The Future of Water

By Bluefield ResearchBusiness Science Technology

The Future of Water episodes

July 29, 2025Canada’s New Water Agency and the 'Big Beautiful Bill': What's Next for Water Funding in North America?
From bold new initiatives in Canada to proposed federal budget cuts in the U.S., major policy shifts are reshaping the water landscape across North America. In this episode, Bluefield’s water experts unpack what these changes mean for funding, regulation, and the future of water infrastructure.
Canada’s launch of a national Water Agency and CAD$650M Freshwater Action Plan marks a turning point, while in the U.S., the “Big Beautiful Bill” and EPA workforce cuts raise big questions about the direction of federal support. Bluefield's President & CEO Reese Tisdale and Senior Research Director Greg Goodwin dig into the potential impacts for utilities, technology providers, and the broader market.
Key questions explored in this episode:
What’s happening in Canada, and why does it matter?
What’s the status of the “Big Beautiful Bill”, and what does it mean for water?
How will State Revolving Fund (SRF) cuts impact utilities and the market?
EPA layoffs—what does this mean for water science and regulation?
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 Water Policy Review: Key Developments and Market Outlook, H1 2025
EPA PFAS Changes Clarify Rulemaking Intent
Tariffs and Beyond: Q&A Session Risk and Resiliency in the Global Water Sector
45 min
July 15, 2025What’s Driving the Market for Decentralized Water Treatment?
In this episode of The Future of Water, Bluefield Senior Analyst Amber Walsh joins host Reese Tisdale to break down Grundfos’s recent acquisition of Newterra and what it signals for the future of decentralized water treatment. Amber not only unpacks the deal itself—Grundfos’s fifth treatment-related acquisition since 2020—but also explores the broader competitive landscape for onsite treatment solutions.
Decentralized treatment, also referred to as onsite water management, is gaining traction among industrial, and increasingly municipal and commercial, users. But why? What’s driving solutions providers like Grundfos to expand into treatment? And what does this mean for customers?
We get into it all—plus the market opportunities, players to watch, and the underlying trends shaping the shift toward modular systems.
Key Topics Covered:
Grundfos + Newterra: Why the world’s largest pump manufacturer is acquiring a U.S.-based modular treatment firm.
Strategic Expansion: A look at Grundfos’s treatment push—from Eurowater and MECO to the recent acquisition of Culligan’s C&I business.
Industrial Market Growth: U.S. industrial water market projected at US$22.9B in 2025, with high-growth segments in pharma, data centers, and food & beverage.
Why Decentralized?: Faster deployment, on-site reuse, risk outsourcing—meeting demands in a changing regulatory and infrastructure landscape.
Who Else Is Playing?: From Saur’s 13 acquisitions since 2020 to Xylem’s Evoqua acquisition, to PE-backed firms building up treatment players—Amber outlines the rising competition.
What’s Next: M&A, lifecycle services, digital integration, and a growing focus on water reuse are transforming the treatment ecosystem.
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:
Newterra Pushes Grundfos Along Water Value Chain
U.S. Water for Data Centers: Market Trends, Opportunities, and Forecasts, 2025–2030
U.S. & Canada Industrial Water & Wastewater Market: Key Trends and Forecasts, 2024–2030
39 min
July 01, 2025How Investor-Owned Utilities Are Reshaping the U.S. Water Market Through M&A?
Today’s guest, Bluefield Analyst Megan Bondar, joins host Reese Tisdale to unpack the growing role of investor-owned utilities (IOUs) in the U.S. water sector. From calculating market share to tracking M&A activity and geographic expansion, Megan brings fresh insights into how IOUs are positioning themselves in a fragmented market of 49,000 drinking water and 18,000 wastewater systems.
Though IOUs currently serve only about 5% of the U.S. population, their influence is expanding—through acquisitions, capital investments, and shifting ownership strategies. This episode also explores how consolidation is playing out in different forms, including municipal-to-municipal deals and the rise of quasi-public entities.
This episode answers key questions:
Who are the IOUs in the U.S., and what’s their footprint?
How are IOUs reshaping the water market through M&A?
What are the capital strategies behind IOU growth?
What role is private equity playing in this sector?
How are regional realignments and exits redefining competition?
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:
Investor-Owned Utilities in Water: Market Share, Trends, and Company Rankings
Nexus’s Utility Sell-Off Goes to American Water
Unitil Carves Out Water Presence via Aquarion Platform
44 min
June 17, 2025How is Europe's Water Sector Responding to Climate and Regulatory Pressure?
Bluefield Senior Analyst Antonio del Olmo joins host Reese Tisdale to share insights from Bluefield's recent research across European countries, including Italy, the Netherlands, France, and Spain. This episode explores the evolving landscape of Europe’s water sector—from climate shocks to regulatory shakeups—and what it all means for utilities, investors, and technology vendors. The conversation highlights what specific regions are focusing on, the biggest challenges they’re facing, and how water sector stakeholders are responding.
