UNESCO estimates that over 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. Trillions of gallons of water leak out of aging U.S. water infrastructure systems each year. Water systems servicing about 50% of the U.S. population have detectable levels of PFAS, or “forever chemicals.”
As the world continues to contend with widespread water-related problems, exacerbated by population growth and climate change, the need for solutions has become more pressing.
In a report from William Blair’s Brian Drab, CFA, partner, and co-group head of industrials, we discuss potential solutions to global water infrastructure challenges, as well as companies actively developing and delivering solutions.
Dozens of companies are urgently working to develop technologies to address the problems presented in this report, as governments worldwide are increasingly acknowledging the risks they pose to public health, economic development, and population sustainability. William Blair’s industrial technology team expects further adoption of relevant technologies as they become increasingly energy-efficient and economical and government funding is deployed to address these problems.
For more information on William Blair's global services equity research, please contact us or your William Blair representative.