Pipe, Stormwater & Smart Metering

Badger Meter launched OneNetwork, a real-time monitoring and analytics platform designed to unify fragmented water and wastewater system data, at the WEFTEC conference in New Orleans. The company's share price has fallen 27.6% year to date, with a 1 year total shareholder return down 28.6%, though the 5 year total shareholder return of 26.6% still points to longer term gains. The most followed narrative places Badger Meter's fair value at $169, above the last close of $127.77, framing OneNetwork as part of a wider digital push alongside the BlueEdge platform and expansion beyond the meter. That narrative cites intensifying water scarcity, mounting regulatory pressure, and mandates for real-time monitoring as drivers of shorter replacement cycles and pricing power. Supply chain and tariff pressures, along with any slowdown in core utility water projects, could weaken that upbeat case.

Essential Utilities subsidiary Aqua Pennsylvania has acquired the water system assets of the Ulster Municipal Authority in Bradford County for $0.5 million, adding 180 customers to its existing water customer base. Aqua Pennsylvania plans to invest $2 million over the next five years to upgrade the acquired assets, modernizing facilities and replacing aging lines to provide safe, high-quality water for Ulster residents. Essential Utilities has added more than 138,000 customers or equivalent dwelling units and about $570 million of rate base through acquisitions since 2015, and its proposed merger with American Water Works remains targeted for the first quarter of 2027. Signed purchase agreements represent more than 200,000 customers and about $282 million in purchase price, while the active municipal acquisition pipeline is about 400,000 customers. Separately, California Water Service Group has agreed to acquire Nexus Water Group's Nevada and Oregon water and wastewater systems for $218 million, and Select Water Solutions has agreed to acquire Pilot Water Solutions for $700 million plus up to $15 million in contingent consideration.

Research by Asia Plus Securities assesses that a water management megaproject with a combined value of 165,000 million baht will support the growth of the construction contracting sector over the medium to long term. The project aims to cut flood damage by about 16,930 million baht per year and reduce flooded area by 3.48 million rai. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and take eight years. Among the stocks expected to benefit, Asia Plus names CK as its top pick with a target price of 24 baht on the prospect of winning work directly, while STECON carries a target price of 23 baht on expectations it will benefit from large project contracts. Also in the frame are UNIQ, which has opportunities from large project work, and ITD, which is involved in earthworks and drainage systems. In the construction materials group, SCC, SCCC and TPIPL stand to benefit from project demand for materials. Factors to watch include the project's funding sources, land expropriation, the timing of bidding, and contract signing, all of which will affect progress and the chances that construction companies win work from the project.

The Cabinet has approved the Chai Nat–Pa Sak–Gulf of Thailand flood diversion canal project, with total investment of approximately 165 billion baht, one of Thailand's largest megaprojects in years. The project aims to create a new water diversion route from the upper Chao Phraya basin directly to the Gulf of Thailand, improving drainage efficiency and reducing flood risk in the central region, Bangkok, and surrounding provinces. The government estimates that once completed, it will reduce flooded area by about 3.48 million rai, add roughly 1.555 billion cubic metres of water storage capacity, and cut economic damage from flooding by about 16.93 billion baht per year. Under the implementation timeline, feasibility studies and design are set for 2026, with construction of phase one beginning in 2027. From 2028 to 2030, the drainage canal, sluice gates, and land acquisition will be carried out. From 2031 to 2033, main structures will be built and systems tested, before full operation in 2034. Asia Plus Securities said the construction contracting group will be the first direct beneficiary, with CK, STECON, and UNIQ standing out as stocks with strong potential to win contracts, while ITD is likely to benefit from its expertise in earthworks and drainage systems. The construction materials group, including SCC, SCCC, and TPIPL, will see support later in the materials usage cycle. Factors to watch are clarity on funding sources, the land acquisition or expropriation process, and the timetable for opening bidding on each contract, with delays in these steps posing a key risk that could push the transmission of benefits later than planned.

