Spain’s water sector has evolved in light of the country's unique challenges such as extensive infrastructure buildout in recent decades, population boom, economic recessions, and persistent droughts. Despite these hurdles, Spain has made notable strides in areas including desalination, water management, and technology adoption. VP & Managing Director Keith Hays and Analyst Maria Cardenal from Bluefield's Europe team sit down with Podcast Host and Bluefield President & CEO Reese Tisdale. Together, they explore three major trends shaping the Spanish water sector: digitalization, smart water management, and the circular economy. In addition to these trends, Bluefield's Europe water experts delve into several key topics: Main challenges facing Spain's water sector, and how they are being addressedThe size of Spain’s water sector, including its relativity to other countries in EuropeGovernment policies and regulations that could influence the development of the water sector moving forwardProminent key players in the Spanish water sector—utilities, technology providers, and consulting firmsOpportunities for foreign investors and companies looking to enter the Spanish water market 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: Spain Municipal Water Market OverviewEurope Municipal Water & Wastewater: CAPEX Market Forecasts, 2024–2030

Update: As of 23 May 2024, deal talks between Schneider Electric and Bentley Systems have ended, with no plans to move forward with an acquisition. Schneider Electric and Bentley have confirmed ongoing discussions regarding a potential acquisition, marking a significant development in the water industry. With Bentley's market value estimated at approximately US$16 billion, the prospective deal would provide large ramifications across various industries where both companies operate. While both Schneider and Bentley are prominent players in the digital water realm, other companies including Cadence Design Systems and Siemens could be in the mix as well. In this episode, podcast host Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield's Senior Research Director Eric Bindler, and Digital Water Analyst Christine Ow, to explore the potential ripple effect of a Schneider-Bentley deal on the water industry: Enhancing Operational Efficiency: The convergence of Bentley and Schneider would facilitate the transition from design to operations, unlocking efficiencies throughout the value chain. Their combined expertise would offer a suite of products, bridging crucial gaps in the industry.Altering the Competitive Landscape: Schneider's diverse portfolio spans various sectors. The integration of Bentley would further strengthen their standing within the water industry, challenging established players.Navigating Integration Challenges: Beyond the strategic benefits, the acquisition presents integration complexities, including aligning customer bases and merging company cultures. 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: Schneider Pursues Bentley, Rounding Out Water OfferingsModeling Software Players Weigh Growth OptionsIdrica Tapped to Integrate Xylem Digital Water PortfolioOldcastle Cements Digital Water Strategy via Partnerships and M&A

Bluefield's latest remediation forecast for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) has surged to US$13.5 billion by 2030 in the wake of anticipated maximum contamination limits (MCLs) for drinking water and a significant legal settlement involving 3M in South Carolina. Now, with the EPA confirming these unprecedented contaminant limits, a fresh wave of discussions emerge, touching upon the EPA's authority, states' rights, and the subsequent course of action including the management and responsibility of biosolids disposal—who's ultimately responsible? In this episode, Podcast Host Reese Tisdale engages in a deep dive discussion with Bluefield's Senior Research Director, Greg Goodwin (a.k.a. Bluefield's policy watcher), exploring recent policy developments regulating 'forever chemicals' in drinking water and their potential ramifications on regulatory frameworks. Key talking points cover what is PFAS (for anyone not in the know), the implications of the EPA establishing its new MCLs for PFAS, the ripple effects on wastewater, and the potential influence of upcoming elections on these policies. 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: State of the Market: PFAS Policy Landscape, Forecasts, and Competitive Analysis3M Windfall for PFAS Impacted Water SystemsEurope to Ramp Up PFAS Water Regulations

While artificial intelligence (AI) has indeed become a prevalent buzzword in many regards, capturing headlines over the past 12 to 18 months, its potential impact remains significant. There are real applications and impacts that are unfolding for AI, including those in the water and wastewater sectors. In the U.S. utility construction sector—which is facing chronic labor shortages amid historic levels of federal infrastructure investment—AI can serve as a powerful tool for increasing productivity, efficiency, and safety on worksites and in back offices alike. In this episode, Reese Tisdale speaks with Bluefield's Senior Research Director Eric Bindler who recently presented on AI to to the National Utility of Contractors Association (NUCA). Eric answers 3 major questions: What is AI and its implications for the construction industry?What is AI's potential impact on jobs?What are the applications and who are some companies active in the AI space? 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: AI in the Utility Construction Industry: Key Market Trends, Applications & Best PracticesDigital Water: Key Trends, Project Activity, and Market Outlook, Q1 2024

