In a world where water scarcity and quality concerns are escalating, Evoqua Water Technologies is a global leader in providing innovative solutions for the world’s most critical water challenges. As a premier water technology provider, Evoqua has transformed how industries, municipalities, and communities approach water treatment, conservation, and management. This comprehensive analysis explores Evoqua’s extensive portfolio, technological innovations, and market impact in the water treatment industry.

The Evolution of Evoqua: From Legacy Provider to Modern Water Technology Leader

Evoqua Water Technologies has a rich heritage spanning over 100 years in water treatment technologies and applications. The company has continuously reinvented itself to stay at the forefront of the industry while maintaining its core commitment to water quality and environmental protection.

Formerly known as Siemens Water Technologies, the company was acquired by AEA Investors LP and rebranded as Evoqua Water Technologies in 2014. This transformation marked a significant milestone in the company’s journey, allowing it to focus exclusively on water treatment solutions and services for municipal and industrial applications. Over the years, Evoqua has built a reputation for quality, safety, and reliability in the water treatment sector.

In a landmark development in 2023, Evoqua joined forces with Xylem, another leader in the water technology space, in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $7.5 billion. This strategic merger created the world’s largest pure-play water technology company with combined pro forma revenue of $7.3 billion and more than 22,000 employees globally. The integration of these two water technology powerhouses has formed an unparalleled platform for addressing critical water challenges at a global scale.

As Patrick Decker, President and CEO of Xylem, noted during the acquisition announcement: “Global awareness of water as a systemic risk to society has never been greater. Investment in water solutions continues to accelerate as communities and businesses around the world address intensifying challenges like water scarcity, quality, and resilience to climate change, and how to address these issues affordably.” Xylem

Comprehensive Water Treatment Solutions and Technologies

Evoqua’s extensive portfolio of water treatment technologies and services addresses the full spectrum of water-related challenges across diverse industries and applications. The company’s solutions are organized around several key technology platforms:

Filtration Systems

Evoqua offers advanced filtration solutions for industrial, recreational, and municipal applications. Their technologies range from traditional sand filters to cutting-edge membrane filtration systems that effectively remove suspended solids, oils, and other contaminants from water sources. These filtration systems are critical components in water treatment trains, ensuring water quality standards are met across various applications.

For example, the MEMCOR® XP pressurized membrane systems provide state-of-the-art microfiltration that delivers consistently high-quality filtered water regardless of fluctuations in feed water quality. This reliable performance makes these systems particularly valuable for applications where water quality cannot be compromised.

Disinfection Technologies

With over a century of experience in disinfection solutions, Evoqua provides comprehensive technologies for municipal, industrial, and recreational water applications. Their disinfection portfolio includes:

• Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection systems
• Hypochlorite generation systems
• Gas feed systems
• Chlorine dioxide generation equipment
• Process analyzers and controllers

These technologies effectively eliminate harmful pathogens and ensure water safety across various applications, from drinking water treatment to wastewater disinfection and recreational water management.

Wastewater Treatment Technologies

Evoqua’s wastewater treatment capabilities encompass both aerobic and anaerobic biological treatment systems, physical-chemical treatment processes, and specialized solutions for industrial wastewaters. The company’s expertise in biological nutrient removal, activated sludge systems, and membrane bioreactors allows it to address complex wastewater challenges while meeting stringent discharge regulations.

Their technologies also include clarifiers, separators, and dewatering systems that improve water quality while recovering valuable resources from wastewater streams. These solutions help industrial and municipal clients not only meet compliance requirements but also implement sustainable water management practices.

High-Purity Water Systems

For applications requiring ultrapure water, such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, laboratories, and microelectronics production, Evoqua offers specialized high-purity water systems. These include:

• Reverse osmosis (RO) systems
• Deionization technologies
• Continuous electrodeionization (CEDI) systems
• Ultrafiltration systems
• Specialized laboratory water purification equipment

These technologies deliver water that meets the most stringent quality standards, ensuring process reliability and product quality in critical applications.

