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
Podcast: The Future of Water
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?
Water for Agriculture: An US$84 Billion Irrigation Opportunity
At more than 70% of U.S. water withdrawals, agriculture is one of the most significant drivers of water demand in the country. In this episode, host Reese Tisdale sits down with Bluefield Analyst Olivia Kranefuss to unpack her newly released report, Water for U.S. Agriculture: Irrigation Trends, Technology Adoption, and Market Forecasts, 2026–2031, and the… Continue reading Water for Agriculture: An US$84 Billion Irrigation Opportunity
The US$10 Billion Market Nobody Talks About: Chemicals for Water Treatment
Chemicals used to treat water is a US$10 billion market hiding in plain sight—fragmented, consolidating, and far more strategically interesting than the name suggests. Bluefield’s latest water treatment chemicals analysis mapped nearly 500 companies across the space. In this episode, Bluefield analyst Caroline Vauclain joins host Reese Tisdale to unpack what she found—including why the… Continue reading The US$10 Billion Market Nobody Talks About: Chemicals for Water Treatment
Debunking the Myths of the Data Center Water Footprint
Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven data center growth is reshaping not only electricity markets, but water demand across the value chain. In this episode, podcast host Reese Tisdale sits down with Research Director Amber Walsh to discuss the broader water footprint of data centers—both onsite and offsite—and why the conversation is shifting beyond cooling towers to the… Continue reading Debunking the Myths of the Data Center Water Footprint
When States Lose Veto Power: The New Water Policy Landscape
Significant policy shifts are reshaping water infrastructure investment across North America. Greg Goodwin, Bluefield Research Senior Research Director, joins host Reese Tisdale to discuss his latest semi-annual policy review covering regulatory changes, budget developments, and emerging frameworks in the U.S. and Canada. The conversation examines a two-speed regulatory environment where traditional pollutant standards face relief… Continue reading When States Lose Veto Power: The New Water Policy Landscape
Water Runs on Power: The Energy Lever Utilities Can’t Ignore
Energy represents one of the largest and most manageable cost centers for water and wastewater utilities—accounting for 10%–40% of operating budgets. Unlike other operational expenditures like labor, utilities can modify the amount of energy used and how much it costs by choosing the right combination of technologies. As electricity demand in the global water sector… Continue reading Water Runs on Power: The Energy Lever Utilities Can’t Ignore
Year-End Water Check: AI’s Thirst, Aging Infrastructure, and 2026 Contrarian Bets
As 2025 wraps up, we’re closing out the year with five big questions shaping the water sector—and a few bold predictions for what’s ahead. In this episode, host Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield VP & Managing Director Keith Hays to tackle the trends and challenges defining water investment right now. 1. Data centers are… Continue reading Year-End Water Check: AI’s Thirst, Aging Infrastructure, and 2026 Contrarian Bets
What Does a Decade of Fair Market Deals Tell Us About Water’s Future?
Fair Market Value (FMV) has become a critical—yet often misunderstood—tool for addressing fragmentation across the U.S. water sector. Designed to give municipalities a clearer path and a cleaner valuation when selling assets, FMV is now shaping deal flow, policy debates, and competitive strategies nationwide. In this episode of The Future of Water, podcast host Reese… Continue reading What Does a Decade of Fair Market Deals Tell Us About Water’s Future?
From Landfill Capacity to PFAS: The Pressures Reshaping Biosolids Management
Biosolids are an unavoidable byproduct of wastewater treatment, and U.S. utilities are facing increasing challenges managing them amid tightening landfill capacity, rising hauling costs, and growing concerns about contaminants like PFAS. With 6.3 million dry metric tons produced every year, biosolids are becoming one of the fastest-growing operating expenses for wastewater utilities. In this episode… Continue reading From Landfill Capacity to PFAS: The Pressures Reshaping Biosolids Management
