How are IIJA legislated funds unfolding? From California to Maine, total announced funding associated with the legislation had reached US$186.3 billion. Of this total, US$10.5 billion has been announced for water-designated projects. At the same time, the U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water has released implementation guidelines for the Build America, Buy America (BABA) domestic sourcing requirements that were enacted as part of the IIJA. Bluefield's water experts– R...
Jan 17, 2023•43 min
PFAS is the water industry topic du jour, shaped by lawsuits, emerging regulations, infrastructure investment and disadvantaged communities. So far, however, much of the focus has been on the U.S. drinking water sector. But these emerging contaminants are impacting water supplies and, as a result, policy makers in Europe and Australia. Varied approaches to tackle PFAS exist across the globe, including by regional adoption, nation-wide action, and incremental growth markets. For this reason, Rees...
Dec 06, 2022•34 min
Shaped by a growing demand for water & wastewater infrastructure investment and an increasingly favorable policy landscape, private participation among U.S. utilities is on the rise. Bluefield's water experts discuss their recent analysis of investor-owned utilities' strategies, highlighting M&A trends and how companies—from American Water to private equity-backed firms—are approaching the water market. Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield water experts Isabel Kezman and Charlie Suse. If...
Nov 22, 2022•32 min
Bluefield’s industrial water experts breakdown their recent analysis of 35 large U.S. cities with climate action plans which evaluates greenhouse emissions, energy use, reduction strategies, and water management positions. This discussion provides insight into why more U.S. cities are not developing climate action plans but also the variation in approaches for those cities with mitigation strategies— strategies that are indicators of future shifts in water management. Reese Tisdale speaks with A...
Nov 08, 2022•26 min
In this episode, our data team discusses Bluefield's utility data and details the journey to collect and inventory 747 capital improvement plans that have been scrubbed and cleaned for Bluefield clients. This discussion provides insights into what the data is, the value of the data, and how Bluefield clients are using this bottom-up, detailed information. Reese Tisdale speaks with John Berryman and Jaime Colón. If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or collea...
Oct 25, 2022•25 min
The Bluefield team talks mergers and acquisition trends across the global water sector, providing insight into the slow down of deal flow activity. Reese Tisdale and Steph Aldock discusses the impacts of big deals, new market entrants, and the impact of global economic volatility. While it seems like the bottom may have fallen out of the market, positive signals are ahead. As Reese says, “It will be interesting to see what happens with American companies going abroad because the American dollar ...
Oct 11, 2022•22 min
The Bluefield team discusses their take on private participation in water, breaking down the where and who is leading the way. The discussion builds off of Bluefield’s analysis of investor-owned utilities, contract operations firms, and market analysis. What is the share of private utility ownership in the U.S.? What is the impact of the Corix/ SouthWest Water deal and how is deal flow overall? Why is the Texas market particularly attractive? Who are the biggest players? Reese Tisdale , in addit...
Sep 27, 2022•26 min
Bluefield's water experts breakdown the how and what's behind the ongoing water and wastewater crisis in the capital city of Jackson, MS. From drinking water quality issues to infrastructure funding to wastewater challenges, Reese Tisdale discusses the whole convergence of water-related challenges facing water utilities and disadvantaged communities. If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven’t already, please click to follow this p...
Sep 13, 2022•27 min
Digital technology is everywhere, including for water applications. A lot is happening when it comes to hardware, software, and services. Bluefield water experts dive into the role of engineering firms and discuss market challenges, strategic shifts, spinouts, recent M&A, and strategic announcements by firms active in water. Podcast host, Reese Tisdale , leads this discussion with Senior Research Director Eric Bindler . If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a fri...
Aug 30, 2022•41 min
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) represents the biggest move by the federal government to address climate change. Not only does it support an energy transition that has been in the making for decades, it opens the door to new tech, new business models, and, for Bluefield, a pivot towards new opportunities in water. Podcast host, Reese Tisdale , and Sales Director John Berryman take on the IRA and its potential impact on the water industry. From the power and automotive sectors to municipal util...