Evoqua’s LaboStar® Ultrapure Water and Reverse Osmosis Systems provide laboratory-grade water purification for research and analytical applications. (Image: Evoqua)

Digital Water Management: The Water One® Approach

One of Evoqua’s most innovative offerings is its Water One® services, which represent a paradigm shift in how water treatment systems are managed and maintained. This digital water management approach combines advanced technologies with outcome-based water quality guarantees to deliver reliable, hassle-free water treatment.

Key features of the Water One® service include:

• 24/7/365 remote monitoring with system alerts
• Proactive, predictive service from local teams
• Simplified, flat-rate billing with no emergency service fees
• No upfront capital costs
• Guaranteed water quality tailored to specific application needs

This service model transforms traditional water treatment operations into a more predictable, reliable, and cost-effective process. By leveraging real-time data analytics, Evoqua can optimize system performance and proactively address potential issues before they impact water quality or production.

“Water One® provides a unique solution for our customers by combining key technologies with outcome-based water guarantees. Using remote monitoring, Evoqua can provide proactive, predictive services to maintain your water needs,” states the company on its official website. Evoqua

Sustainability Commitment and Environmental Impact

Evoqua has positioned sustainability at the core of its business strategy, recognizing that water technologies play a crucial role in addressing global environmental challenges. The company approaches sustainability through what it calls the “Handprint and Footprint” framework:

• Handprint: The positive impact of Evoqua’s solutions when deployed by customers, enabling them to meet their own sustainability goals through more efficient water use, reduced chemical consumption, and improved water quality.
• Footprint: The company’s internal efforts to minimize its environmental impact through operational efficiency, reduced resource consumption, and sustainable business practices.

In 2022, Evoqua established its Sustainability and Innovation Hub in Pittsburgh, which serves as a center for developing cutting-edge water treatment technologies. This facility focuses on advancing connected digital technologies, enhancing waste-to-value treatment systems, and furthering the development of sustainable water solutions.

The company has also made public commitments to sustainability goals, including increasing the amount of treated water it provides and expanding access to safe, clean water globally. These efforts align with the growing recognition of water as a critical resource requiring careful stewardship and innovative management approaches.

Evoqua’s Sustainability and Innovation Hub in Pittsburgh focuses on developing cutting-edge and sustainable water treatment technologies. (Image: Pittsburgh Earth Day)

Industry Applications and Market Presence

Evoqua’s solutions serve a diverse range of industries and applications, demonstrating the versatility and comprehensive nature of their water treatment portfolio:

Municipal Water and Wastewater

For municipalities, Evoqua provides complete solutions for drinking water treatment and wastewater management. Their technologies address challenges such as:

• Disinfection and disinfection byproduct control
• Tertiary filtration for advanced wastewater treatment
• Nutrient removal for environmental protection
• Odor and corrosion control in collection systems
• PFAS, PFOA, and PFOS contaminant treatment

These solutions help communities deliver safe drinking water while protecting natural water bodies from pollution.

Industrial Water Treatment

Evoqua serves numerous industrial sectors with specialized water solutions:

• Food and Beverage: High-purity ingredient water, wastewater treatment, and water reuse systems
• Power Generation: Boiler feedwater treatment, cooling tower water management, and FGD wastewater treatment
• Microelectronics: Ultrapure water systems for semiconductor manufacturing
• Pharmaceuticals: Validated purified water systems meeting regulatory requirements
• Oil and Gas: Produced water treatment, hydrostatic test water management
• Mining: Metals removal and process water treatment

Each industrial application benefits from Evoqua’s expertise in addressing sector-specific water challenges while optimizing operational efficiency.

Commercial and Recreational Water

Evoqua is also a leader in commercial and recreational water treatment, providing:

• Advanced filtration and disinfection for swimming pools and aquatic facilities
• Water treatment solutions for aquariums and aquaculture operations
• Building water systems for commercial facilities

These applications demonstrate the breadth of Evoqua’s capabilities across different water treatment contexts.

