Water & Sewer Utilities Industry Profile

The US commercial water and sewer utilities industry includes about 5,000 companies with combined annual revenue of $9 billion. Large companies include American Water Works, Aqua America, California Water Service, and the US subsidiaries of major global players, including United Water (a subsidiary of SUEZ Environnement) and Veolia Water North America (subsidiary of Veolia Environnement). The industry is fairly concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for 65 percent of industry revenue. The commercial industry is small compared to the water and sewer services operated by many regional and local governments in the US; government-owned water and sewer utility services earn about $80 billion annually.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand depends on commercial and residential water needs, which are related to population growth and to the level of economic activity. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficiency of operations, because prices are fixed by public utility commissions (PUCs). Large companies have economies of scale in operations and the ability to raise capital for infrastructure improvements. Small companies can compete successfully through superior engineering or by serving smaller local markets. High barriers to entry, such as capital investments, make the industry somewhat resistant to competition; many companies operate as de facto monopolies.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major services are operating water supply systems and operating sewage removal systems. Water services account for 70 percent of industry revenue, sewer services for 13 percent, irrigation around 4 percent, and other services the rest. ...