Utilities and manufacturers are still adding capacity at a pace that quietly fuels pump demand across the entire value chain. Global utilities installed 19.3 GW of utility scale solar PV in 2023, while the industrial-output outlook for 2024 stays positive, and that combination shows up in industrial pump spending and water and wastewater chemicals markets that scale dose by dose. As you connect reliability and energy pressures with standards like ISO 9906 and the rise of smart metering, you start to see why pump performance and operating costs are being treated as measurable, not just mechanical.
Key Takeaways
- 19.3 GW of utility-scale solar PV was added globally in 2023, supporting upstream water/pumping needs in PV manufacturing and operations
- 3.5% year-over-year growth in global industrial output was forecast for 2024 by OECD, indicating continued industrial investment that drives process pumping systems demand
- $2.3 billion was the 2023 global market value for industrial pumps, per IMARC Group’s estimate, indicating a large and measurable addressable pump market
- ISO 9906 specifies pump performance test acceptance tolerances commonly expressed as efficiency and head limits, enabling verifiable field performance comparisons
- The ISO 9906 standard specifies that acceptance tests for pump performance should be carried out under defined conditions, including tolerance-based evaluation of head and efficiency (reported as performance acceptance criteria)
- ISO 5199 provides dimensional and performance requirements for centrifugal pumps; it is referenced for pump design/selection and is used in industry specifications (quantified via standard scope: centrifugal pumps, over specific size ranges)
- 71% of utilities planned to deploy smart meters and advanced metering infrastructure by 2025 (regulated utility planning), increasing pump-network optimization needs
- 66% of industrial firms in a 2023 survey reported using energy management software or services, enabling pump energy tracking and optimization
- PFAS regulatory scrutiny is increasing in industrial water systems, raising demand for advanced filtration/pumping and dosing systems (policy updates quantify program scope)
- The global heat pump market reached $27.4 billion in 2023 (adjacent pumping/flow systems in HVAC and hydronic loops), increasing demand for circulation pumps
- PFI: 2023–2024 semiconductor manufacturing expansion in Asia supports process water loops and chemical handling pumps
- $4.1 billion was the 2023 investment in UK water sector (Ofwat/UK regulator reporting) supporting pump station upgrades
- Life-cycle cost analysis is recommended in ISO pump testing/selection standards where energy over operating hours dominates; ISO 28961 selection guidance links energy to cost
- A 2022 World Bank report estimated energy and staffing are key O&M cost drivers in water utilities, affecting pump station operating budgets
- National Grid’s RIIO-2 business plan expects customers’ use of smart meters to support network optimization efforts that reduce operational losses and improve pumping control where networks include meter-driven operations (smart metering scale in UK electricity)
Industrial pump demand stays strong as industrial output, water spending, and smart energy upgrades boost efficient pumping.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Size9 stats
01
19.3 GW of utility-scale solar PV was added globally in 2023, supporting upstream water/pumping needs in PV manufacturing and operations
02
3.5% year-over-year growth in global industrial output was forecast for 2024 by OECD, indicating continued industrial investment that drives process pumping systems demand
03
$2.3 billion was the 2023 global market value for industrial pumps, per IMARC Group’s estimate, indicating a large and measurable addressable pump market
04
$53.7 billion global water and wastewater treatment chemicals market size was estimated for 2023, supporting chemical dosing and associated pumping applications
05
$11.2 billion global desalination market size was estimated for 2023, driving large-volume intake, filtration, and high-pressure pumping systems
06
$6.8 billion global industrial pump market size was estimated for 2022, showing continued pump spending base in process industries
07
€100 billion annual investment in EU water infrastructure was cited as needed to meet water-related goals, supporting municipal pumping upgrades
08
$18.7 billion was the 2023 global market size estimate for municipal water and wastewater treatment pumps per a vendor-research dataset, indicating a distinct end-market for pumps
09
$10.1 billion global wastewater treatment equipment market size was estimated for 2023, supporting pump demand in collection and treatment systems
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
Global Market Size signals strong and growing demand for pumps, with 2023 industrial pumps valued at $2.3 billion and 2023 water and wastewater treatment pumps at $18.7 billion alongside large related end markets like $53.7 billion in treatment chemicals and $11.2 billion in desalination.
02 · Category
Performance Metrics3 stats
01
ISO 9906 specifies pump performance test acceptance tolerances commonly expressed as efficiency and head limits, enabling verifiable field performance comparisons
02
The ISO 9906 standard specifies that acceptance tests for pump performance should be carried out under defined conditions, including tolerance-based evaluation of head and efficiency (reported as performance acceptance criteria)
03
ISO 5199 provides dimensional and performance requirements for centrifugal pumps; it is referenced for pump design/selection and is used in industry specifications (quantified via standard scope: centrifugal pumps, over specific size ranges)
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
For performance metrics, ISO 9906 sets test acceptance using efficiency and head tolerances and requires evaluations under defined conditions, while ISO 5199 strengthens this framework by codifying dimensional and performance requirements for centrifugal pumps across specified size ranges.
03 · Category
User Adoption2 stats
01
71% of utilities planned to deploy smart meters and advanced metering infrastructure by 2025 (regulated utility planning), increasing pump-network optimization needs
02
66% of industrial firms in a 2023 survey reported using energy management software or services, enabling pump energy tracking and optimization
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
With 71% of utilities planning smart meters and advanced metering infrastructure by 2025 and 66% of industrial firms already using energy management software or services, user adoption is clearly accelerating and driving growing demand for pump network optimization.