Case Studies: Proven Performance in Real-World Applications

Examining specific case studies provides insight into how Evoqua’s technologies deliver tangible benefits in real-world scenarios:

Power Generation: Coffeen Power Station Modernization

The Ameren Coffeen Power Station in Illinois needed to replace its aging water treatment system with one that could handle challenging water conditions while minimizing chemical discharge to a nearby lake. Evoqua designed an innovative containerized system using microfiltration and high-flow-rate reverse osmosis technology.

The results were impressive:

• Reduced chemical usage and operating costs
• Decreased chemical discharge to the lake by approximately 35%
• Reduced maintenance requirements by approximately 3,000 man-hours per year
• Reliable operation exceeding water quality specifications

This case demonstrates how Evoqua’s solutions can simultaneously address water quality challenges, environmental concerns, and operational efficiency requirements.

Evoqua’s containerized water treatment systems provide compact, efficient solutions for challenging applications. (Image: Evoqua)

PFAS Contamination Treatment

With growing concerns about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water, Evoqua has developed specialized treatment solutions to address these “forever chemicals.” In multiple municipal applications, their activated carbon and ion exchange technologies have successfully reduced PFAS contaminants to below detection limits, preserving the integrity of public water supplies.

These case studies highlight Evoqua’s ability to tackle emerging water quality challenges with innovative, effective technologies.

Market Position and Future Outlook

The 2023 merger with Xylem has significantly strengthened Evoqua’s market position, creating what many industry observers consider the world’s most advanced platform for addressing water challenges. The combined entity brings together complementary technologies, broader geographic reach, and enhanced research and development capabilities.

Several key factors are driving continued growth opportunities for Evoqua in the water treatment market:

1. Increasing Regulatory Pressure: Stricter regulations regarding water quality, contaminants of emerging concern, and discharge standards are driving investments in advanced water treatment technologies.
2. Water Scarcity Concerns: As water stress increases globally, solutions that enable water recycling, reuse, and efficient management become more critical.
3. Aging Infrastructure: Many municipal water systems require significant upgrades, creating demand for modern, efficient treatment technologies.
4. Industrial Sustainability Goals: Companies are increasingly focused on reducing their water footprint and implementing more sustainable water management practices.
5. Digital Transformation: The integration of digital technologies, remote monitoring, and data analytics is revolutionizing water treatment operations.

With its comprehensive technology portfolio, service-oriented approach, and strengthened market position through the Xylem merger, Evoqua is well-positioned to capitalize on these trends and continue its leadership in the water technology sector.

Conclusion: Transforming Water for a Sustainable Future

As global water challenges intensify, the role of innovative water technology providers like Evoqua becomes increasingly crucial. Through its extensive portfolio of water treatment solutions, commitment to sustainability, and customer-centric approach, Evoqua Water Technologies is making significant contributions to addressing some of the world’s most pressing water issues.

The company’s tagline, “Transforming Water. Enriching Life.®” reflects its fundamental mission: to improve water quality and availability in ways that benefit both human communities and the natural environment. As part of the now-expanded Xylem organization, Evoqua’s technologies and expertise will continue to play a vital role in creating a more water-secure and sustainable future.

For industries, municipalities, and communities seeking to address water challenges, Evoqua offers not just technologies but comprehensive solutions that encompass equipment, expertise, and ongoing support. As water becomes an increasingly strategic resource globally, Evoqua’s innovations and approach to water management represent a model for effective stewardship of this essential resource.

The path forward for Evoqua Water Technologies, now as part of Xylem, involves continued innovation, expanded application of digital technologies, and an unwavering commitment to water sustainability. In a world where water challenges are becoming more complex and urgent, Evoqua’s expertise and solutions will remain indispensable tools for creating a more water-secure future.

For more information about Evoqua Water Technologies and its water treatment solutions, visit its official website or contact its customer service team to discuss specific water challenges and potential solutions.

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