Search
Fracta AI Takeover Maps Kurita’s Water Future
On 30 May 2018, Kurita Water Technologies Ltd. announced a strategic investment in U.S.-based Fracta, Inc., an early-stage company developing software solutions that leverages artificial intelligence for the water sector. The US$37 million deal sees Kurita acquire 50.1% of Fracta’s equity.
The Fracta investment reaffirms Kurita’s appetite for water technology innovation in the U.S. With this deal, Kurita is banking on Fracta to accelerate its market expansion into the municipal water sector.
In this Research Note, Bluefield water experts analyze Fracta’s capabilities and Kurita’s strategy within the digital water landscape. Learn more about our new Digital Water Insight service.
U.S. EPA Industrial Consent Decrees: Sector Impacts, Trends, and Penalties
The EPA has issued 112 consent decrees since 1999 to industrial companies violating the Clean Water Act, resulting in approximately US$6.5 billion in civil penalties and US$2.7 billion in compliance costs. Under the current Trump administration, consent decrees issued to industrial companies in violation of the Clean Water Act, have steadily been declining.
Consent decree issuances are concentrated in states (e.g. Texas, Pennsylvania, Iowa) with large water-intensive industrial sectors, including energy, mining, and food and beverage.
In this Data Insight, Bluefield water experts analyze the following:
- Overview of Consent Decrees by State and Sector
- Industrial Consent Decrees, Compliance Costs and Civil Penalties by Sector
- Civil Penalties and Costs of Compliance per Sector
- Geographic Distribution of Consent Decrees
States Request $82B for Water Infrastructure, 25% Increase from Prior Year
Boston, Massachusetts – New data shows that project requests to fund water and wastewater infrastructure projects through the EPA administered State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program have increased...U.S. Municipal Wastewater Reuse: Project Pipeline Segmentation & Analysis, 2018-2030
Bluefield’s database of planned reuse projects stands at 735 projects across 20 states with a combined capacity of 11.4 million m3/d. For the first time, this includes projects in two new states, New York and Oklahoma, reflecting the spread of reuse outside of its core markets (California, Florida, Texas and Arizona).
While most reuse projects are still using reclaimed water for irrigation purposes, projects with potable applications, both direct and indirect, continue to gain traction.
This update looks at:
- Planned Reuse Projects by Timeline
- Types of Planned Reuse Projects
- Water Reuse Projects by Application
For more reuse analysis, see our recent report, U.S. Municipal Water Reuse: Opportunities, Outlook and Competitive Landscape, 2017-2027
State Revolving Fund Budget Allocations, 2017-2018: National Trends and Project Analysis
State revolving funds make up an average of 17% of total public spending on water and wastewater infrastructure annually. In FY 2017 / 2018, state revolving funds will distribute overAre water infrastructure investment needs overstated? 3 takeaways from Xylem’s “Modernizing Water Infrastructure” workshop
Last week, over one hundred U.S. water industry personnel convened in Laurel, Maryland for a workshop to address strategies and trends in modernizing water & wastewater infrastructure. Xylem Inc. ...Dodge City Harnesses Biogas from Wastewater
On 14 April 2018, the Warrior Biogas Project at the city-owned wastewater treatment plant in Dodge City, Kansas started operations at its facility to capture and clean biogas produced from municipal and industrial wastewater for distribution into Northern Natural Gas’s pipeline.
The US$9 million project is designed to clean the biogas produced through the anaerobic digestion processes treating wastewater from Dodge City residents and a nearby National Beef processing plant.
Dodge City’s move to harness the combination of wastewater biogas and nearby energy infrastructure highlights the potential for utilities to offset rising operating costs.
Pivotal Acquisition Positions American Water Closer to Customers, Municipalities
On 11 April 2018, American Water Works announced an agreement to acquire Pivotal Home Solutions, a home warranty provider based in Naperville, Illinois. The all-cash transaction, which is valued at approximately US$365 million, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2018.
Pivotal Home Solutions sells service plans that cover the repair and maintenance of household utility systems and appliances. American’s expansion of its home warranty business demonstrates a move to gain proximity to customers, bringing its personnel and services into households nationwide.
