Water industry

The water industry provides drinking water[1] and wastewater services (including sewage treatment) to residential, commercial, and industrial sectors of the economy.

Typically public utilities operate water supply networks.

The water industry does not include manufacturers and suppliers of bottled water, which is part of the beverage production and belongs to the food sector.

[2] There are a variety of organizational structures for the water industry, with countries usually having one dominant traditional structure, which usually changes only gradually over time.

Using available data only, and during 2009 - 2010, the ten largest water companies active globally were (largest first) : [7] Veolia Environnement (France), Suez Environnement (France), ITT Corporation (US), United Utilities (UK), Severn Trent (UK), Thames Water (UK), American Water Works Company (US), GE Water (US), Kurita Water Industries (Japan), Nalco Water (US).