Water Innovation &
Sustainable Development
Why invest in water technology innovation
Cities, farmers, industries, energy providers and ecosystems around the world are increasingly competing for their daily water needs. Without effective water management and strong innovation in this sector, the costs will be high — not only financially, but also in terms of missed opportunities, compromised health, and environmental degradation. In the absence of major policy changes and significantly improved water governance, water availability will become increasingly uncertain.
Water has also become a strategic issue in international politics. Tensions over the control of shared aquifers, rivers and lakes are rising across all continents — from the Nile and the Jordan to the Mekong, the Tigris and Euphrates, the Ganges and the Colorado. These pressures are reshaping geopolitical balances and increasing the risk of conflict.
Reduced water availability is also contributing to migration flows towards Europe. The drying up of Lake Chad, in the Sahel region south of the Sahara, has for years triggered intense migration processes towards European countries.
In this scenario, significant opportunities emerge for industry and finance, driven by the urgent need for new technologies, new business models, and new investment strategies. The challenge concerns both water quantity and water quality.
Global water demand is rising sharply
According to the Water 2030 Global Water Supply and Demand Model promoted by the World Bank Group, global water consumption is expected to increase by 53% between 2008 and 2030. Growth will be driven by:
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Agriculture: +45%
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Industry: +88%
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Municipal and domestic use: +50%
Agriculture is the largest water‑using sector worldwide. Irrigation accounts for 70% of global water withdrawals, and in developing countries this figure reaches 95%. The future development of these countries will depend heavily on their ability to expand irrigated agriculture.
If the global water gap is not addressed, developing and emerging economies will suffer the most, as water scarcity and declining water quality are already critical issues today.
Rapid urbanization and climate change further amplify these concerns. The safe treatment of wastewater is becoming fundamental for the well‑being of societies, economies and ecosystems.
A case in point: Israel
Israel expects its water consumption to nearly double between 2000 and 2050. Only 25% of its needs can be met with natural freshwater. The remaining demand will be covered through:
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Desalination: 55%
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Water recycling: 20%
This example illustrates how innovation in water technologies can transform national water security and create new industrial opportunities.
We accelerate water‑technology innovation to boost agricultural efficiency and improve quality of life
The global water gap is very significant in financial terms
Assuming no efficiency gains, the aggregated global gap between existing accessible, reliable, and sustainable water supply and 2030 water withdrawals is estimated at 2,700 billion m³.
Considering expected improvements in both supply‑side and demand‑side productivity, the global water gap in 2030 could be reduced from 2,700 to 1,700 billion m³ (‑60%), but it cannot be eliminated.
If the entire 2030 water gap were to be met through desalination technologies alone, the required investment would range between USD 3,000 and USD 6,000 billion, depending on the technology adopted. In addition, the average annual operating cost to produce 1.7 trillion m³ of desalinated water would be approximately USD 850 billion per year.
In addition to the issue of quantity, there is also a growing problem concerning the quality of available water.
Climate change is increasing global temperatures, accelerating the salinization and desertification of agricultural land, and contributing to the rapid melting of glaciers.
Industrialization in advanced economies over the past century has significantly polluted rivers and lakes, especially in urban areas.
Uncontrolled dumping of chemicals and construction debris has rendered several watercourses unfit for use.
Urbanization, industrial expansion, and agricultural development in high‑growth countries (BRIICS) are intensifying soil water extraction, contaminating groundwater, and releasing micropollutants into coastal and marine ecosystems.
In Sub‑Saharan Africa, only 24% of the population has access to safely managed drinking water services. The percentage is even lower in parts of North Africa and Asia.
Climate change, industrialization and urbanization negatively affect the global water system
The water‑technology market is vast and rapidly expanding.
There is a clear need to improve performance across the entire water value chain, and significant room to innovate products, services, and technologies while generating high‑return investments. The water‑tech market is already substantial, and EBITDA multiples in M&A transactions continue to rise steadily.
At the same time, several structural factors are accelerating demand:
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Large investments in water‑tech innovation are now driven by Horizon Europe, the LIFE Programme, the Innovation Fund, and major regional ERDF initiatives.
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Institutional investors are increasingly focusing on green and water‑tech sectors, while UNESCO and OECD identify water as a strategic factor for global development, security, and peace.
Owning advanced water technologies is becoming essential for Europe’s industrial competitiveness and long‑term growth.
Key Figures of Water Technology Industry
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Increase in Global Water Consumption 2008-2030: +53%
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Global Water Gap in 2030: 1,700 billion m3
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People without access to safe water supplies in 2020 globally: 2.1 billion
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Estimated Operational Costs and Investment required to satisfy the Global Water Gap with desalination alone: 850 USD/bln per year and 3,000 - 6,000 USD/bln
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Estimated Global Water Market in 2025: 900 USD/bln (CAGR = 6-8%)
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Estimated Water Technology Market in 2025: 325 USD/bln (CAGR>10%)
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Planned Investments in global Public Private Partnerships 2016-2020: 58 USD/bln
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Investment needs for updating water infrastructures in USA by 2040: 152 USD/bln
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EBITDA multiples in water-tech deals : 20-23 (since 2016)
Our Services
Our consulting services are as follows:
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Industry: we help companies develop new technologies, create new products and services, innovate manufacturing processes, develop new business models, and select the best partner in M&A initiatives,
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Institutional Investors: we help investors to understand the evolution of this sector and to select the best companies for acquisition,
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Institutions: we help public agencies and private institutions better understand environmental quality through "big data" analysis of groundwater quality and to assess the impact of their investments.
Our know-how
Our expertise comes from decades of work across multiple water‑related manufacturing industries, including:
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Irrigation systems
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Hydraulic and thermo‑hydraulic systems
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Hydropower technology and power generation
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Wastewater treatment technologies
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Drinking water treatment and purification
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Mineral water processing and bottling
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Atmospheric water generation (water‑from‑air)
This diversified background allows us to understand water technologies from end to end — from production and treatment to distribution and advanced innovation.