Bluefield’s water experts unpack key trends, including:
Why Europe’s seemingly mature water sector is facing a wave of disruption—from climate shocks and regulatory pressure to investment churn and digital transformation
How cracks are emerging in energy reliability, water loss, and the digital divide across countries
The role of EU directives versus national implementation in shaping infrastructure strategy
Where the biggest opportunities lie across digital water, reuse, resilience, and asset renewal
How French giants like Veolia, Suez, and Saur are shifting strategies to lead in this evolving landscape
Why PFAS regulations, sludge treatment requirements, and infrastructure M&A may be the next big catalysts
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:
Italy Water & Wastewater Municipal Market: Trends, Drivers, and Forecasts
The Netherlands Water & Wastewater Municipal Market: Trends, Drivers, and Forecasts
Spain’s Blackouts Strain Water Utilities
51 min
June 03, 2025Quenching High Tech's Thirst: The Rising Water Demands of Data Centers and Semiconductors
In this episode, host Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield Senior Analyst Amber Walsh, who shares insights from her latest research on the growing water demands of high tech. With billions in investment flowing into semiconductor fabs and data centers, these sectors are becoming major players in the water space—and are quietly reshaping infrastructure strategy from the ground up.
Bluefield’s water experts unpack key trends, including:
The increasing reliance on ultrapure water and advanced reuse systems in next-gen semiconductor manufacturing.
How the rise of artificial intelligence is intensifying thermal loads, forcing data centers to adopt more water-intensive cooling technologies—and driving new investment in water management.
The emergence of Water-as-a-Service models and public-private partnerships, as firms like Intel, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services rethink how they finance and manage water infrastructure.
This episode offers a clear view of how data centers and semiconductor fabs are becoming central to the conversation around water strategy—and why utilities, investors, and vendors should be paying close attention.
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. Water for Data Centers: Market Trends, Opportunities, and Forecasts, 2025–2030
U.S. & Canada Industrial Water & Wastewater Market: Key Trends and Forecasts, 2024–2030
Investment Pours into Spain Data Centers
37 min
May 20, 2025Water Metering’s Digital Shift: Platforms, Analytics, and AI Integration
In this episode of The Future of Water, host Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield Analyst Christine Ow to explore one of the fastest-evolving segments in the water sector: metering.
Christine shares insights from Bluefield's new report, Global Water Metering Outlook: Evolving Technology Trends, Business Models, Competitive Landscape, and Leading Companies, which offers a detailed view of the US$6.8 billion global metering market. With digital transformation accelerating, water meters are no longer just endpoints—they’re becoming the digital backbone of utility networks.
The discussion highlights how business models are shifting toward subscription-based offerings, how telecom players are entering the space, and how leading vendors are leveraging analytics and AI to create new value for utilities and customers alike.
Key topics covered:
The shift from traditional meter replacement cycles to subscription-based models
The entry of telecom players supporting smart meter rollouts, especially in Europe
How vendors are integrating analytics and artificial intelligence to deliver more than just water measurement
Market-specific trends, including policy shifts in the U.S., AMP8 in the U.K., and funding in Spain
Why static and ultrasonic meters are gaining traction in mature markets as costs decline
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 Metering Outlook: Evolving Technology Trends, Business Models, Competitive Landscape, and Leading Companies
Metering-as-a-Service to Find Market Niche
Europe Digital Water Market Outlook: Key Drivers, Competitive Shifts, and Forecasts, 2024–2033
52 min
May 06, 2025Big Spend, Bigger Stakes: The Next 10 Years in U.S. Water & Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure
In this episode of The Future of Water, Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield Senior Analyst Charlie Suse to break down U.S. municipal water and wastewater treatment CAPEX forecasts through 2035.
Bluefield’s latest market model projects US$515 billion in treatment infrastructure capital expenditures, with spend expected to grow from US$37 billion in 2025 to over US$57 billion by 2035—driven by aging assets, stricter regulatory standards, and shifting service demands.
Together, Reese and Charlie dig into the methodology behind the forecast, which incorporates asset inventories for over 75,000 treatment plants, EPA data across all 50 states, and detailed spending breakouts by project type, utility size, and asset category. They also explore:
Why nearly 80% of investment will go toward upgrades and rehab rather than new builds
Why mid-sized utilities represent a key growth opportunity for infrastructure and technology providers
