Episodes
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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 disposalâwho's ultimately responsible?
In this episode, Podcast Host Reese Tisdale engages in a deep dive discussion with Bluefield's Senior Research Director, Greg Goodwin (a.k.a. Bluefield's policy watcher), exploring recent policy developments regulating 'forever chemicals' in drinking water and their potential ramifications on regulatory frameworks. Key talking points cover what is PFAS (for anyone not in the know), the implications of the EPA establishing its new MCLs for PFAS, the ripple effects on wastewater, and the potential influence of upcoming elections on these policies.
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If youâd like to be informed of water market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday.
Related Research & Analysis:
State of the Market: PFAS Policy Landscape, Forecasts, and Competitive Analysis3M Windfall for PFAS Impacted Water SystemsEurope to Ramp Up PFAS Water Regulations -
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 sectorâwhich is facing chronic labor shortages amid historic levels of federal infrastructure investmentâAI can serve as a powerful tool for increasing productivity, efficiency, and safety on worksites and in back offices alike.
In this episode, Reese Tisdale speaks with Bluefield's Senior Research Director Eric Bindler who recently presented on AI to to the National Utility of Contractors Association (NUCA). Eric answers 3 major questions:
What is AI and its implications for the construction industry?What is AI's potential impact on jobs?What are the applications and who are some companies active in the AI space?If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you havenât already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen.
If youâd like to be informed of water market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday.
Related Research & Analysis:
AI in the Utility Construction Industry: Key Market Trends, Applications & Best PracticesDigital Water: Key Trends, Project Activity, and Market Outlook, Q1 2024 -
Episodes manquant?
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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 analysis of collaborative delivery and its growing impact on water and wastewater infrastructure buildout in the U.S. Charlie outlines three main factors driving interest and policy changes in collaborative delivery:
Legislative momentumDemonstrated activity and a growing portfolio of projectsOther factors such as utilitiesâ financial constraints, aging infrastructure, regulatory pressure, and climate changeIf you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you havenât already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen.
If youâd like to be informed of water market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday.
Related Research & Analysis:
Collaborative Project Delivery: State Policies and Market Trends for Water and Wastewater Infrastructure -
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 havenât already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen.
If youâd like to be informed of water market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday.
Related Research & Analysis:
Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act: Tracking the Spending, Q1 2024IIJA Aims to Reduce Backlog of U.S. Tribal Water, Sewer Infrastructure NeedsThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA): Breaking Down the Water Funding -
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 âDigital Water", and then identify some key market trends, including PE investments, key players, and outlook for the rest of 2024.
If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you havenât already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen.
If youâd like to be informed of water market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday.
Related Research & Analysis:
Private Equityâs Role in Digital Water: Investor Strategies and Competitive PositioningMapping the Global Digital Water Vendor Landscape: 2024 UpdateThe Digital Water Revolution: Global Digital Water Market Forecast, 2022-2030 -
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 listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you havenât already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen.
If youâd like to be informed of water market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday.
Related Research & Analysis:
U.S. Private Water: Key Trends, M&A Activity, and Market Outlook, Q1 2024Third-Party O&M for U.S. Water & Wastewater UtilitiesPrivate Equity Takes Wheel of H2O Innovation -
The eight Japanese trading companies, also known as âsogo shoshaâ, 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 the role of these companies within water:
How are Japanese trading houses strategically positioned in the global water market, and what factors contribute to their investments in water-related assets?What role do Japanese trading houses play in driving technological advancements and innovations in water management?What are the notable collaborations between Japanese trading houses and local or international entities in the water sector?"These are massive firms, almost battleships of organizations. They've been at it for so long that they've accumulated a wide network that spans globally. Together, they wield a significant influence across a wide network of industries."
--Ethan Edwards, Senior Analyst, Bluefield Research
If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you havenât already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen.
If youâd like to be informed of water market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday.
Related Research & Analysis:
Japanese Trading Companies: Portfolio Strategies and AnalysisGlobal Desalination: Market Trends, Ownership Rankings, and Forecast, 2022â2028COVID-19 Wastewater Analysis Gains Traction -
Badger Meter, a leading manufacturer of water metering products, has recently acquired the Telog brand of RTUs (remote telemetry units) and associated monitoring software from Trimble. Podcast host and Bluefield President Reese Tisdale, sits down with Bluefield's Senior Research Director Eric Bindler, to shed some light on the transaction, what this signals to the water market, and who and which companies should take notice.
Badger Meter has become a poster child for an incumbent water infrastructure/equipment supplier transforming into a leading digital water market player. For Trimble, this move clarifies their position in the market, doubling down on the construction and asset management space in water and related markets.
Reese Tisdale also shares his thoughts on Spanish water company Aqualia's recent entry into the U.S. water market through its acquisition of Texas-based Municipal District Services.
If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you havenât already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen.
If youâd like to be informed of water market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday.
Related Research & Analysis:
The Global Water Metering Landscape: Technology Shifts, Competitive Strategies, and Market OutlookBadger Meter Turns Up Pressure with SyrinixTrimble Builds Digital Water Asset Management Platform with Cityworks Acquisition -
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 opportunities in the European water sector that businesses looking to break into the market should be aware of? How can emerging technologies, such as digital water tech and business models, contribute to the growth of businesses in the European water sector?If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you havenât already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen.
If youâd like to be informed of water market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday.
Related Research & Analysis:
Europe Municipal Wastewater Reuse: Business Models and Competitive StrategiesThe European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) â ESRS E3Catalonia Activates Multi-Pronged Drought Response -
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:
There has been a recent rise of public private partnerships for water projects and industrial companies partnering with water utilities.Opportunities for mobile water treatment are increasing. As businesses seek to insulate themselves from water-related risks, containerized water treatment systems stand to benefit.The impact of PFAS on the industry is growing, posing concerns for industrial facilities regarding liability.If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you havenât already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen.
If youâd like to be informed of water market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday.
Related Research & Analysis:
Industrial Water: Key Trends, Deals, and Policy in Water Management, Q4 2023Nijhuis Saur Expands European Industrial Mobile Water Treatment via M&AState of the Market: PFAS Policy Landscape, Forecasts, and Competitive Analysis