Public sector water and wastewater project owners, engineering & design firms, and contractors are facing cost overruns, schedule delays, and contractual disputes that are slowing the execution and delivery of critical infrastructure. These factors have prompted the development of new policies and project experiences, accelerating collaborative project delivery approaches. The methods include design-build, progressive design-build, construction manager at-risk approaches, and public-private partnerships. Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield Senior Analyst Charlie Suse to discuss his recent analysis of collaborative delivery and its growing impact on water and wastewater infrastructure buildout in the U.S. Charlie outlines three main factors driving interest and policy changes in collaborative delivery: Legislative momentumDemonstrated activity and a growing portfolio of projectsOther factors such as utilities’ financial constraints, aging infrastructure, regulatory pressure, and climate change 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: Collaborative Project Delivery: State Policies and Market Trends for Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

A number of Bluefield clients have enquired about the status of IIJA project funds. Each program stands in terms of four funding phases: appropriated, announced, obligated, outlaid. Podcast host Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield Senior Analyst Isabel Kezman to discuss recent analysis of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In this episode, Bluefield's water experts speak on the pace of project activity and funding timeline from its legislation in November 2021 to now. 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act: Tracking the Spending, Q1 2024IIJA Aims to Reduce Backlog of U.S. Tribal Water, Sewer Infrastructure NeedsThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA): Breaking Down the Water Funding

The global private equity (PE) sector has grown thirteenfold since 2000, wielding increasing influence over critical infrastructure sectors. The proliferation of digital technologies across the water industry has opened new growth avenues for select PE investors. Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield Analyst Christine Ow, to discuss her recent research on the role of PE firms in the digital water segment. Our Bluefield water experts once again take a step back and define “Digital Water", and then identify some key market trends, including PE investments, key players, and outlook for the rest of 2024. 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: Private Equity’s Role in Digital Water: Investor Strategies and Competitive PositioningMapping the Global Digital Water Vendor Landscape: 2024 UpdateThe Digital Water Revolution: Global Digital Water Market Forecast, 2022-2030

Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield Senior Analyst Charlie Suse to discuss recent research on Investor-Owned Utilities in water. Reese and Charlie spell out Bluefield's definition of "Private Water", followed by a dive into the market outlook, including: Utility M&A trends, what companies are paying for water systems, the influential players in the private water space, and where the market is heading through M&A, geographic shifts, and policy changes. Reese also provides some key takeaways from Bluefield's recently published Europe Municipal Water CAPEX Forecast Report. 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: U.S. Private Water: Key Trends, M&A Activity, and Market Outlook, Q1 2024Third-Party O&M for U.S. Water & Wastewater UtilitiesPrivate Equity Takes Wheel of H2O Innovation

The eight Japanese trading companies, also known as “sogo shosha”, are Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui Corporation, Hitachi Corporation, Itochu Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, Toyota Tsusho, and Sojitz Corporation. Together these firms reported nearly US$600 billion in assets under management in 2023. These companies are global, with positions in key markets geographically, and are a unique group with a number of investments in water. Bluefield President and Podcast Host Reese Tisdale and Bluefield's Senior Analyst Ethan Edwards discuss three major questions surrounding the role of these companies within water: How are Japanese trading houses strategically positioned in the global water market, and what factors contribute to their investments in water-related assets?What role do Japanese trading houses play in driving technological advancements and innovations in water management?What are the notable collaborations between Japanese trading houses and local or international entities in the water sector? "These are massive firms, almost battleships of organizations. They've been at it for so long that they've accumulated a wide network that spans globally. Together, they wield a significant influence across a wide network of industries." --Ethan Edwards, Senior Analyst, Bluefield Research 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: Japanese Trading Companies: Portfolio Strategies and AnalysisGlobal Desalination: Market Trends, Ownership Rankings, and Forecast, 2022–2028COVID-19 Wastewater Analysis Gains Traction

Badger Meter, a leading manufacturer of water metering products, has recently acquired the Telog brand of RTUs (remote telemetry units) and associated monitoring software from Trimble. Podcast host and Bluefield President Reese Tisdale, sits down with Bluefield's Senior Research Director Eric Bindler, to shed some light on the transaction, what this signals to the water market, and who and which companies should take notice. Badger Meter has become a poster child for an incumbent water infrastructure/equipment supplier transforming into a leading digital water market player. For Trimble, this move clarifies their position in the market, doubling down on the construction and asset management space in water and related markets. Reese Tisdale also shares his thoughts on Spanish water company Aqualia's recent entry into the U.S. water market through its acquisition of Texas-based Municipal District Services.     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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: The Global Water Metering Landscape: Technology Shifts, Competitive Strategies, and Market OutlookBadger Meter Turns Up Pressure with SyrinixTrimble Builds Digital Water Asset Management Platform with Cityworks Acquisition

