The turnkey contract places Gradiant in charge of the campus’s complete water and wastewater package, providing the developer with a single contractor for both systems. Gradiant said the unnamed customer is one of the world’s largest hyperscale technology companies.

The system will be engineered to prevent wastewater discharge into surface waters, a consideration in West Texas, where limited water availability is emerging as a constraint on the development of energy-intensive digital infrastructure.

“Water-scarce regions are where the next wave of hyperscale growth is happening, and most operators don’t have a way to get there,” said Prakash Govindan, CEO of Gradiant. “This project shows hyperscalers can build in these markets without water becoming the reason they can’t.”

The contract will use Gradiant’s HyperSolved platform, which combines water treatment systems, chemicals and digital operational controls for data centres. The project forms part of a wider, publicly reported multi-billion-dollar investment programme in the region, according to the company.

Gradiant did not disclose the contract value, treatment capacity, construction timeline or identity of the data-centre operator. It also did not quantify how much freshwater the system would withdraw or recycle. A zero-surface-discharge design prevents treated wastewater from being released into surface waters, but does not by itself mean that the campus will operate without freshwater withdrawals.

“We’re delivering the site’s full water and wastewater system engineered for zero discharge to surface water, on a construction schedule that leaves no room for delay,” said Nish Vora, managing director for the Americas at Gradiant.

The award adds to Gradiant’s growing portfolio of water projects for AI and data-centre developments. The company has delivered more than 3,000 treatment plants across 92 countries.

Fervo described the agreement as the world’s largest enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) PPA to date. The contracted power will come from an expansion of the company’s Cape Station GeoCluster, which is expected to begin operating in 2028.

The electricity is intended to support a potential Google data centre in Utah, linking the commercial development of next-generation geothermal technology with the rapid growth of electricity demand from artificial intelligence and cloud-computing infrastructure.

Under the agreement, Google will also have the option to purchase approximately 600MW of additional capacity. Exercising the option would raise its total potential offtake from Cape Station to nearly 1GW by June 2030.

Unlike conventional geothermal developments, which depend on naturally occurring reservoirs of hot water, EGS projects create engineered underground reservoirs by drilling into hot rock and circulating water through fractures. The approach could expand geothermal generation beyond regions with easily accessible hydrothermal resources while providing continuous power independent of weather conditions.

“This agreement reinforces that EGS is ready to power the next generation of computing infrastructure,” said Tim Latimer, CEO and co-founder of Fervo Energy.

The agreement extends an existing relationship between the companies. Their first commercial pilot, Project Red in Nevada, began supplying electricity to the local grid in 2023. Fervo subsequently signed a 115MW agreement with Google and utility NV Energy in 2024.

The latest PPA supports Cape Station’s expansion beyond its initial 100MW phase. Fervo plans to develop the site through standardised, modular generating units as it seeks to lower construction costs and establish a repeatable model for utility-scale geothermal development.

However, the additional 600 MW remains an option rather than a firm purchase commitment. Google’s proposed Utah data centre and the associated power arrangements also remain subject to engineering assessments, regulatory approvals and commercial conditions.

However, Bluefield said the headline decline masks differing timelines across the four principal federal funding programmes and should not be interpreted as an equivalent contraction in overall US water infrastructure investment.

Its analysis covers approximately 53,000 projects worth $136bn supported through the State Revolving Fund (SRF), Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

The decline largely reflects the expiry of temporary ARPA and IIJA funding rather than the end of federal support for the sector. SRF and WIFIA remain standing programmes, subject to continued congressional authorisation and appropriations.

ARPA presents the most immediate deadline, with unspent funds required to be returned to the US Treasury after 31 Dec 2026. Bluefield found that southern states received more than half of the $39bn in ARPA water infrastructure obligations. Sixteen states, including South Carolina and Mississippi, have secured more water funding through ARPA than through SRF or WIFIA, increasing their exposure as the programme ends.

By contrast, IIJA-backed SRF funding is expected to continue reaching utilities into the early 2030s. Of the $40.7bn allocated to SRF programmes under IIJA, $26.8bn has yet to reach project-level agreements. Bluefield said the outlook for SRF-dependent states will therefore hinge on how quickly this backlog is converted into projects.

WIFIA also remains available beyond 2026, although its use is concentrated among larger borrowers. Bluefield said 21 states have never received a WIFIA loan, while California accounts for 30% of the programme’s total loan value.

The funding transition comes as state and local governments continue to provide the overwhelming majority of US water infrastructure investment. Citing Congressional Budget Office data, Bluefield noted that these governments accounted for 96% of sector investment in 2023, compared with 4% from the federal government.

Policy uncertainty nevertheless remains. Bluefield said congressional earmarks diverted more than half of SRF appropriations in FY2026 towards one-time grants, reducing capital available for revolving loans. Authorisation for both SRF and WIFIA is also due to expire on 30 Sep 2026, while the House has proposed reducing base SRF funding to US$2.1bn for FY2027.

The findings indicate that the end of the recent federal funding surge will affect states and utilities unevenly, depending on their reliance on temporary programmes, access to standing financing mechanisms and ability to move previously allocated funds into active projects.