Panu Chokapirat, Chief Executive Officer of Frontline Engineering Public Company Limited, or FLE, said that heavy rain and flooding in many areas have led relevant agencies to place greater emphasis on preparing flood prevention and drainage systems, especially the procurement of pumping equipment that can be deployed immediately in an emergency, a factor supporting future demand for water pumps and water management systems. Panu said that many local administrative organizations and municipalities have begun procuring their own pumping equipment to increase their flexibility in assisting the public, while the private sector, especially large housing estate projects and golf courses, is starting to take an interest in designing proactive flood prevention systems to reduce risks to property and operations. The company therefore sees an opportunity to expand its customer base from its previous focus on government projects to the private sector, using a One Stop Service approach through partnerships with allies, with the water pump rental business being one of the businesses the company aims to expand. At the same time, FLE also has an innovation in the form of a mobile pumping vehicle for handling emergency situations, which was used in relief and recovery missions during the past Hat Yai flood event, and it is in the process of developing a robotic water pump that can move into flooded areas and pump water by itself, as well as move down as the water level recedes to keep drainage continuous, reducing limitations in reaching areas where large machinery or personnel have difficulty operating.

Panu Chokapirat, Chief Executive Officer of Frontline Engineering Public Company Limited, or FLE, disclosed that heavy rainfall and flooding in many areas have made relevant agencies more aware of the importance of preparing flood prevention and drainage systems, especially the procurement of pumping equipment that can be deployed immediately in emergency situations, a factor supporting future demand for pumps and water management systems. The company is monitoring the flood situation and sending teams on site to provide technical support to pumping station projects in several areas that are strategic to water diversion and drainage, while assessing demand for pumping systems for post-flood recovery. Meanwhile, many local administrative organizations and municipalities are beginning to place greater emphasis on procuring their own pumping equipment. At the same time, the private sector, especially large housing estate projects and golf courses, is showing growing interest in proactive flood prevention system design. Panu said FLE sees an opportunity to expand its customer base from its previous focus on government projects toward the private sector, using a One Stop Service approach through partnerships with allies. The pump rental business is one of the businesses the company aims to expand. FLE also has an innovation in the form of mobile pumping trucks for emergency response, which were used in relief and recovery missions during the previous Hat Yai flood event. The company places importance on continuously developing water management technology, with mobile pumping trucks able to move quickly into areas that need accelerated drainage, such as underpass tunnels, basement areas, and locations hit by sudden flash flooding. It has also developed a robotic form of pump that can move into flooded areas and operate on its own to pump water, as well as follow the receding water level to keep drainage going continuously.

TEAMG disclosed that flooding in many areas is creating business opportunities for the company. Chavalit Chantarat, Chief Executive Officer of Team Consulting Engineering and Management Public Company Limited, or TEAMG, told Than Hoon that the company has expertise in designing and managing drainage systems, giving it opportunities to win new work with government agencies such as the Royal Irrigation Department, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and the Department of Water Resources, especially in eastern Bangkok, where the company designed Phase 1 of the Bueng Nong Bon monkey-cheek project and is monitoring Phase 2 of the Bueng Nong Bon project, which has already received government budget approval. As for the Pa Sak–Gulf of Thailand drainage canal construction project, a massive undertaking with a budget in the hundreds of billions of baht, the company will carefully consider opportunities to take part, focusing on projects where it has expertise and a track record of prior design work. The company aims to pursue large infrastructure investment projects under the budget plan approved by parliament, particularly the southern double-track railway project heading toward the Thai-Malaysian border town municipality, several sections of which the company previously designed, and it is also proposing designs for pipes and drainage channels beneath railways in flood-hit areas such as Hat Yai district. As for its order backlog, in the third quarter of 2026 alone it stands at at least 4.85 billion baht, in line with its target, with the company expecting to secure no less than 1.5 billion baht in new work in both the third and fourth quarters of 2026, supporting its goal of 10% or more revenue growth in 2026.

Southland said its Civil segment subsidiary Oscar Renda Contracting won a $71M water pipeline project in the Southwest. The project includes the installation of about 14 miles of 42-inch welded steel water pipeline, and the scope also includes trenchless crossings. The award will be added to Southland's third-quarter 2026 backlog. The stock price climbed about 26% on Tuesday pre-market hours.

