The Future of Water

Bluefield Research
  • 4.9 (35)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

The Future of Water is Bluefield Research’s bi-monthly podcast examining the strategic, regulatory, and market dynamics shaping the global water sector. Spanning municipal and industrial markets, and extending from technology providers to investors, each episode focuses on the signals that matter—capital flows, policy developments, and business model shifts impacting opportunities in water. Hosted by Reese Tisdale, along with Bluefield’s team of water experts, the podcast delivers data-backed analysis and practical insights into how these developments are influencing strategies across the water industry value chain. To learn more about Bluefield Research visit: www.bluefieldresearch.com. Contact us at podcasts@bluefieldresearch.com with any topic suggestions or requests for information.

  1. 5D AGO

    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 while PFAS enforcement intensifies. The episode explores critical deadline pressures around the Colorado River, where Seven Basin States missed their November target and face a February 14th federal intervention threshold. Greg also contrasts U.S. and Canada infrastructure approaches, highlighting Canada's CAD$54 billion supply-driven investment strategy that builds water capacity ahead of demand tied to housing targets. Key topics include: Two-speed regulatory reality: traditional pollutant relief versus PFAS enforcement intensification State veto power elimination and project acceleration across energy, agriculture, and transportation sectors Colorado River deadline crisis and potential federal intervention scenarios Canada's supply-driven infrastructure model and housing-tied water capacity expansion If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven’t already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen. If you’d 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. & Canada Water Policy Review: Key Developments and Market Outlook, H1 2026

    26 min

  2. JAN 20

    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 is projected to reach 4–8% of total global consumption by 2040, utilities face mounting pressure to reduce costs, manage volatility, and meet carbon reduction targets. In this episode, Bluefield senior analyst Maria Cardenal joins host Reese Tisdale to discuss findings from a new global report on energy optimization across water and wastewater operations. The conversation covers: Where the biggest savings lie: Pump optimization and aeration control represent 70–80% of total energy consumption, with digital solutions delivering 15–40% energy savings and payback periods as short as 2–3 months Regional adoption patterns: Why Europe is leading through regulatory mandates like the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, while North America remains ROI-driven with uneven uptake The technology shift: How utilities are moving from hardware-first approaches to software-led optimization built on AI, digital twins, and advanced analytics Hidden benefits beyond energy bills: Extended asset life, deferred capital expenditures, and reduced maintenance costs that often represent the largest financial returns If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven’t already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen. If you’d 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: Energy Optimization for Water Utilities: A Digital Playbook for Cost and Carbon Reduction

    41 min

  3. 12/23/2025

    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 growing 12.2% annually and driving the U.S. industrial water market. Is AI's thirst the crisis or the opportunity the water sector has been waiting for? 2. Housing construction in the U.S. dropped 15% since 2022, breaking the historic model of 'new homes = new pipes.' If growth isn't driving investment anymore, what is? 3. Europe's betting big on semiconductors, hydrogen, and EV batteries with its Water Resilience Strategy. Are they building infrastructure for industries that might not materialize—or positioning for the next industrial revolution while the U.S. fumbles? 4. Midstream water in oil and gas has gone from cyclical commodity play to structural necessity. Did the water sector accidentally become geopolitically important, or have they just not realized it yet? 5. Water bills have increased 24% in five years, and some cities are hitting EPA affordability thresholds. What breaks first—the infrastructure or the public's willingness to pay? Keith and Reese also place their contrarian bets for 2026 and tackle a speed round on what will define the next decade, where smart investment is headed, and who holds more power in 2035: those who own the infrastructure, or those who own the customer. If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven’t already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen. If you’d 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. Water for Data Centers: Market Trends, Opportunities, and Forecasts, 2025–2030 U.S. Midstream Water for Hydraulic Fracturing: Market Trends, Opportunities, and Forecasts, 2025–2030 U.S. & Canada Water and Wastewater Pipe CAPEX Forecasts, 2025–2035

    59 min

  4. 12/09/2025

    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 Tisdale is joined by Bluefield colleague Megan Bondar, who has just wrapped up analysis on FMV and its growing role as a legislated mechanism to streamline water and wastewater utility acquisitions. Bluefield's water experts get into why FMV is back in the spotlight, how it differs from traditional acquisitions, and what more than a decade of deal activity reveals about the road ahead. Key discussion points: What prompted Bluefield to undertake this updated Fair Market Value analysis now? What exactly is “Fair Market Value,” and why does it matter in utility M&A? What are the most significant impacts and trends emerging from a decade of FMV deals? Where is FMV being used most today, and how is the competitive landscape evolving? If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven’t already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen. If you’d 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: Fair Market Value: Benchmarking a Decade of Water Utility Acquisitions

    38 min
  5. From Landfill Capacity to PFAS: The Pressures Reshaping Biosolids Management

    11/18/2025

    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 of The Future of Water, host Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield’s Pat Byrne to break down the current state of biosolids management in the U.S.—from landfilling and incineration to beneficial use pathways—and to highlight the regional disparities, regulatory pressures, and emerging technologies reshaping utility strategies. What biosolids are, how they’re produced, and the main disposal and beneficial use pathways utilities rely on. The rising challenges of landfilling and incineration, including high costs, methane emissions, aging facilities, and limited capacity. The growing influence of PFAS, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals, and why utilities are passive receivers of these contaminants. How biosolids have become one of the fastest-growing operating costs, with annual spending rising from US$2.5B in 2025 to US$4.8B in 2035. Significant regional disparities, from high costs and tight capacity in the Northeast to heavier landfill reliance in the Southeast. New technologies and delivery models—from drying and dewatering to pyrolysis, gasification, SCWO, and DBOOM structures—reshaping future strategies. If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven’t already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen. If you’d 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. Municipal Biosolids Management: Drivers, Trends, and Forecasts, 2025–2035

    52 min
  6. Is Water Reuse Going Mainstream?