How the Southern U.S.—especially Texas and Florida—is both a growth engine and a high-risk investment zone
The uneven and uncertain rollout of IIJA funding, with only 14% of appropriated funds distributed so far
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. Water & Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure CAPEX Forecasts, 2025–2035
U.S. Water & Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure CAPEX Data
37 min
April 22, 2025Water in Transition: Signals From the Top 50 Companies
Bluefield’s latest snapshot of the top 50 publicly traded water companies shows a sector still growing—but with turbulence under the surface. In this episode, host Reese Tisdale digs into Bluefield's Q1 2025 snapshot of the top companies in water, highlighting how they are navigating tariffs, tightening supply chains, and shifting strategies. While topline revenue growth remains strong, rising input costs and policy uncertainty are forcing companies to sharpen their focus—pruning non-core assets, streamlining operations, and zeroing in on their strongest water plays.
Meanwhile, regulated water utilities, with their steady cash flows and inelastic demand, are starting to look a lot more attractive. In a landscape shaped by tariffs, inflation, and bond market pressure, this might just be the moment where “boring is beautiful.”
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:
Top Companies in Water: Financial Signals and Market Trends, Q1 2025
Water Mergers & Acquisitions: Trends and Deal Flow, Q1 2025
27 min
April 08, 2025Clarifying the Chaos in Washington: Answering Top Questions on U.S. Water Policy
Policy in Washington is in flux—and our clients had questions. Lots of them. Following Bluefield’s recent client webcast, Uncertain Times: The State of Water Policy in Washington, podcast host Reese Tisdale and Senior Research Director Greg Goodwin reconvene to answer the questions they didn’t have time to address live. In this episode, they unpack critical developments shaping the water sector—from funding volatility and regulatory shifts to cross-border tensions and infrastructure outlooks.
Topics covered, questions answered:
Is Bluefield's market sizing number across main verticals total or annualized?
If the San Francisco vs. EPA court decision will lead to more niche requirements, will permitting get more complicated?
Are Chicago’s US$15B consent decree costs included in the municipal total? Underestimated?
What does a second Trump administration mean for the digital water market?
Will agencies like USGS be affected too?
Can you break down the US$13B in impounded funding? Which programs were impacted?
Project 2025 and Mandy Gunasekara’s take on increased SRF funding—realistic or contradictory?
With Russian gas returning, how does U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) outlook impact water markets?
Is the Boundary Waters Treaty or International Joint Commission under threat?
Are manufacturers reshoring due to political pressure?
Has the federal share of water infrastructure funding declined—and where is it heading?
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:
Uncertain Times: The State of Water Policy in Washington
U.S. & Canada Water Policy Review: Key Developments and Market Outlook, H1 2025
56 min
March 25, 2025What’s Fueling Spain’s Data Center Growth—and Will It Last?
In this episode, host Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield colleagues Keith Hays and Chloé Meyer to unpack the rapid expansion of data centers in Spain and the growing challenges related to water and energy management.
Key topics covered:
Why dig into this topic now?
Driven by AI, global data consumption is accelerating and Spain is emerging as a major data center hub. Developers are now facing growing pressure to balance growth with limited resources like land, energy, and water.
What makes Spain an attractive market for data centers?
Spain offers lower energy and land costs, fast-track approvals, and strategic geographic positioning compared to more constrained FLAP-D markets.
How are companies addressing growing concerns around water use?
Developers are taking different approaches: Meta is revising its cooling strategies with air and dry-cooling to reduce water use, while AWS is investing in leak detection, offset projects, and local water infrastructure.
How are local communities responding to exponential data center growth?
While regions like Aragon are expanding rapidly, others like Lleida are pushing back over water use and long-term economic benefits.
How will AI-driven growth shape future water and energy demands?
AI workloads are accelerating data center demand, leading to higher energy density and cooling needs.
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:
Investment Pours into Spain Data Centers
Corporate Water Sustainability: Project Trends, Targets, and Management Approaches
U.S. & Canada Industrial Water & Wastewater Market: Key Trends and Forecasts, 2024–2030
47 min

About The Future of Water

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The Future of Water is Bluefield Research’s bi-monthly podcast examining the strategic, regulatory, and market dynamics shaping the global water sector. Spanning municipal and industrial markets, and extending from technology providers to investors, each episode focuses on the signals that matter—capital flows, policy developments, and business model shifts impacting opportunities in water.