Wastewater Treatment System Patent Landscape 2026
Wastewater Treatment System Patent Landscape in 2026
The wastewater treatment system patent field spans 6,808 patent families and is led by Evoqua Water Technologies, which holds a commanding position ahead of a deep tier of industrial and utility challengers. The field is past its 2017 peak on an annual basis, though filing volume remains substantial across US, European, and PCT jurisdictions.
Evoqua leads a moderately concentrated field with a strong second tier
Evoqua Water Technologies LLC holds the top position among the largest filers, followed closely by Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support and. China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, forming a clear first tier of industrial water specialists.
The top five filers account for 19% of the combined patent records of the hundred largest filers — a moderate concentration level indicating that no single player dominates the space outright and that meaningful portfolios exist across a broad challenger tier including Kurita Water Industries, Toray Industries, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evoqua Water Technologies LLC | 1,017 | |
| 2 | VEOLIA WATER SOLUTIONS & TECHNOLOGIES SUPPORT SAS | 844 | |
| 3 | CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORP | 620 | |
| 4 | Kurita Water Industries Ltd | 579 | |
| 5 | Toray Industries Inc | 571 | |
| 6 | Nanjing University | 465 | |
| 7 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd | 461 | |
| 8 | Kubota Corporation | 451 | |
| 9 | BL Technology Inc | 377 | |
| 10 | Nalco Company | 329 |
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Toshiba Corporation | 296 | |
| 12 | Hitachi Ltd | 285 | |
| 13 | Hitachi Plant Technologies Ltd | 282 | |
| 14 | General Electric Company | 275 | |
| 15 | Organo Corporation | 267 | |
| 16 | Ebara Research Co Ltd | 248 | |
| 17 | D C WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY | 229 | |
| 18 | Harbin Institute of Technology | 227 | |
| 19 | Zenon Technology Partnership | 225 | |
| 20 | Tongji University | 221 |
The breadth of credible challengers — spanning Western utilities, Japanese industrials, and Chinese state enterprises — suggests that incumbents must defend on multiple technical and geographic fronts simultaneously, and that portfolio differentiation rather than sheer scale is increasingly decisive.
Figures for 2024–2025 are subject to publication lag and will increase as pending applications are published; the apparent recent-year dip should not be read as a structural withdrawal of activity. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Annual volume has eased from its 2017 peak; core treatment chemistry still dominates the technology mix
The filing trend chart traces annual activity from 2017 onward, while the technology composition chart reveals how broadly the field spans separation, biological, and catalytic disciplines beyond the dominant water-treatment class.
Annual filing trend
Annual patent records peaked in 2017 at 938 and have since eased, with 2022 showing a partial recovery to 879 before further softening in 2023. The 2024 and 2025 data points are substantially under-counted due to publication lag and should not be interpreted as indicating a sharp decline in innovation activity.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
C02F (Water & wastewater treatment) accounts for the largest share of patent records by a wide margin, reflecting the core treatment-chemistry focus of the field. B01D (Separation processes, including filtration and membranes) is the second-largest branch, confirming that membrane and physical separation technology is structurally embedded in the competitive landscape. Smaller but notable branches include B01J (catalysis), C12N (microorganisms), and C12M (bioreactors), signaling active work at the intersection of wastewater treatment with advanced biological and catalytic methods.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
Automated apparatus and process for the controlled…
An apparatus and method for cleaning and shutting down a part-time wastewater treatment system is disclosed. The wastewater treatment system has a water input to receive an influent flow of wastewater to be treated, a water output to discharge treated clean water effluent, and a water treatment capacity volume. An effluent external tank receives the clean… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Methods and systems for improved dosing of a chemi… | 590 |
| 2 | Electrochemical production of ozone and hydrogen p… | 586 |
| 3 | Processing biomass | 388 |
| 4 | Vertical cylindrical skein of hollow fiber membran… | 344 |
| 5 | Controlled natural purification system for advance… | 323 |
| 6 | Method for processing lignocellulosic material | 297 |
| 7 | Method and apparatus for treating stormwater runoff | 261 |
| 8 | System for maintaining a clean skein of hollow fib… | 258 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
What the competitive structure implies for R&D investment
The combination of a post-peak lifecycle, moderate concentration, active co-filing partnerships, and clear geographic clustering shapes the strategic calculus for any new entrant or incumbent defending position.
