Three Drop - Emerging Water Business Development Opportunities
Headwaters/Source Water Protection, Direct Potable Reuse, Desalination
July 31, 2026
Friends of Confluence West -
Is your agency, Tribe, firm, NGO, or municipality assessing opportunities for water resiliency?
Check out our new report: Three Emerging Water Market Opportunities.
Headwaters/Source Water Protection
Direct Potable Reuse
Desalination
These three emerging market segments offer opportunities for California and Western water managers, but the window to establish credibility is closing. Based on current funding flows and agency procurement timelines, we’ve estimated the accessible California market for these services at $400 million to $1 billion in professional fees and planning through 2030.
In this report, we dive into the what, why, and how to accelerate these three strategies. This report is for water managers (agencies, NGOs, Tribes, consultants), primarily in California, but it is also applies to other Western states.
All three emerging opportunities share a core principle: California's and the West's 20th-century water infrastructure was built for a stable climate that no longer exists.
Many agencies, Tribes, and municipalities are now building a diverse, locally controlled, climate-resilient water portfolio—protecting existing resources (watersheds), recycling wastewater (IPR, DPR), and developing new sources (desalination)—because no single approach is sufficient.
Need some direction? Corrections to the report? All appreciated. Give us a call or email.
For the West,
Kimery
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PS - Confluence West fans will note a new web page on our site: Getting Ready - We have an opportunity to inform the next federal Administration, as well as the incoming administrations of Western states. Confluence West and our colleagues are developing inclusive policy options for Western water and forest management, public health and climate change, and social and environmental justice. Let’s get ready! Please join us with your comments, ideas, and funding support!
In the terrific news department, Confluence West and Blue Bridge Strategies, LLC (Lisa Haney) are teaming up on a couple of projects. Many of you know Lisa from her work at the Orange County Water District and as the lead on the district’s pioneering groundwater recharge and other sustainability projects.
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Many excellent NGOs, water utilities, tribes, Nations, communities, and public agencies are working to protect rivers and forests in the American West from the (sometimes overwhelming) challenges posed by climate change. We are proud to partner with many of them.
Why support and work with Confluence West? Since 2007, we've learned that long-term, equitable solutions require dedicated and talented people from every sector, issue area, perspective, expertise, and culture to bring their part of the elephant, their truth, to the table.
We build and lead projects that connect diverse decision-makers who, in turn, create science- and evidence-based campaigns. Check out our work! Or, email Kimery.