Utility Strategies

As the U.S. water and wastewater sector is confronted with aging assets, climate change, and concerns over water quality and affordability, there has been a growing emphasis on utility consolidation and the role of private ownership.

As water stress and related conservation efforts apply downward pressure on utilities’ volume-based revenues, utilities are turning to alternative methods to improve operational efficiency and secure unaccounted revenue. This trend includes the adoption of nascent state-driven digitally enabled leakage management solutions, alternative rate structures, water reuse and desalination, and water storage.

A number of forward-thinking U.S. utilities and municipalities are embracing new technologies and business models to improve their own operations and performance. Highlighting this trend are a select group of early adopting water utilities that are partnering with smart home water management providers. At the center of the partnerships are exchanges of data and access to the household water consumption data within the utilities’ respective service areas. Much like the power sector has begun to tighten its understanding on the end-user, new technologies are poised to enable similar approaches in water, thereby benefitting utilities, customers, insurance companies, vendors, and 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.