Why water is trending

Five key forces reshaping the global water sector

During the last months, something interesting has been happening. People I talk to keep asking me why water is becoming increasingly present and mentioned everywhere.

What is especially interesting is that many of these people are not “water natives, they come from firms, consultancies, associations, and other sectors that traditionally worked in different fields but are now stepping into water. They see opportunities in the sector, although many are not fully sure why.

Water is intertemporal. It means that decisions we made, or failed to make, years ago, such as renewing infrastructure or improving water resilience, are inevitably showing their consequences today.

Curiously, many water professionals themselves are not fully aware of the global movement happening around water. They are focused on their day-to-day workload, delivering projects, and handling operations.

I recently spoke with a wastewater engineer with more than 25 years of experience who did not know what quaternary treatment meant, she even said it did not exist!!

The water business is moving fast, and many people are simply unaware of how much the sector is changing.

I usually explain a few key points to those who ask me why water is trending, and I would like to share them with you.