Aug 16, 2022•27 min
Unusually hot temperatures and droughts are affecting regions all over the world from Europe, South Asia, Iraq to Mexico–particularly affecting agricultural industries. New data from the United Nations shows that the number and duration of droughts are on the rise. Bluefield’s water experts discuss how prolonged droughts will affect water consumption for municipalities, but also for the agricultural and power sectors and give their take on opportunities in water sector investment. If you enjoy l...
Jul 26, 2022•38 min
The effects of climate change, population growth, and the rise of industrialization have played a significant role in water scarcity and have had a substantial impact on water demand. Bluefield’s water experts discuss findings from their recent analysis of large scale global desalination market, project activity, ownership trends, and technology shifts. In today’s episode, Reese Tisdale is joined by Senior Analyst Isabel Kezman. If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell ...
Jul 12, 2022•23 min
Bluefield’s Reese Tisdale , Eric Bindler , and Greg Goodwin discuss the Build America, Buy America Act and its implications for the water sector in the U.S. While designed to create an opportunity to increase domestic manufacturing, support the creation of jobs, and strengthen U.S. supply chains, it arrives at a time in which inflation and supply chain bottlenecks are of greater concern. Bluefield’s team seeks to lay out the challenges the bill presents and discusses if it just arrived at the wr...
Jun 21, 2022•39 min
In this milestone, 50th episode, the Bluefield team looks farther ahead to talk about global disruption, potential winners & losers, and critical trends shaping the future of water. Podcast host Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield’s Steph Aldock , Keith Hays , and Eric Bindler . If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven’t already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen. If you’d like to be informed of water ma...
Jun 07, 2022•39 min
Bluefield's water experts discuss the mixed signals being received from California, in terms of drought, desalination, and the interconnection between water and power. This discussion identifies the challenges and opportunities for water management, using California as a potential bellwether for the U.S., if not the rest of the world.
May 24, 2022•30 min
Bluefield’s water experts discuss key trends shaping water infrastructure, investment, and strategies over the next three to five years, framing the longer-term market outlook for the water sector. Bluefield’s Sales Director John Berryman and Senior Reserach Director Eric Bindler join Podcast host Reese Tisdale on this discussion. If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven’t already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you ...
May 03, 2022•42 min
Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield Industrial Water Analyst Amber Walsh to discuss recent analysis on r esidential water management and reuse . A new group of firms, globally, are emerging to capture household greywater for non-potable applications. But they are also doing so through key, if not critical, partnerships. In this episode, Reese and Amber discuss residential reuse — the market landscape, emerging players, and business models. If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, ...
Apr 19, 2022•27 min
2021 was a positive year for the water market, overall, with record levels of deals, but the digital water market saw mixed results in M&A and in the VC space. Podcast host, Reese Tisdale , hosts Bluefield’s discussion on key trends that impacted digital water in 2021 and opportunities identified expected for the year ahead. Although, supply chain disruptions, inflationary pressures, and growing geopolitical tensions pose downside risks, economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and large...
Apr 05, 2022•24 min
On 8 March 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a memorandum to guide collaborative implementation with state, local, and tribal partners of US$43 billion in water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The EPA’s memo outlines requirements and recommendations for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs). From disadvantaged communities to state revolving funds, industry players have been awaiting guidance on changes to the w...
Mar 15, 2022•35 min
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine (and the world) will have cascading effects on international energy markets, particularly those more heavily reliant on natural gas, let alone Russian natural gas. The water sector is at risk to energy markets, globally, and is now being compelled to adopt more energy efficient tools and solutions. This episode, discusses what this conflict might mean for water & wastewater utilities going forward. Host, Reese Tisdale , is joined by Bluefield’s Keith H...
