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Sewerage in the UK - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2025-2029)

Luyi Geng Luyi Geng London, United Kingdom Last Updated: July 2025 SIC UK-E37

Revenue

£31.9bn

2025-26

£33.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£X.Xbn

Employees

261k

Businesses

20,541

Wages

£X.Xbn

Sewerage in the UK industry analysis

There are strict targets for European countries to meet when it comes to collecting and treating wastewater and managing sewage plants. The 2024 updated EU Urban Wastewater Directive means the threat of court action or fines looms over the heads of governments that don’t have adequate sewage networks and infrastructure. This has encouraged demand for sewerage companies and has supported a steady workflow in recent years.

Trends and Insights

  • Strict regulations ensure that sewage service demand remains fairly constant. The EU Urban Wastewater Directive and other legislation require countries to satisfy certain standards when treating water.
  • New technologies, like smart meters, reduce household water consumption. Water-saving appliances are reducing how much water households use, lowering demand for sewage operators.
  • There are geographical constraints for waste disposal networks. Sewage operators tend to run the sewer and sewerage network in their region and are usually the only providers there. These are often owner-operators or cooperative associations.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report

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What is the market size of the Sewerage industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

The market size of the Sewerage industry in the United Kingdom is £31.9bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Sewerage industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

There are 20,541 businesses in the Sewerage industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.1 % between 2020 and 2025.

Has the Sewerage industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Sewerage industry in the United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 3.1 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Sewerage industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Sewerage industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What does the Sewerage industry in the United Kingdom include?

Foul-water drainage and Surface water drainage are part of the Sewerage industry in the United Kingdom.

How competitive is the Sewerage industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is low and steady in the Sewerage industry in the United Kingdom.

Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Table of Contents

External Environment

Highlights

Trends
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key Takeaways

There are strict regulations for sewage operators to adhere to. The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive is a key legislation that sets standards for the treatment of urban wastewater. The Water Framework Directive also sets standards for the sustainable use of water resources.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Sewerage in the UK industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

Plant upgrades drive rising depreciation and purchase costs, hitting profit. In 2025, significant capital expenditure on modernising ageing networks and expanding capacity is expected to raise depreciation and purchase costs, squeezing profit.

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Cost Structure

Charts
  • Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
  • Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
    • Marketing
    • Depreciation
    • Profit
    • Purchases
    • Wages
    • Rent
    • Utilities
    • Other
Analysis

What trends impact cost in the Sewerage in the UK industry?


Key Ratios

Data tables
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)

Country Benchmarks

European Leaders & Laggards

Data Tables

Top and bottom five countries listed for each:

  • Revenue Growth (2025)
  • Business Growth (2025)
  • Job Growth (2025)

European Country Performance

Data Tables

Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

  • IVA/Revenue (2025)
  • Imports/Demand (2025)
  • Exports/Revenue (2025)
  • Revenue per Employee (2025)
  • Wages/Revenue (2025)
  • Employees per Establishment (2025)
  • Average Wage (2025)

Structural Comparison

Data Tables

Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe

  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power
  • Volatility
  • Capital Intensity
  • Innovation
  • Life Cycle

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Methodology

Where does IBISWorld source its data?

IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

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