Digital water companies have gone through distinct phases: first selling data, then selling analytics. Now it’s selling decisions, and increasingly autonomous control. This shift is showing up across Veralto, Badger Meter, Xylem, Bentley, Schneider Electric, ABB, and Rotork—different products, same direction. They’re all moving closer to operations because software only becomes valuable when it changes… Continue reading Beyond the Dashboard: Digital Water’s Operational Turn
Podcast: The Future of Water
Mid-2026 Water Check-In: Deals, Geopolitics, and What’s Next
At the midpoint of 2026, the water sector is sending mixed signals. Deal flow is up sharply, with 161 transactions recorded year-to-date and Q2 activity climbing 42% year-over-year to its strongest pace since 2021. Yet the headlines telling a story of a booming market sit alongside a different conversation happening in boardrooms, where CEOs are… Continue reading Mid-2026 Water Check-In: Deals, Geopolitics, and What’s Next
Is the Data Center Water Problem Fake?
Podcast host Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield Research Director Amber Walsh and Analyst Zineb Moumen to examine the data center market through a water lens. The conversation covers what the numbers actually show, where they fall short, and what water companies stand to gain on both sides of the Atlantic. Bluefield’s analysts break down… Continue reading Is the Data Center Water Problem Fake?
Last Call for the Colorado River
The clock is running out on the Colorado River. Lake Powell sits at 23% capacity. Towns are hauling water by truck. The 2025–26 snowpack is the lowest on record. After decades of missed deadlines, the federal government is now being forced to act. A binding record of decision—determining how the river will be operated going… Continue reading Last Call for the Colorado River
Who Owns Your Water and Who Wants To?
The U.S. investor-owned utility (IOU) market just posted its strongest opening quarter in three years. Bluefield Analyst Megan Bondar joins host Reese Tisdale on The Future of Water to dig into what’s driving that activity. The conversation covers the structural differences between greenfield and peer-to-peer transactions, why the geographic map looks completely different from Pennsylvania… Continue reading Who Owns Your Water and Who Wants To?
Are We Approaching a Federal Water Funding Cliff?
Utilities, contractors, equipment suppliers, and investors have a lot of questions about federal water infrastructure funding right now. How is money moving, where is it landing, and what does project activity look like over the next few years? Bluefield’s Senior Analyst Charlie Suse joins host Reese Tisdale to walk through the federal funding landscape, from… Continue reading Are We Approaching a Federal Water Funding Cliff?
Inside Europe’s €643 Billion Stormwater Opportunity: Who’s Positioned To Capitalize?
Europe’s stormwater crisis has been building for decades—and the numbers are now impossible to ignore. The last three decades rank among the worst for flooding in 500 years of European records. In 2024 alone, floods killed more than 330 people, displaced 413,000, and caused €18 billion in damages. Bluefield Research has sized the European stormwater… Continue reading Inside Europe’s €643 Billion Stormwater Opportunity: Who’s Positioned To Capitalize?
Is Australia the Blueprint for the Future of Water?
Australia is living what much of the world is still bracing for. A decade-long drought forced sweeping national action, and the country has been building toward a system-wide digital response ever since. Today, the results are visible in full-scale smart metering rollouts, rising investment in leak detection and customer engagement software, and a US$17 billion… Continue reading Is Australia the Blueprint for the Future of Water?
Your Water Questions Answered: Bonds, Energy, Irrigation, and Tech
What do water investors, utilities, and infrastructure planners most want to know right now? In this episode, Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield’s VP & Managing Director Keith Hays to tackle the top questions submitted by listeners on LinkedIn in this mailbag episode. From climate finance and sustainable bonds to irrigation infrastructure, emerging technology, and… Continue reading Your Water Questions Answered: Bonds, Energy, Irrigation, and Tech
Why Are U.S. Water and Sewer Bills Rising Faster Than Inflation?
U.S. household water and sewer bills rose 5.1% in 2025—the steepest annual increase in five years and a 24.2% jump since 2020. Rates are rising faster than general inflation, with chemicals, energy, labor, and construction all contributing to sustained upward pressure. Bluefield analyst Megan Bondar joins Reese Tisdale to unpack new data covering 50 major… Continue reading Why Are U.S. Water and Sewer Bills Rising Faster Than Inflation?