Mar 01, 2022•37 min
Podcast host, Reese Tisdale , and Bluefield’s Senior Analyst Amber Walsh explore potential missed opportunities in household water management. Although domestic water or household water usage represents a small share of the pie, it could represent an enormous opportunity for water management, investment, and advanced data applications. As such, digital water vendors, technology companies, and consumer product companies are looking at opportunities for monitoring, reducing and improving home wate...
Feb 01, 2022•31 min
In this episode, Bluefield’s Keith Hays and Eric Bindler , delves into the canned-water company Liquid Death and the growing questions about bottled water, the incredible size of the bottled water market, and potential risks to water utilities, from perception to customer erosion. At the beginning of 2022, Liquid Death announced that it landed more than US$75 million in funding to expand its footprint. Growth + Water is a good thing in many cases, but Bluefield’s water experts raise concerns fac...
Jan 18, 2022•36 min
As we close out 2021, Bluefield digs into the top stories that defined water this past year, for good and bad. We’ll take a look back at how COVID-19 and supply chain disruptions influenced water investment and revisit some predictions for the year that did or did not come to fruition.
Dec 21, 2021•47 min
According to an October AWWA survey, key issues facing water sector utilities and service providers in the U.S. and Canada are hiring difficulties and supply chain issues. Hiring, employee turnover, staffing continuity, and chemical supply chain issues are among the list of top challenges. What is the outlook for the water sector and where do utilities turn for help in addressing these COVID-related impacts? The Bluefield team discusses the potential for accelerating adoption of third-party serv...
Dec 07, 2021•33 min
As Congress has seemingly crawled across the finish line for a momentous infrastructure bill, executives in the water sector have expressed some frustration that the total amount of the bill is not enough to take on the myriad of challenges. Bluefield’s Greg Goodwin and Reese Tisdale take a more optimistic and expansive view of the bill and share thoughts on the basics, where the dollars are going, and who might be the winners. Water news… Recent news headlines and what they could mean for the w...
Nov 23, 2021•38 min
Deal activity in water is climbing. If activity in the Private Water and Digital Water sectors keep pace, as it has historically over the past few years, this year’s transactions in water will surpass 2020’s 368 transactions. Reese Tisdale talks about deals that are interesting to him and what they mean for the water sector: 1.) NextEra carving out a new water platform with its acquisition of a regulated utility in Texas. While not its first in water, the acquisition of Quadvest, LP falls in lin...
Nov 09, 2021•17 min
Bluefield’s digital water expert, Eric Bindler, breaks down his key findings from attending this year’s WEFTEC in Chicago. Eric discusses new product launches from Kando and Schneider Electric, water sector staffing and hiring issues, the potential impact vaccine mandates may have on utility and vendor workforces, and new market entrants.
Oct 26, 2021•41 min
The world is in a seemingly crazy and disjointed place, as climate, COVID, and geopolitical issues influence water markets. Bluefield’s water experts address some key trends and events impacting water and global water management giving their perspectives on everything from climate’s role and impact, the water/energy nexus and a potential shift to a fossil fuel generation, and global scale supply chain issues.
Oct 12, 2021•35 min
Companies across the water industry are feeling the effects of supply chain constraints, which are creating headwinds even as demand soars from 2020 levels. Key inputs such as plastic resin, iron and steel, copper, and semiconductors have seen double-digit price increases, impacting firms as diverse as pipe OEMs, treatment chemical suppliers, and metering firms. Bluefield’s Nathan Goldstein shares some of his perspectives on his recent analysis of global supply chains. Water news… Reese also sha...
Sep 14, 2021•27 min
For the sixth consecutive year, Bluefield Research has embarked upon an analysis of the water and wastewater rates in the U.S . and the impacts on residential water and wastewater bills. Bluefield’s Erin Bonney Casey shares her perspective on her recent analysis of utility water rates and potential impacts of drought on customer water bills. The analysis comes at a time when the Colorado River Basin is under significant threat, so much so that water allocations are being cut for lower basin stat...
Aug 31, 2021•38 min