04 · Category
Industry Trends12 stats
01
PFAS regulatory scrutiny is increasing in industrial water systems, raising demand for advanced filtration/pumping and dosing systems (policy updates quantify program scope)
02
The global heat pump market reached $27.4 billion in 2023 (adjacent pumping/flow systems in HVAC and hydronic loops), increasing demand for circulation pumps
03
PFI: 2023–2024 semiconductor manufacturing expansion in Asia supports process water loops and chemical handling pumps
04
Global data center investment reached $200+ billion in 2023 (IEA estimate), increasing chilled water and drainage pumping requirements
05
Hydrogen production growth targets for 2030 in IEA’s Hydrogen Strategy increase demand for process liquids handling and cooling pumps in fuel production supply chains
06
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) capacity expansion by 2030 implied additional water handling and pumping; IEA tracks projects by capacity in its CCS reports
07
Renewable integration drives higher frequency cycling of pumps and rotating equipment in grid-tied industrial processes; market integration scale is tracked by IEA
08
Noise and vibration regulations for industrial equipment are tightening; UK HSE guidance sets limits for workplace noise exposure affecting pump selection and operating practices
09
$1.2 trillion global waste sector investment was estimated for 2023–2030 (World Bank) indicating capital spending affecting wastewater pumping
10
18.0% of the global final energy consumption in 2022 was used by buildings (including electricity demand for building services pumps), per IEA’s Buildings Tracking tool
11
2,700+ TWh of global electricity was used by motor-driven systems in 2017 (a large portion of which is pumping), per the IEA report on motor systems (tracking and analysis of end-use electricity)
12
10.6% of global electricity was generated from hydropower in 2022, supporting pumped-hydro and related pumping/reversible pump-turbine fleets, per Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2023
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
With sectors like data centers, heat pumps, and motor driven systems all accelerating, pump demand is being pushed higher by building and grid trends, including buildings using 18.0% of final energy in 2022 and global heat pump market growth to $27.4 billion in 2023, underscoring that industry-wide efficiency and scaling pressures are reshaping the pump landscape under Industry Trends.
More related reading
05 · Category
Cost Analysis11 stats
01
$4.1 billion was the 2023 investment in UK water sector (Ofwat/UK regulator reporting) supporting pump station upgrades
02
Life-cycle cost analysis is recommended in ISO pump testing/selection standards where energy over operating hours dominates; ISO 28961 selection guidance links energy to cost
03
A 2022 World Bank report estimated energy and staffing are key O&M cost drivers in water utilities, affecting pump station operating budgets
04
In the US, electricity prices averaged about $0.15/kWh in 2023 (EIA), which can materially change pump operating cost calculations
05
Industrial natural gas prices averaged about $5–6/MMBtu in 2023 for US markets in EIA series, affecting combined heat/power or boiler feed pump operating costs
06
Steel price volatility affects pump material and impeller costs; OECD tracks producer price indices for metals, which influence capex inflation for pumps
07
Membrane and filter replacement cycles in water plants can drive pumping O&M; US EPA notes typical filter backwash and replacement scheduling impacts operating costs
08
Bearing replacements cost schedules in rotating equipment maintenance are commonly estimated per bearing/installation labor; CMMS vendor reports quantify cost per repair event
09
4.3% average annual growth in operating costs for utilities under inflation scenarios increases pressure to reduce energy use of pumps (OECD utility cost analysis)
10
The European Commission’s Ecodesign regulations quantify standby/off-mode power limits for energy-related products; these limits reduce auxiliary pump power draw in many HVAC/water circulation components
11
Pump reliability and downtime costs: a widely cited industry benchmark indicates that unscheduled downtime costs manufacturers $50B–$100B globally per year; pumping downtime impacts process continuity where pumps are critical
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Cost analysis in the pump industry is being dominated by energy and operational expense pressures, with 4.1 billion invested in UK water sector pump station upgrades in 2023 and utilities facing 4.3% average annual operating cost growth, making lifecycle energy costs and downtime risks as critical as initial capex.
06 · Category
Policy & Regulation2 stats
01
National Grid’s RIIO-2 business plan expects customers’ use of smart meters to support network optimization efforts that reduce operational losses and improve pumping control where networks include meter-driven operations (smart metering scale in UK electricity)
02
EU Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 updates ecodesign requirements for energy-related products including fans and motors; the text includes quantified efficiency requirements impacting pumping equipment energy use
Interpretation
Policy & Regulation Interpretation
Under Policy and Regulation, the UK’s RIIO-2 plan is pushing smart metering to drive network optimization, cutting operational losses and improving pumping control, while EU Regulation 2023/1805 tightens quantified ecodesign efficiency requirements for fans and motors that will directly reduce energy use in pumping equipment.
07 · Category
Market Structure2 stats
01
0.2% of US water systems were reported as “new” capacity in a given year’s dataset by EPA’s SDWIS/State program (small annual add-on rate implies continued reliance on existing pumping assets and upgrades)
02
US Census’ 2022 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances shows capital expenditures trends for public works categories including water supply and wastewater systems (the category is used for investment tracking in pump infrastructure)
Interpretation
Market Structure Interpretation
From a market structure perspective, the fact that only 0.2% of US water systems were reported as adding new capacity in an EPA SDWIS dataset year suggests the pump industry is still dominated by maintaining and upgrading existing assets rather than wholesale market entry.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). Pump Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/pump-industry-statistics
MLA
Ryan Townsend. "Pump Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/pump-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Ryan Townsend. 2026. "Pump Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/pump-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
41 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+17 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)