The venture, named Grid X Technology, will develop joint offerings and strategies covering the supply of critical equipment and the execution of HVDC projects in South Korea. The companies also intend to pursue opportunities in the global HVDC market.

Financial terms, ownership stakes and a timeline for establishing the venture were not disclosed.

The agreement was signed at the International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE) 2026 in Paris, France. Attendees included LS Electric chairman Koo Ja-kyun and CEO Chae Dae-seok, alongside GE Vernova Electrification president and CEO Philippe Piron and Grid Systems Integration CEO Johan Bindele.

“This cooperation brings together world-class VSC-HVDC technology and LS Electric’s unique experience in executing HVDC projects in Korea, with the aim of building Korea’s Energy Highway in a more reliable manner,” Koo said. “Based on this partnership, we will strengthen Korea’s competitiveness to lead global HVDC technology and business.”

VSC-HVDC technology allows large volumes of electricity to be transmitted over long distances while providing greater control over power flows. It can support the connection of renewable energy projects to weaker sections of the electricity network.

The partnership is expected to support South Korea’s West Coast Energy Highway, a national project designed to transmit large-scale renewable electricity generated in the Honam region and along the west coast to the Seoul metropolitan area.

“Korea is entering a new phase of electricity infrastructure development, where generation and the grid need to advance together,” Piron said. “HVDC is critical when it comes to moving large amounts of electricity efficiently from where it is generated to where it is needed.”

“By combining GE Vernova’s global HVDC technology and experience with LS Electric’s strong local manufacturing and execution capabilities, we can support Korea in building the reliable transmission infrastructure needed for its future energy and economic growth,” he added.

LS Electric said it is the only South Korean manufacturer with experience supplying primary equipment for commercial HVDC projects. It previously worked on the Bukdangjin–Godeok link, South Korea’s first HVDC project, and is supplying critical equipment for the East Coast–Seoul Metropolitan Area HVDC development.

The company operates what it describes as South Korea’s largest HVDC production base at its Busan factory. The facility provides integrated design, manufacturing and performance-testing capabilities for equipment including converter transformers.

The order is valued between US$570m and US$1.14bn under L&T’s internal contract classification. The company did not disclose the precise contract value, customer, project locations or delivery schedule.

The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) scope covers the three storage facilities and associated grid infrastructure, including pooling substations and underground cables.

Each project will use a four-hour BESS designed to store surplus electricity generated during off-peak periods and dispatch it when demand rises. The systems are intended to strengthen grid stability and support greater renewable energy integration across the region.

L&T said the facilities will incorporate liquid-cooling technology to provide higher power density, improve safety and extend the batteries’ operational life.

The order expands L&T’s presence in the Middle East energy-storage market as regional electricity systems invest in grid flexibility to accommodate growing renewable generation.

Headquartered in Mumbai, L&T is an Indian multinational engaged in engineering, procurement and construction, technology, manufacturing and financial services, with operations spanning infrastructure, energy and industrial markets.

Municipal spending on drinking water and wastewater pipes across the US and Canada is forecast to total US$99.3bn between 2026 and 2035, according to a new report by Bluefield Research.

Annual capital expenditure is projected to rise from $9.07bn in 2026 to $10.88bn in 2035, representing a compound annual growth rate of about 2%. While this points to moderate overall expansion, the composition of spending is expected to change as utilities direct more capital towards existing assets.

Rehabilitation and repair are forecast to nearly double their share of total pipe investment, increasing from 9.7% in 2026 to 19.8% in 2035. New construction will remain the largest category by value, but its share of expenditure is expected to decline as replacement needs accelerate.

The shift reflects the age of North America’s extensive installed network, which comprises about 4.52 million miles of water and wastewater pipes. The US accounts for approximately 94% of this infrastructure, with Canada representing the remaining 6%.

Slower housing construction has also weakened demand for new network development. With residential building activity remaining below its 2021 peak, utilities are increasingly prioritising the maintenance and renewal of existing systems.

Distribution and collection pipes already account for roughly 45% of utility capital spending, making them the water sector’s largest infrastructure category.

“That scale makes shifts in utility investment priorities especially important,” said Reese Tisdale, president and CEO of Bluefield Research.

The changing investment mix is expected to influence demand across manufacturing, construction, distribution and engineering services.

Plastic pipes gain market share

Material preferences are also shifting as utilities and property developers seek to control installation and maintenance costs.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is projected to increase its share of total pipe spending from 31.9% to 34.5% over the forecast period. In contrast, ductile iron’s share is expected to decline from 30.3% to 25.9%.

Lower upfront costs, corrosion resistance and easier installation are supporting the use of plastic pipes, particularly in the rapidly growing Sunbelt states. High-density polyethylene and molecularly oriented PVC are also expanding from smaller market bases at a faster rate than conventional PVC.

Ductile iron is expected to retain a position in older and densely developed urban areas, where durability and existing procurement practices continue to shape material selection. Tariff volatility, however, could affect prices and purchasing decisions across all material categories.

Large states anchor spending

Texas, California and Florida are expected to account for about 28% of US pipe expenditure, supported by their large populations and continued development.