In this first episode of 2024, podcast host Reese Tisdale chats with two members of Bluefield's Europe team, Chloé Meyer and Keith Hays, to get their on-the-ground perspectives of key water sector trends in the EU. From water quality to reuse to circular economy, Bluefield's water experts discuss what, if any, the implications are for water management in relation to energy prices and the Ukraine-Russia conflict. This discussion addresses three major questions: What are some of the biggest factors influencing, if not disrupting, the water sector in Europe?What are the key challenges and opportunities in the European water sector that businesses looking to break into the market should be aware of? How can emerging technologies, such as digital water tech and business models, contribute to the growth of businesses in the European water sector? 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: Europe Municipal Wastewater Reuse: Business Models and Competitive StrategiesThe European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) – ESRS E3Catalonia Activates Multi-Pronged Drought Response

In this episode, Bluefield water experts discuss key themes in industrial water from this past quarter. Podcast Host Reese Tisdale, sits down with Bluefield Senior Analyst Amber Walsh, to discuss their findings. 3 major takeaways below: There has been a recent rise of public private partnerships for water projects and industrial companies partnering with water utilities.Opportunities for mobile water treatment are increasing. As businesses seek to insulate themselves from water-related risks, containerized water treatment systems stand to benefit.The impact of PFAS on the industry is growing, posing concerns for industrial facilities regarding liability. 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: Industrial Water: Key Trends, Deals, and Policy in Water Management, Q4 2023Nijhuis Saur Expands European Industrial Mobile Water Treatment via M&AState of the Market: PFAS Policy Landscape, Forecasts, and Competitive Analysis

The Future of Water Podcast host, Reese Tisdale, and Senior Water Analyst Charlie Suse, discuss findings and takeaways from Bluefield's Water & Sewer Rate Index, published earlier this month. Over the past 12 years, combined household water and sewer bills for a typical U.S. household has increased by a total of 54.8%, or an average of 4.1% each year. From 2022 to 2023, combined household water and sewer bills increased by 3.9%, down slightly from the 4.3% increase observed from 2021 to 2022. On a whole, water and wastewater rates are fairly stable, not changing dramatically from year-to-year. But, from city to city, there is some variation. This episode is a discussion of water rates across some of the largest utilities in the U.S., uncovering the broader trends year-on-year and causes for rate volatility at the local level. Reese Tisdale and Charlie Suse hit on trends in water rates, drivers behind water rate fluctuation, and break down some of the hidden costs in your water bill. 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: U.S. Municipal Water & Sewer: Annual Utility Rate Index, 2023

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has reported that employment of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators is projected to decline 6% from 2022 to 2032. This news shines the spotlight on a critical infrastructure sector that faces mounting challenges, from aging infrastructure assets to emerging contaminants (i.e., PFAS). As water and wastewater treatment plants become more advanced with automated systems to manage treatment processes, fewer workers may be needed. In today’s episode, Reese Tisdale is joined by Senior Research Director Eric Bindler, who notes that while some work can be automated, plants will still need skilled workers to operate increasingly complex controls and water and wastewater systems. The overall water industry BLS data shows pretty steady growth of around 1.5% for the past decade and a half.____________________________________________________________________________________ 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday.

Two Montreal-based firms have been recently taken private. On 2 October 2023, Ember Infrastructure announced it would acquire H2O Innovation Inc., a Canadian water solutions provider. A few weeks later, LOGISTEC entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by private equity firm Blue Wolf Capital Partners and infrastructure investment firm Stonepeak. The LOGISTEC acquisition, one of seven “take-private” water deals tracked this year, highlights the increasing role of private equity in water.  Given the large size of these deals, and the flow from public to private, Bluefield water experts discuss the takeaways from these deals. The conversation includes points in how broader sector trends are impacting Water M&A deal flow, and how private equity players are emerging as key players across the water sector. Podcast host, Reese Tisdale, and Senior Analyst Ethan Edwards talk through the deals and emerging trends in water M&A. 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: Global Water Deal Flow: A Look at 2023 Water M&A, Leading Companies, and Market Outlook for 2024H2O Innovation Builds Water Utility Service Portfolio via M&A

