Bluefield's latest remediation forecast for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) has surged to US$13.5 billion by 2030 in the wake of anticipated maximum contamination limits (MCLs) for drinking water and a significant legal settlement involving 3M in South Carolina. Now, with the EPA confirming these unprecedented contaminant limits, a fresh wave of discussions emerge, touching upon the EPA's authority, states' rights, and the subsequent course of action including the management and responsibility of biosolids disposal—who's ultimately responsible? In this episode, Podcast Host Reese Ti ..read more

While artificial intelligence (AI) has indeed become a prevalent buzzword in many regards, capturing headlines over the past 12 to 18 months, its potential impact remains significant. There are real applications and impacts that are unfolding for AI, including those in the water and wastewater sectors. In the U.S. utility construction sector—which is facing chronic labor shortages amid historic levels of federal infrastructure investment—AI can serve as a powerful tool for increasing productivity, efficiency, and safety on worksites and in back offices alike. In this episode, Reese Tisdale spe ..read more

Public sector water and wastewater project owners, engineering & design firms, and contractors are facing cost overruns, schedule delays, and contractual disputes that are slowing the execution and delivery of critical infrastructure. These factors have prompted the development of new policies and project experiences, accelerating collaborative project delivery approaches. The methods include design-build, progressive design-build, construction manager at-risk approaches, and public-private partnerships. Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield Senior Analyst Charlie Suse to discuss his recent ..read more

A number of Bluefield clients have enquired about the status of IIJA project funds. Each program stands in terms of four funding phases: appropriated, announced, obligated, outlaid. Podcast host Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield Senior Analyst Isabel Kezman to discuss recent analysis of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In this episode, Bluefield's water experts speak on the pace of project activity and funding timeline from its legislation in November 2021 to now. If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven’t alr ..read more

The global private equity (PE) sector has grown thirteenfold since 2000, wielding increasing influence over critical infrastructure sectors. The proliferation of digital technologies across the water industry has opened new growth avenues for select PE investors. Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield Analyst Christine Ow, to discuss her recent research on the role of PE firms in the digital water segment. Our Bluefield water experts once again take a step back and define “Digital Water", and then identify some key market trends, including PE investments, key players, and outlook for the rest of ..read more

Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield Senior Analyst Charlie Suse to discuss recent research on Investor-Owned Utilities in water. Reese and Charlie spell out Bluefield's definition of "Private Water", followed by a dive into the market outlook, including: Utility M&A trends, what companies are paying for water systems, the influential players in the private water space, and where the market is heading through M&A, geographic shifts, and policy changes. Reese also provides some key takeaways from Bluefield's recently published Europe Municipal Water CAPEX Forecast Report. If you enjoy l ..read more

The eight Japanese trading companies, also known as “sogo shosha”, are Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui Corporation, Hitachi Corporation, Itochu Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, Toyota Tsusho, and Sojitz Corporation. Together these firms reported nearly US$600 billion in assets under management in 2023. These companies are global, with positions in key markets geographically, and are a unique group with a number of investments in water. Bluefield President and Podcast Host Reese Tisdale and Bluefield's Senior Analyst Ethan Edwards discuss three major questions surrounding ..read more

In this first episode of 2024, podcast host Reese Tisdale chats with two members of Bluefield's Europe team, Chloé Meyer and Keith Hays, to get their on-the-ground perspectives of key water sector trends in the EU. From water quality to reuse to circular economy, Bluefield's water experts discuss what, if any, the implications are for water management in relation to energy prices and the Ukraine-Russia conflict. This discussion addresses three major questions: What are some of the biggest factors influencing, if not disrupting, the water sector in Europe? What are the key challenges and oppor ..read more

In this episode, Bluefield water experts discuss key themes in industrial water from this past quarter. Podcast Host Reese Tisdale, sits down with Bluefield Senior Analyst Amber Walsh, to discuss their findings. 3 major takeaways below: Sustainability initiatives are of particular interest. Keeping tabs on what companies are doing including partnerships and projects to meet water goals. Opportunities for mobile water treatment are on the rise. As businesses seek to insulate themselves from water-related risks, containerized water treatment systems stand to benefit. PFAS is impacting the indus ..read more

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has reported that employment of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators is projected to decline 6% from 2022 to 2032. This news shines the spotlight on a critical infrastructure sector that faces mounting challenges, from aging infrastructure assets to emerging contaminants (i.e., PFAS). As water and wastewater treatment plants become more advanced with automated systems to manage treatment processes, fewer workers may be needed. Reese Tisdale is joined by Senior Research Director Eric Bindler, who notes while some work can be automat ..read more