The Cabinet meeting resolved to approve the remaining central budget of approximately 4 billion baht to assist and compensate people affected by flood situations nationwide, not limited to the Bangkok area. Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that the payment of 9,000 baht per household in assistance must follow the prescribed criteria and conditions. The meeting also approved a drainage project along the Chao Phraya–Pa Sak–Gulf of Thailand route with a budget of approximately 160 billion baht, expected to take about 8 years to complete, using both budget funds and loans. Once finished, it will improve flood prevention efficiency in the central region, Bangkok, and surrounding provinces. At the same time, Ekkaphop Pienprisit, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the disaster insurance program for the public will begin providing coverage from October 1, 2026, to October 1, 2027, covering damage to residences and deaths from floods, storms, and earthquakes, with the government proposing coverage of 75 billion baht. The Office of the Insurance Commission is in final negotiations on details with insurance companies. Meanwhile, Lalida Periswiwatana, deputy spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, disclosed that the Cabinet approved the allocation of the annual expenditure budget for fiscal year 2026, central budget, contingency reserve for emergency or necessary cases, in the amount of 1,206,477,900 baht to the Student Loan Fund to maintain liquidity and transfer payments to 141,838 student borrowers through the end of the 2026 academic year. Meanwhile, Siripong Angkasakulkiat, Deputy Minister of Transport, urged the public to move their cars off the expressways and Don Mueang Tollway quickly, with about 40 tow trucks prepared to support traffic police, and parking buildings of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand remain open for free parking until October 2. Separately, Surasak Phanchareonworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, criticized Thai Airways' baggage management after passenger luggage was left behind and flights were delayed, and proposed that the Ministry of Finance, as major shareholder, consider convening a board meeting to discuss solutions to the problem.

ABB has launched AquaMaster+, a digital platform for smart water network management designed to help water utilities in India monitor, analyze and manage their networks, prevent pipeline water losses and optimize operations. The integrated platform combines hardware, advanced software capabilities and cloud-based decision-making tools, and is available to water companies using ABB's AquaMaster4 flowmeters or as a standalone software solution that can be integrated into existing systems. The launch builds on ABB's AquaMaster electromagnetic flowmeters, which mark 20 years in India, growing from a first installation in Bengaluru to nearly 2,000 units across 15 cities in eight states, including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha and Delhi, with Bengaluru alone running some 500 units. AquaMaster+ offers fleet-level insights with GIS mapping as well as device insights covering flow and pressure shifts, device diagnostics and remote configuration, which improves response times and reduces travel costs. Raghu Kumar NV, Global Product Manager in ABB's Measurement & Analytics division, said the platform connects water utilities to crucial flow measurement insights to help the water sector outrun, leaner and cleaner.

Perma-Pipe International Holdings reported second-quarter net sales of $59.6 million, up 24.4% year over year, with backlog reaching $142.3 million as of July 31, up 17% from $121.6 million at the start of the fiscal year on January 31. The company added $67.8 million in new orders during the quarter and pointed to a $900 million pipeline of active quoting and proposal work, while its leak detection unit has locked in 80% of its full-year bookings target. Two new plants are driving the expansion: an Ohio facility aimed at the data center market ramping toward full production in early 2027, and a Qatar plant serving QatarEnergy and regional customers, while Saudi Aramco has qualified a new Perma-Pipe product line for its energy expansion program. The company also signed a memorandum of understanding with Welspun to form a joint venture in Jordan tied to the National Water Carrier Program, and secured a new $90 million credit facility with JPMorgan Chase plus $50 million of additional incremental capacity. Gross margin slipped to 29.2% from 30.1% a year earlier, weighed down by $500,000 in Ohio startup costs and a $3.9 million full write-off of a receivable tied to a single customer's deteriorating finances, while six-month net income attributable to common stock fell to $4.3 million from $5.8 million and total debt rose to $36.1 million from $32.5 million.

