Industry Insights
Our Industry Insights provide deep-dive analyses into global water topics, including water infrastructure, industrial water management, digital solutions, and more. Reports are available for purchase (through our Report Store) or with a Corporate Subscription.
Insight Report
Energy Optimization for Water Utilities: A Digital Playbook for Cost and Carbon Reduction
Energy costs rank among the top three operating expenses for water utilities, offering significant opportunities for cost savings. Energy use in the water sector accounts for 11% to as much as 40% in operational expenditure. This substantial portion and range underscores the potential for optimizing energy costs across the water cycle.
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Water Mergers & Acquisitions: Trends and Deal Flow, Q4 2025
As of 1 December 2025, Bluefield has tracked a total of 274 water M&A deals to date in 2025, representing a nearly 25% decline compared...
10 Dec. 2025
Quarterly Review + Data
Analysis and insights of previous quarter water market activity, trends, and events. Data access available to Data Navigator seat holders.
Fair Market Value: Benchmarking a Decade of Water Utility Acquisitions
Since 2015, Bluefield has tracked 138 fair market value deals totaling over US$1.9 billion, involving more than 347,900 connections changing hands. These transactions account for...
10 Dec. 2025
Insight Report + Data
Deep dive analysis on comprehensive topics to identify market opportunities. Data access available to Data Navigator seat holders and report buyers.
U.S. Water Utility Ownership & Strategies: Key Trends, M&A Activity, and Market Outlook, Q4 2025
U.S. utility M&A regained momentum in Q3 2025, signaling renewed consolidation pressures across the sector. Bluefield tracked 32 deals, the highest quarterly count since Q3...
21 Nov. 2025
Quarterly Review + Data
Analysis and insights of previous quarter water market activity, trends, and events. Data access available to Data Navigator seat holders.
Scale Is the Strategy: American, Essential Set Benchmark for Water Investor-Owned Utilities
The American–Essential merger marks a major transformation in the U.S. regulated water sector, significantly augmenting American Water’s status as the largest and most geographically diverse...
6 Nov. 2025
Research Note
Brief research summaries of market development or company strategies.
Water Mergers & Acquisitions: Trends and Deal Flow, Q3 2025
With fewer than 166 deals recorded year-to-date, the M&A water-sector is constrained in 2025. This broad-based pullback is most pronounced in digital water, which saw...
18 Sep. 2025
Quarterly Review + Data
Analysis and insights of previous quarter water market activity, trends, and events. Data access available to Data Navigator seat holders.
U.S. Water Utility Ownership & Strategies: Key Trends, M&A Activity, and Market Outlook, Q3 2025
Unitil Corporation marked its water sector debut with a pending US$100 million purchase of the Aquarion Water Company’s assets in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Meanwhile,...
9 Sep. 2025
Quarterly Review + Data
Analysis and insights of previous quarter water market activity, trends, and events. Data access available to Data Navigator seat holders.
Water Mergers & Acquisitions: Trends and Deal Flow, Q2 2025
The water sector entered a more cautious M&A environment in 2025, with only 71 deals recorded in the first half of the year—down from 202...
17 Jun. 2025
Quarterly Review + Data
Analysis and insights of previous quarter water market activity, trends, and events. Data access available to Data Navigator seat holders.
Nexus’s Utility Sell-Off Goes to American Water
On 19 May 2025, Nexus Water Group announced its divestment of select operations and assets in eight states to American Water Works Company for US$315...
13 Jun. 2025
Research Note
Brief research summaries of market development or company strategies.
U.S. Water Utility Ownership & Strategies: Key Trends, M&A Activity, and Market Outlook, Q2 2025
Economic uncertainty compounds affordability pressures for utilities. Abrupt policy shifts—fluctuating tariffs, impounded federal funding, and waning consumer confidence—have introduced significant uncertainty to long-term U.S. macroeconomic...
30 May. 2025
Quarterly Review + Data
Analysis and insights of previous quarter water market activity, trends, and events. Data access available to Data Navigator seat holders.
Investor-Owned Utilities in Water: Market Share, Trends, and Company Rankings
As city managers and utility leaders confront increasing challenges related to workforce constraints, regulatory issues, and mounting capital investment needs, IOUs offer an alternative approach...
27 May. 2025
Insight Report + Data
Deep dive analysis on comprehensive topics to identify market opportunities. Data access available to Data Navigator seat holders and report buyers.