    11/04/2025

    Is Water Reuse Going Mainstream?

    In this episode, host Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield analyst Megan Bondar to unpack the pressures and opportunities shaping water reuse—a cornerstone of resilient water supply planning that’s gaining momentum across the U.S. Bluefield's latest analysis projects US$47.1 billion in CAPEX for municipal reuse infrastructure through 2035, highlighting a shift in how utilities and cities are thinking about long-term water resilience. From California's drought-driven projects to saltwater intrusion along the East Coast, water reuse is expanding. In this conversation, Reese and Megan explore what’s driving this growth—and what it means for utilities, communities, and the industries that depend on them. In this episode: What’s behind the surge in water reuse investment—and how it reflects a new mindset around resilience. How utilities and policymakers are addressing challenges like cost, permitting, and public perception. Why potable reuse is emerging as a larger share of new capacity additions by 2035. How regional factors—from groundwater depletion in the West to saltwater intrusion in the East—are shaping different approaches. The role of industrial demand, especially from data centers, in accelerating public-private partnerships for reuse. What separates the leaders from the laggards in planning, financing, and executing reuse projects. If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven’t already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen. If you’d 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. Municipal Water Reuse: Market Trends and Forecasts, 2025–2035

    45 min
  7. What’s at Stake When Cyber Threats Target Water Infrastructure?

    10/21/2025

    What’s at Stake When Cyber Threats Target Water Infrastructure?

    Water systems—once considered too small or obscure to be hacked—are now squarely in the crosshairs of cyber actors. In recent months, Bluefield Research has tracked a surge of cyber activity targeting water and wastewater utilities around the world, from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) release of 32 new control system advisories to Poland’s launch of a national cybersecurity framework for water utilities. In this episode of The Future of Water, Bluefield’s Barcelona-based Maria Cardenal and Boston-based Leigh Ramsey join host Reese Tisdale to unpack one of the most pressing—and overlooked—threats facing the water sector: cybersecurity. Our water experts explore where these threats are emerging, how utilities are responding, and what the next phase of digital resilience looks like. Key discussion points include: What’s really at stake when critical infrastructure is under attack The biggest vulnerabilities in today’s water systems—from legacy hardware to weak IT–OT segmentation Real-world examples from the U.S., Norway, and Poland that show how cyberattacks on operational assets are evolving How governments are responding—including Poland’s US$1.1 billion cybersecurity initiative for water and wastewater systems How smaller utilities are managing cybersecurity with limited resources The role of new regulations—from the EU’s NIS2 Directive to state-level initiatives in the U.S. Why cybersecurity must become part of asset management and workforce training, not an afterthought If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven’t already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen. If you’d 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: Poland Strengthens Cybersecurity in the Water Sector Cybersecurity Alerts Highlight Water HMI Vulnerabilities

    58 min
  8. How Did Midstream Water Become a US$26 Billion-a-Year Business?

    10/07/2025

    How Did Midstream Water Become a US$26 Billion-a-Year Business?

    Today's episode dives into one of the most critical—yet often overlooked—pieces of the U.S. energy and water puzzle: midstream water in oil and gas. Host Reese Tisdale is joined by Sophie Washington, Senior Analyst at Bluefield Research, who recently authored Bluefield's new Insight Report: U.S. Midstream Water for Hydraulic Fracturing: Market Trends, Opportunities, and Forecasts, 2025–2030. In this conversation, Reese and Sophie unpack how the midstream water sector has evolved from a cost center into a strategic enabler for U.S. shale producers. They explore what’s driving the US$156 billion market through 2030, how water reuse and infrastructure investments are reshaping operations, and why water management in U.S. shale has become a key part of the global energy story. In this episode, Bluefield's water experts discuss: What is midstream water? How large is the market? Why should we care about this? What's driving market growth and change? Where are the regional hotspots? Who are the key players and how is the competitive landscape changing? If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven’t already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen. If you’d 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. Midstream Water for Hydraulic Fracturing: Market Trends, Opportunities, and Forecasts, 2025–2030 Western Midstream Bets on Water with US$2 Billion Aris Acquisition Midstream Water Outlook Signals Increased Efficiencies, Infrastructure Investment

    39 min
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4.9
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

The Future of Water is Bluefield Research’s bi-monthly podcast examining the strategic, regulatory, and market dynamics shaping the global water sector. Spanning municipal and industrial markets, and extending from technology providers to investors, each episode focuses on the signals that matter—capital flows, policy developments, and business model shifts impacting opportunities in water. Hosted by Reese Tisdale, along with Bluefield’s team of water experts, the podcast delivers data-backed analysis and practical insights into how these developments are influencing strategies across the water industry value chain. To learn more about Bluefield Research visit: www.bluefieldresearch.com. Contact us at podcasts@bluefieldresearch.com with any topic suggestions or requests for information.

Information

  • Creator
    Bluefield Research
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    136
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Bluefield Research
  • Show Website
    The Future of Water

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