy usage, carbon footprint” within infrastructure upgrades is a measurable indicator of sustainability.

• Indicators for SDG 11 & 13

  • Adoption of disaster risk reduction strategies (Indicators 11.b.1 & 13.1.1): The implementation of “Climate resilience and adaptation strategies” and “Flood prevention and nature-based solutions” by cities and regions, as mentioned for Asia Pacific and North America, serves as an indicator.
  • Effectiveness of early warning and response systems: The use of “predictive forecasting” and “real-time data to… support rapid responses to scarcity and quality issues” can be measured by reduced impact from climate events.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: sphericalinsights.com