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The Digitization of Water (ACE Presentation)
Presentation by Bluefield President Reese Tisdale at the 2018 AWWA ACE Conference in Las Vegas on the digitization of water. These slides analyze the competitive landscape and business strategies, including:
- The Demand Outlook for Water
- Water Stress Hotspots
- Evolving Business Models
- Utility Journey
- Platform Convergence and Nascent Solutions
- Sizing the Smart Water Market
For more analysis, see our new Digital Water Insight service.
Smart Water Down Under: Australia Water Utilities Deploy Advanced Technologies in Search of Operational Efficiency
Government-owned municipal water utilities in Australia provide essential water supply services to over 22 million people, representing 82.4% of the population. 2017 saw an uptick in municipal utilities turning to smart water technologies, with 27 projects announced or developed, doubling the previous highs in 2016.
In this 30-slide Market Insight Bluefield water experts analyze:
- Structure and Performance of Australia’s Municipal Water Sector
- Smart Water Adoption and Utility Strategies
- Utility Profiles (Water Service Details, Key Smart Water Project/Initiatives, Annual Water CAPEX and OPEX, Infrastructure Leakage Index and Real Losses)
New Green Bond Criteria a Certified Win for Nature-Based Water Infrastructure Investment
Green bonds are growing in popularity reflecting a broader shift toward innovative water infrastructure finance. As green bonds become more mainstream, the industry is seeing standards for mitigation, adaptation, and transparency.
On 22 May 2018, the Water Consortium– a coalition of international green finance and sustainability organizations– released Phase 2 of its Water Infrastructure Criteria for green bond screening and certification. The criteria identify water assets and projects that are eligible for certification under the London-based Climate Bonds Initiative’s Climate Bonds Standard.
In this Research Note, Bluefield water experts analyze the impact of these new green bond standards on future water infrastructure investment.
Water for Hydraulic Fracturing: Market Size, Trends & Forecasts, 2018-2027
The hydraulic fracturing sector’s call for water management solutions continues as the resurgence of drilling activity has been maintained over the past 24 months. Signals from energy markets are positive, with oil prices up edging towards US$70 per barrel– and total spending on water management for hydraulic fracturing forecasted to climb past US$15 billion at the close of this year.
The US hydraulic fracturing (fracking) industry consumed over 2.2 billion barrels of water in 2017, producing approximately 660 million barrels of contaminated water for disposal, with only about 14 percent treated and re-used. Water management spending for fracking is expected to total US$161 billion over the next decade, according to Bluefield’s forecasts.
This latest forecast builds upon Bluefield’s analysis in previous versions, providing three market outlooks and taking into account horizontal drilling activity in 438 counties and 28 U.S. states.
Foxconn Taps Lake Michigan for Water Supplies
On 28 April 2018, Wisconsin’s Department of Water Resources (DNR) approved a water diversion application submitted by the City of Racine to increase its annual withdrawals from Lake Michigan by 7 million gallons per day (MGD).
The bulk of this increase (5.8 MGD) will be channeled to Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, where Foxconn Technology Group is building a 1,200 acre LCD screen manufacturing facility.
In this Research Note, Bluefield water experts analyze the impact of Foxconn’s new factory and the company’s water footprint.
USDA, Federal Funding for Water Falling Short of Requested Funds
On 24 May 2018, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program announced US$256 million in grants and loans for 81 projects across 35 states. The program provides financial assistance to drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater systems serving rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents.
The USDA program supplements the larger State Revolving Fund program, which awarded US$14.4 billion in FY2017/2018, but still falls short of water infrastructure needs.
Fracta AI Takeover Maps Kurita’s Water Future
On 30 May 2018, Kurita Water Technologies Ltd. announced a strategic investment in U.S.-based Fracta, Inc., an early-stage company developing software solutions that leverages artificial intelligence for the water sector. The US$37 million deal sees Kurita acquire 50.1% of Fracta’s equity.
The Fracta investment reaffirms Kurita’s appetite for water technology innovation in the U.S. With this deal, Kurita is banking on Fracta to accelerate its market expansion into the municipal water sector.
In this Research Note, Bluefield water experts analyze Fracta’s capabilities and Kurita’s strategy within the digital water landscape. Learn more about our new Digital Water Insight service.
U.S. EPA Industrial Consent Decrees: Sector Impacts, Trends, and Penalties
The EPA has issued 112 consent decrees since 1999 to industrial companies violating the Clean Water Act, resulting in approximately US$6.5 billion in civil penalties and US$2.7 billion in compliance costs. Under the current Trump administration, consent decrees issued to industrial companies in violation of the Clean Water Act, have steadily been declining.
Consent decree issuances are concentrated in states (e.g. Texas, Pennsylvania, Iowa) with large water-intensive industrial sectors, including energy, mining, and food and beverage.
In this Data Insight, Bluefield water experts analyze the following:
- Overview of Consent Decrees by State and Sector
- Industrial Consent Decrees, Compliance Costs and Civil Penalties by Sector
- Civil Penalties and Costs of Compliance per Sector
- Geographic Distribution of Consent Decrees