Field is in decline from its 2017 peak — focus shifts to quality and differentiation
Annual filing volume has eased back from its 2017 peak of 938 records, placing the field in a declining phase on an annual basis. For R&D strategy this means that broad foundational filings are less rewarded; patents with clear differentiation in biological treatment, catalysis, or advanced separation are more likely to carve defensible space. Teams should audit existing portfolios for coverage gaps before commissioning new filings.
Post-peak lifecycleModerate top-tier share leaves room for challengers with focused portfolios
With the top five filers holding 19% of the records among the hundred largest filers, the field is not tightly consolidated. This creates conditions where a focused entrant with strong coverage in a sub-discipline — such as advanced oxidation, anaerobic digestion, or membrane bioreactors — can build a credible position without confronting an insurmountable incumbency wall. The second tier (Kurita, Toray, Mitsubishi, Kubota) demonstrates this pattern.
Moderate concentrationUtility-to-utility and industry-to-academia co-filing defines the ecosystem
The most active co-filing pair is DC Water & Sewer Authority with Hampton Roads Sanitation District, which have jointly filed on 78 patent records — a utility-to-utility collaboration unusual in depth. Siemens Industry and Saudi Arabian Oil Co represent the next most active pairing at 41, while General Electric and BL Technology have co-filed on 17. Evoqua has spread its academic collaborations across Texas A&M University and Cambridge Water Technology. Veolia’s partnership with the Technical University of Denmark illustrates how leading industrials are accessing academic biosystems expertise.
Utility + academia alliancesUS is the dominant filing jurisdiction; PCT and EPO underpin global protection strategies
The United States is the primary filing destination by a wide margin, followed by Europe (EPO) and WIPO (PCT) as the main routes for international protection. Canada and Australia round out the core filing territories. Asian jurisdictions — including South Korea, China, and Japan — appear with notably fewer records in this corpus, suggesting that the analysis skews toward Western-origin IP and that Asian filers’ domestic portfolios may require separate investigation to complete the competitive picture.
US-centric with PCT coverageGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| DC Water & Sewer Authority | Hampton Roads Sanitation District | 78 |
| Siemens Industry Inc | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | 41 |
| General Electric Company | BL Technology Inc | 17 |
| Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support SAS | Technical University of Denmark | 9 |
| Evoqua Water Technologies LLC | Texas A&M University | 8 |
| Evoqua Water Technologies LLC | EVOQUA WATER TECH CANADA LTD | 5 |
| Evoqua Water Technologies LLC | Siemens Industry Inc | 4 |
| Evoqua Water Technologies LLC | Cambridge Water Technology Inc | 3 |
| Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support SAS | UNIV OF ROME | 3 |
| Kemira Oyj | Kemira (Shanghai) Management Co Ltd | 2 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Evoqua and Veolia lead; BL Technology shows the strongest recent momentum
The top two filers hold positions built on broad C02F coverage, but their recent trajectories diverge sharply, and a mid-tier challenger — BL Technology — is the only player among the top groups posting positive recent momentum.
Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
Evoqua leads with 1,017 patent records and concentrates its portfolio across C02F 1 and C02F 3 (water and wastewater treatment chemistry) and B01D 21 (separation/settling processes). Its technology breadth reflects a full-system integration strategy rather than a narrow product-line focus. Recent filing activity is down 34% versus the prior period, consistent with the field’s overall post-peak trajectory and with Evoqua’s ongoing integration following its 2023 merger with Xylem.
patent records: 1,017BL Technology Inc
BL Technology ranks ninth with 377 patent records and is the standout for recent momentum at +65% versus the prior period — the only significant positive trend among the groups analyzed. Its technical focus centers on C02F 3 (biological treatment) and B01D 63 (membrane modules), indicating a membrane bioreactor specialization that is well-positioned against tightening effluent standards and industrial reuse demand. This trajectory warrants close monitoring as a potential acquirer or licensing partner.
patent records: 377| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Evoqua Water Technologies LLC | 76 | ▼ -34% |
| Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support SAS | 4 | ▼ -92% |
| BL Technology Inc | 33 | ▲ +65% |
| DC Water & Sewer Authority | 19 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served adjacent branches worth watching
Several IPC branches adjacent to the dominant C02F and B01D classes carry comparatively sparse filings relative to their technical relevance to wastewater treatment, suggesting areas where targeted investment could establish early IP position.
