United Water Enters the South Florida Fray

18 Mar 2015
Available with corporate subscription

On 9 March 2015, United Water announced the opening of its office in Miami-Dade County to explore business opportunities in South Florida. United Water currently lacks a presence in Florida, where private utilities serve only 1% of the population (see US Private Water Market Opportunities and Strategies). Miami-Dade County has planned over US$13 billion of water and wastewater projects, much of which will be tendered using P3 contract structures.

In June 2013, Florida passed bill HB-85 that expands the range of valid public-private partnership (P3) models in the state. The law allows companies to submit unsolicited proposals to local governments and agencies. United Water, with support from parent company Suez Environnement, is well positioned to pursue P3 opportunities built on its reference list.

Bluefield Takeaways

  • Miami-Dade to invest over US$13.4 billion in water and wastewater improvements over the next two decades
  • Fierce competition for largest P3 opportunity in the US
  • Call for increased wastewater reuse expands addressable market