Jacobs has been selected by the Central Utah Water Conservancy District to provide engineering services for the proposed Strawberry High Line Improvement Project, a critical water infrastructure program with an estimated $750 million construction value. The project will transform the historic Strawberry High Line Canal into a modern, pressurized water system by replacing the open-water canal with a buried pipeline, serving both agricultural users and growing urban communities across south Utah County and eastern Juab County. In a joint venture with Bowen Collins & Associates, Jacobs is expected to provide design and construction-phase support services, including new pipelines and a pump station, to support water delivery to a future population of approximately 420,000 people. The corridor would also be repurposed with an integrated regional trail, providing a recreational amenity and improving community connectivity.

The National Drought Group of England declared additional areas to be in drought on Monday, bringing the total to 71.3% of England now facing flash drought. This follows July rainfall being the lowest in 190 years, and August rainfall so far at only 5% of expected levels. Around 45 million people live in drought-affected areas, and more than 27 million are under water restriction measures. The Water Minister said the government recognises the hardship, especially the impact on farmers from climate change, which is causing more frequent floods and droughts.

Mueller Water Products raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance to a range of $367 million to $372 million after reporting record third-quarter results. Net sales rose 4.1% to $395.9 million, adjusted EBITDA increased 24.3% to a record $107.4 million, and adjusted diluted earnings per share climbed 47.1% to $0.50. The company benefited from pricing actions, tariff refunds, cost controls, and resilient municipal infrastructure demand, with Water Management Solutions sales up 10.3% and adjusted EBITDA surging 43.6%. Management cautioned that no further tariff refunds are expected and that tariff-related costs and seasonal pressures will affect the fourth quarter, while also narrowing its full-year net-sales growth forecast to 2.8% to 3.5%.

The cabinet has approved the Lower Phetchaburi River Basin flood mitigation royal initiative project in Phetchaburi province, with a budget framework of 14.7 billion baht and a 10-year implementation period from fiscal year 2027 to 2036. The Royal Irrigation Department will be the executing agency. The project involves improving and excavating a new drainage canal spanning 38.92 kilometres, from above Phet Dam in Tha Yang district to the discharge point into the Gulf of Thailand in Cha-am district, to increase drainage capacity and reduce flood damage across an area of more than 33,690 rai. The cabinet also approved the use of approximately 162 rai of mangrove forest area at the discharge point into the Gulf of Thailand, with relevant agencies required to strictly comply with environmental measures, and instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to expedite fair compensation payments to affected residents.

Ningbo Construction announced that a consortium formed by its controlled subsidiary Ningbo Municipal Engineering Construction Group and Sichuan Heyixin Engineering Survey and Design Company has won the design and construction EPC project for the water resources upgrade in Tashan area, Santai County. The winning bid price is 465 million yuan. The project is located in Santai County, Mianyang City, Sichuan Province. Construction includes renovating 382.67 kilometers of channels, building 84 kilometers of patrol roads, upgrading 2,517 small structures, and comprehensively treating 10 kilometers of river channels, with a construction period of 720 calendar days. In the consortium, Ningbo Municipal Engineering Construction Group acts as the lead party responsible for construction general contracting, while Sichuan Heyixin is responsible for design work. As of the announcement date, the formal contract has not yet been signed, and there is uncertainty regarding contract signing and performance.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has issued a warning for six central provinces and Bangkok to monitor high sea levels between 28 July and 1 August 2026. Director-General Theerapat Kachamat revealed that data from the Hydrographic Department of the Royal Thai Navy indicates that between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on those days, sea levels will rise high enough to potentially cause water to overflow riverbanks and flood low-lying areas along rivers and canals, as well as communities outside flood barriers and areas without permanent flood defences. The areas under watch include Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, and Samut Prakan provinces, as well as Bangkok. The department has coordinated with the provinces to publicise warnings for the public and relevant agencies to closely monitor the situation.