What is saltwater intrusion and how common is it? The city of New Orleans has been faced with a national emergency as a saltwater wedge had been expected to reach the area impacting the drinking water supply of 1.2 million people. If contaminated, it could be weeks or months before freshwater returns, unless there is significant rainfall, leaders say. Most coastal regions are always under the threat of saline intrusion and, in fact, many prominent, high-population regions are facing this issue long-term. In this special episode, Bluefield's water experts discuss the what, how, and why of saltwater intrusion, the role of climate change and the global outlook, and breakdown possible mitigation options. The Future of Water podcast host, Reese Tisdale, invites Bluefield's Senior Research Director Greg Goodwin to talk through the event and potential opportunities for change. 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis Water Reuse Gains Toehold in New York StateU.S. Municipal Wastewater Reuse: Project Pipeline Segmentation & Analysis, 2018-2030U.S. Water Reuse Project Data

In today's episode, Reese Tisdale and Senior Municipal Water Analyst Isabel Kezman provide a financial overview of the U.S. water industry discussing the markets, challenges, and regional differences. Isabel breaks down regional footprints of key federal, state, and private funding sources for the water sector. This episode highlights examples of innovative utility funding and financing strategies, such as green bonds, innovative rate structures, public-private partnerships, financial technology, and advanced asset management. The referenced analysis inspects historical expenditure trends over the past 50 years, leading up to historic federal funding for the water sector. Key talking points: Historical view of expenditure trends over timeWhat's behind the decline in capital expenditure?What are the primary sources of funds across federal and state / government levels?Analysis of IIJA and SRF funding 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis Mapping the Dollars: Regional Financial Trends and Preferences in the U.S. Water IndustryU.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Update: Key Funding and Policy Developments

Taking a different approach on this episode, Reese Tisdale flies solo and shares some perspectives from recent analysis presented to clients by Bluefield Research's team of water experts. Three areas of discussion in this episode: Utility Capital Improvement Plans: Bluefield’s team of water experts has dedicated significant time and resources to supporting companies with bottom-up data collection and analysis of the capital improvement plans (CIPs) of 763 large and mid-sized water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities across the U.S. and Canada.Third Party O&M: Private participation in water & wastewater takes many forms, from system ownership and concessions to third-party operations & maintenance (O&M) contracts. Enabled by lower barriers to entry across a fragmented addressable market, third-party O&M providers represent the bulk of private participation in the U.S.Oldcastle Cements Digital Water Strategy via Partnerships and M&A: On 1 August 2023, Oldcastle Infrastructure and FIDO Tech announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the U.S. market entry of FIDO’s artificial intelligence (AI)- powered leak detection software. This partnership is the latest in a series of recent maneuvers by Oldcastle to gain a foothold in the digital water solutions market. 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis U.S. & Canada Municipal Utility Capital Improvement Plans, 2023–2031Third-Party O&M for U.S. Water & Wastewater UtilitiesOldcastle Cements Digital Water Strategy via Partnerships and M&A

The Future of Water host, Reese Tisdale, talks with Bluefield's Senior Analyst Ethan Edwards about the Aegion deal, M&A, and the trenchless pipe rehabilitation market. In this episode, the Bluefield team dives into Aegion's acquisition of Portland Utilities Construction Company (PUCC), a trenchless service provider specializing in cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) and pipe bursting. PUCC serves the municipal market in Texas and the southeastern U.S. PUCC is Aegion’s sixth deal since 2021 and has significant market share in CIPP. Aegion has also acquired Infraspec Services, their first foray into the Canadian lead pipeline replacement market, noting a move into lead service line replacement. Momentum continues to build for lead pipe replacement in the U.S., with the federal government channeling up to US$11.9 billion toward replacements in 2023. 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis Aegion Expands Water Pipeline Services via M&AAegion, Big Water Deals on the Menu for OutsidersU.S. Trenchless Market Matures Amidst Water Market Shifts: Forecasts, Competitive Positioning, and Key Trends, 2022–2030

Danish pump manufacturer Grundfos has recently acquired U.K.-based telemetry and analytics firm Metasphere from private equity investor XPV Water Partners. Grundfos has in recent years, expanded its footprint from its core pump offerings for water network management and treatment toward digital offerings. Metasphere’s specific experience with wastewater networks especially in the U.K. and Australia, will extend Grundfos’ portfolio beyond pumps and deeper into network monitoring and operations. As Grundfos is integrating not only digital solutions but also hardware solutions, the company is strengthening and expanding their offerings to water network customers such as utilities. In this episode, host, Reese Tisdale, and Bluefield's Digital Water Analyst Christine Ow discuss the acquisition and what it might mean for digital solutions in water. 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 market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis Grundfos Accelerates Digital Water Growth via Metasphere AcquisitionXPV Increases Exposure to Digital Water with Metasphere Buyout