C12N · Microorganisms & genetic engineering
C12N accounts for a small share of records in this corpus despite the growing role of engineered microbial communities in biological wastewater treatment — including nutrient removal, dehalogenation, and emerging contaminant degradation. The entry path is realistic for organizations already active in C02F 3 biological treatment, particularly those with access to academic microbiology partnerships such as Veolia’s collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark. The relatively low filing density means early movers could build meaningful IP fences around specific organism strains or gene constructs used in treatment reactors.
Search this in Eureka →C12M · Bioreactors & enzyme apparatus
C12M sits at the intersection of reactor engineering and biological wastewater processing and is among the sparser branches in the corpus despite bioreactor design being central to membrane bioreactor (MBR) and moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) systems. Companies with existing MBR portfolios in B01D 63 — such as BL Technology — have a natural adjacency to extend coverage into C12M reactor configurations and enzyme-mediated treatment steps. Sparse filing density relative to the commercial maturity of MBR technology suggests an IP gap that could be widened by applied reactor design innovations.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ across technology routes
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | C02F 1 · Water & wastewater treatment | C02F 3 · Water & wastewater treatment | C02F 11 · Water & wastewater treatment | C02F 9 · Water & wastewater treatment | C02F 101 · Water & wastewater treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evoqua Water Technologies LLC | Strong · 286 | Strong · 286 | Moderate · 64 | Emerging · 57 | Emerging · 38 |
| Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support SAS | Strong · 134 | Strong · 193 | Moderate · 60 | Moderate · 61 | Moderate · 50 |
| General Electric Company | Strong · 130 | Strong · 135 | Moderate · 30 | Emerging · 27 | Emerging · 27 |
| Anaergia Inc | Absent | Strong · 78 | Strong · 103 | Moderate · 22 | Absent |
| BL Technology Inc | Absent | Strong · 99 | Absent | Absent | Moderate · 24 |
| Nalco Company | Strong · 112 | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The analysis covers 6,808 patent families. Filing activity is tracked from 2017 onward, with annual records peaking at 938 in 2017 before easing in subsequent years.
Evoqua Water Technologies LLC leads with 1,017 patent records, ahead of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support at 844 and China Petroleum & Chemical Corp at 620.
The United States is the dominant filing jurisdiction, followed by Europe (EPO) and WIPO (PCT) as the primary international routes. Canada and Australia are also significant destinations. Asian jurisdictions including South Korea, China, and Japan appear with comparatively fewer records in this corpus.
The field is assessed as being in a decline phase, with annual filing volume having eased back from its 2017 peak. Note that 2024 and 2025 figures are under-counted due to publication lag and will rise as pending applications publish.
C02F (Water & wastewater treatment) is the dominant branch by a wide margin, followed by B01D (Separation processes, including filtration and membranes). Smaller but notable branches include B01J (catalysis), C12N (microorganisms), and C12M (bioreactors).
Yes. The most active co-filing pair is DC Water & Sewer Authority with Hampton Roads Sanitation District at 78 joint patent records. Other notable pairings include Siemens Industry with Saudi Arabian Oil Co at 41, General Electric with BL Technology at 17, and Veolia with the Technical University of Denmark at 9.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from PatSnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
Nothing on this page constitutes an exhaustive prior-art, novelty, freedom-to-operate, or validity search, nor does it constitute legal, financial, investment, or professional advice, and it should not be relied upon as such. Any patent, commercial, or strategic decision should be verified independently and reviewed with qualified patent, legal, and domain professionals. PatSnap makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose of the information presented.