The Thai Meteorological Department warns that heavy to very heavy rain is expected across many parts of Thailand. The Northeast, East, and South will see very heavy rain in some areas, while the North, Central region, including Bangkok and its vicinity, will experience heavy rain in some places. This is due to a monsoon trough passing through the upper North and Northeast, combined with a relatively strong southwest monsoon prevailing over the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand. People are advised to beware of the dangers from heavy to very heavy rain and accumulated rainfall, which may cause flash floods and forest runoff, especially in foothill areas near waterways and low-lying areas. For wind and waves, the upper Andaman Sea has relatively strong winds with waves 2 to 3 meters high, and over 3 meters in thundershowers. The lower Andaman Sea and upper Gulf of Thailand have waves about 2 meters high, and over 2 meters in thundershowers. Mariners should proceed with caution and avoid sailing in thundershowers. Small boats in the upper Andaman Sea should keep ashore during this period.

The Office of the National Water Resources has confirmed that there is sufficient water supply for water management this year, even though the Meteorological Department forecasts that El Niño will intensify to a very strong level from October to December 2026. The four main dams in the Chao Phraya River Basin had a combined usable water volume of 17.245 billion cubic meters as of November 1, 2025, which is higher than the 4.247 billion cubic meters recorded during the El Niño period in 2015. It is projected that as of November 1, 2026, the usable water volume will be 12.105 billion cubic meters. The ONWR has also instructed all agencies to prepare without complacency, especially in areas outside irrigation zones, while urging farmers to cultivate according to plans and calling on all sectors to conserve water. At the same time, it has ordered inspections of waterway obstructions to improve drainage efficiency in line with measures for the 2026 rainy season.

A subsidiary of PowerChina, Sinohydro Bureau 5, has signed a subcontract with Iraq's Rida Company for the water conveyance system of the Basra desalination project in Iraq, with a contract value equivalent to approximately 8.925 billion yuan. The project is located in Basra Province, Iraq, and the main scope of work involves the design and construction of a water conveyance system with a daily supply capacity of 1 million cubic meters, including a roughly 240-kilometer water pipeline, one main pumping station, and nine receiving pumping stations. The project timeline consists of a six-month limited commencement period plus 1,350 days for the main works, with a defects liability period of 24 months.

The cabinet has approved a central budget of 843.26 million baht for the Royal Irrigation Department to repair and restore irrigation systems damaged by floods in five southern provinces: Songkhla, Satun, Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat, covering a total of 67 projects. This project draws funds from the fiscal year 2026 expenditure budget under the emergency or necessary reserve fund. Examples of works include repairing the R.1 drainage canal in Songkhla province and repairing the right-bank main canal embankment in the Pattani water delivery and maintenance project. The prime minister stressed that relevant agencies must use the funds strictly for their intended purposes, expedite completion, and prioritize economy, value for money, and public benefit.

The Cabinet has approved an increase in the debt commitment framework for the Khlong Tong drainage canal construction project from 315 million baht to 359.52 million baht, along with a two-year extension of the debt commitment period from fiscal years 2020 to 2025 to 2020 to 2027. Deputy Government Spokesperson Captain Pattaradarasami Thongsaluaykorn revealed that the 44.52 million baht increase stems from the need to adjust construction plans to match actual site conditions, such as realigning the canal, relocating the water gate, and adding drainage system works. The project spans four kilometers and is located in Phatong Subdistrict, Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. Once completed, it will enhance drainage efficiency, reduce flood damage during the rainy season, and can be developed into a recreational area and community fish breeding ground in the future.

China's Ministry of Water Resources has kept in place a Level 4 emergency flood control response in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hubei Province, and Hunan Province. This follows heavy to torrential rain across central and southern China from Sunday morning to Monday morning, July 19 to 20, which pushed water levels in eight small and medium rivers in Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Anhui, and Shanghai above warning thresholds, with the highest exceeding by 0.91 meters. The ministry also issued early warning notices for eight provincial-level regions, including Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Anhui, Jiangxi, Shandong, Hunan, Guangdong, and Guangxi, and urged strengthened safety in reservoir operations, flood prevention along small and medium rivers, and vigilance against flash floods. China has a four-tier flood control emergency response system, with Level 1 being the most severe.

