Water Investor’s Monthly September 2026

Water Investor’s Monthly™, by Industria Partners, is a review of trends and transactions in water across the U.S., including water rights, storage, transportation infrastructure, and wastewater treatment, services, and equipment.

Chart of the Month:

Federal water infrastructure funding in the United States is set to fall ~63% between FY 2026 and FY 2027, but this only marks the end of a five-year federal surge rather than a comparable contraction in overall water infrastructure investment. – Bluefield Research

Recent Market News:

• The EPA announced $11.75 million in grant funding for midsize and large drinking water systems to help protect them from cybersecurity threats and improve resiliency against extreme weather events. – EPA
• The Bureau of Reclamation introduced its plan for the Colorado River Basin, collectively reducing California, Nevada, and Arizona’s water use by 1.25 million acre-feet annually, with the possibility of larger cuts depending on conditions. – PBS
• The two largest reservoirs in the United States approached record low levels in the summer of 2026 as short- and long-term droughts, plus below-average winter snowfalls, diminished water supplies across the Colorado River watershed. – NASA
• According to a new report from Ceres, a sustainability nonprofit, data centers in Virginia, Texas, California, Illinois, Georgia, Ohio, and Arizona use ~3.4 trillion gallons of freshwater indirectly because of the electricity they consume. – ESG Dive

Transactions:

• 8/25/2026: RS&H acquired OMEGA Engineers, a provider of transportation and water resources engineering. – RS&H
• 8/20/2026: WSB (GHK Capital Partners) acquired Civil Infrastructure Associates, an engineering firm specializing in water and wastewater utilities, civil design, aviation infrastructure, and surveying services. – Business Wire
• 8/19/2026: Astara Capital Partners acquired Dynatec Systems, a designer and operator of membrane-based systems that clean industrial wastewater. – PE Professional
• 8/18/2026: Vessco (Gryphon Investors) acquired California Motor Controls, a manufacturer of pump controllers for municipal, commercial, and agricultural water applications. – Vessco
• 8/18/2026: Trinity Consultants acquired Verux, a stormwater compliance consultant providing water quality sampling, site monitoring, and environmental permitting services. – Trinity Consultants
• 8/12/2026: Verdantas (Sterling Investment Partners) acquired Pax Environmental, an environmental consulting firm with expertise in environmental permitting, ecological restoration, and water and wetlands capabilities. – Verdantas
• 8/11/2026: Integrated Water Services (Sciens Water) acquired Advanced Equipment and Services, a provider of reverse osmosis and water purification systems for municipal, commercial, and industrial markets. – PR Newswire
• 8/7/2026: Vessco (Gryphon Investors) acquired CapFlo, a distributor of pipe, valves, storm drainage systems, and valve automation products for the water and wastewater treatment industry. – Vessco
• 8/6/2026: United Flow Technologies (Berkshire Partners) acquired Iron Horse Environmental, a provider of water and wastewater equipment and field services. – United Flow Technologies

Deep Dive:
The Colorado River Water Crisis: A River Running Dry – Circle of Blue

Other Media:
Are We Reading the Water Market Right? – The Future of Water

Industria Partners provides focused strategic advisory services to industrial, climate, infrastructure, and energy companies at every point across the business cycle. Through industry connectivity, transaction experience, and expert execution, Industria delivers superior outcomes to its clients. Visit our website: Industria Partners