Three companies announced major developments in advanced materials and infrastructure. Xeriant was awarded a U.S. patent for its multilayer fire-resistant composite technology that underpins its NEXBOARD eco-friendly construction panel, which has already achieved an ASTM E84 Class A fire rating and passed the NFPA 286 full-room corner burn test. Argo Graphene Solutions appointed Dr. Vikas Berry, the inventor of its STREAM graphene production platform, as CEO to accelerate commercialization under an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement. Meanwhile, a consortium of Aecon Group, MWH Constructors, and Oscar Renda Contracting received an approximately C$815 million progressive design-build contract from the City of Winnipeg for the North End Water Pollution Control Centre Biosolids Facilities upgrade, with Aecon’s one-third share to be added to its Construction segment backlog in the third quarter of 2026 and Southland Holdings, parent of Oscar Renda, adding its roughly C$272 million share to its Civil segment backlog.

Pennsylvania American Water has been awarded grants and low-interest loans totaling $64,106,000 from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, known as PENNVEST, to support water infrastructure improvement projects in Allegheny, Cumberland and Susquehanna counties. The funding includes a $2,694,306 grant and a $6,205,694 loan to replace approximately 575 lead and galvanized lead-impacted water service lines in Dormont Borough, Allegheny County, with the loan carrying a 1.00% interest rate over 25.25 years. A PFAS treatment project at the Silver Spring Water Treatment Plant in Cumberland County, which serves about 85,000 people across 12 municipalities, received a $2,447,879 grant and a $27,758,121 loan, with interest terms of 1.743% for the first five years and 2.179% for the remainder of the 20-year loan period. In Susquehanna County, a $25,000,000 loan will fund construction of a new water treatment plant in Harmony Township to replace aging infrastructure serving more than 4,200 customers, with interest at 1.00% for the first five years and 1.743% thereafter over 20 years. Since July 2024, PENNVEST has awarded Pennsylvania American Water more than $261.6 million in total funding, including $29 million in grants and $231 million in low-interest loans, to advance water and wastewater infrastructure across the state.

Environmental & Public Health International announced that its Lead Service Line Replacement Cost Calculator has been published as a case study by the Urban SDG Knowledge Platform, jointly managed by CityNet and supported by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. The free, multilingual modeling tool helps governments, utilities, and community leaders plan and estimate the cost of lead service line replacement, advancing safer water access, infrastructure equity, and climate adaptation planning. The publication expands access to practical tools that advance equitable and climate resilient drinking water infrastructure across the Asia Pacific region. The Urban SDG Knowledge Platform, established by UNESCAP, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and CityNet, serves as a regional mechanism for knowledge sharing and city-to-city cooperation for sustainable urban development.

Westervelt Ecological Services announces the approval of the Johnson Cosumnes Mitigation Bank, a 217-acre floodplain restoration project in Sacramento County, California. The bank was approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Credits will be immediately available to support regional mitigation requirements, with an additional release of credits this fall when construction is completed. The bank protects habitat along the Cosumnes River, expanding the floodplain of the last undammed river in California’s Central Valley, and marks Westervelt’s fifth restoration project adjacent to the 50,000-acre Cosumnes River Preserve. The bank site is permanently protected through a conservation easement held by the Sacramento Valley Conservancy, with long-term management funding provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

A new statewide survey finds 77% of California voters are more likely to support a gubernatorial candidate who prioritizes improving water reliability and affordability. The poll, conducted by the Association of California Water Agencies and FM3 Research, shows support across party lines, including 83% of Democrats, 77% of Independents, and 67% of Republicans. Other findings reveal 93% say safe and reliable water supplies are critical to addressing California’s goals, 88% think the state needs to modernize water infrastructure to protect clean drinking water, and 87% believe infrastructure construction must be accelerated to prepare for droughts, floods, and changing climate conditions. ACWA’s Vision for Our Water Future initiative aims to elevate water as a top priority for the next governor and state officials.