Smaller markets may offer stronger rates of expansion. Wisconsin, Utah and British Columbia are each forecast to record annual growth of more than 3%, exceeding the overall market average of 2%.

Regional differences will also influence the types of projects and materials in demand. The Northeast and Midwest have older networks with a greater concentration of legacy materials, while the South and West have younger, more plastic-intensive systems. Although these newer networks require less immediate renewal, the shorter service lives of some materials could bring forward future replacement spending.

Utilities face greater funding responsibility

The investment cycle is unfolding as funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the American Rescue Plan Act begins to wind down.

Bluefield Research said federal support has had a more limited effect on pipe investment than initially anticipated, partly because funds have taken time to move through state programmes and must also address competing priorities, including emerging contaminants such as PFAS.

Utilities are therefore expected to depend increasingly on rate increases and other financing mechanisms to fund capital programmes. Suppliers that can provide financing flexibility, condition assessment capabilities and sufficient project delivery capacity are likely to be better placed to secure work.

Companies serving pipe rehabilitation, wastewater infrastructure, plastic pipe and larger-diameter transmission projects are expected to benefit most from the changing expenditure profile. Although housing activity, material prices and tariffs could affect the pace of investment, the underlying requirement to replace ageing infrastructure is expected to sustain demand throughout the coming decade.

Rahden succeeds Brock Ballard and moves into the role from his position as senior vice-president of Solution Engineering and Services. Since joining Bentley in 2023, he has led the company’s global “success force” of application engineers, solution architects, consultants and technical account managers, working closely with major infrastructure accounts to integrate emerging technologies into their workflows.

His promotion comes as Bentley positions AI as a key driver of the next phase of infrastructure engineering. Rahden’s background across technical sales, engineering and technology businesses is expected to shape how Bentley translates its AI capabilities into practical solutions for infrastructure firms.

“Leading the adoption of AI in infrastructure requires deep account intimacy and a fast feedback loop with our product teams,” said Bentley CEO Nicholas Cumins. “Andy’s technical sales pedigree and entrepreneurial mindset make him equipped to sustain our momentum and drive our next wave of growth from AI.”

Bringing technical expertise to Bentley’s growth strategy

Rahden brings more than two decades of experience spanning engineering, technical sales and technology leadership. Before Bentley, he served as CEO of educational technology company Shmoop and previously founded Pluralsight’s Creative, Design and Engineering group, where he helped scale the company’s revenue fourfold ahead of its 2018 IPO.

He also held leadership positions at Autodesk, where he led global technical sales teams during a period of revenue growth. Earlier in his career, Rahden worked in water infrastructure design at Baker Hughes and in sales management for a SolidWorks distributor.

The combination of engineering experience and commercial leadership could give Rahden a relevant perspective as Bentley seeks to move AI beyond experimentation and into everyday infrastructure workflows.

For Bentley, his appointment signals a continued emphasis on connecting technology adoption with customer needs. With infrastructure firms increasingly evaluating AI for design, engineering and asset management, Rahden will be responsible for translating Bentley’s technology capabilities into deeper customer adoption and commercial growth.

Rahden holds a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Utah.

Dr Nish Vora has been appointed managing director, Americas, with responsibility for accelerating Gradiant’s growth in the region. Vora brings more than three decades of experience in the water industry, having held senior leadership positions at GE Water, Suez Water Technologies and Veolia Water Technologies and Solutions.

As part of the expansion, Gradiant has opened offices in Phoenix, Syracuse and Philadelphia. The company has also launched its Global Innovation Center in Houston, which will focus on developing water treatment technologies for the North American market. Its US headcount has grown by 55% year to date.

The company has also secured new long-term O&M contracts in the US. One contract will see Gradiant operate and maintain the UPW system for a major semiconductor manufacturer, managing water quality, reliability and regulatory compliance while allowing the customer to focus on its manufacturing operations.

The contract builds on Gradiant’s existing UPW and O&M capabilities across Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, which the company is now extending through its growing US operations. Gradiant said its customer-centric approach, speed of deployment and O&M expertise were key factors in its selection.

“AI infrastructure doesn’t get built without solving for water first, whether that’s a fab, a data centre, or a power plant,” said Prakash Govindan, CEO of Gradiant. “Winning long-term O&M relationships like this one shows customers increasingly want a single accountable partner for water, not just equipment or one-off applications.”

Gradiant provides water treatment and management solutions for the semiconductor, data centre, energy and industrial sectors. The company expects demand for water infrastructure to grow alongside investment in AI and other high-performance computing infrastructure.

“Our target is to reach US$1bn in order book in the US alone next year,” said Vora. “With the team I am inheriting and the opportunity set in the market right now — the most activity I have seen in my three decades in the water industry — I am confident we will beat that target.”

With more than 9,000 monitoring stations, the council is using the platform to improve data quality, streamline field collection and make environmental information more accessible to regulators, researchers, farmers and the wider community.

From hydrology to environmental data management

BOPRC implemented Aquarius in 2014, initially to manage hydrological data including rainfall, groundwater, river levels and flow measurements.

As the council’s monitoring responsibilities expanded, so did its use of the platform. Aquarius now integrates discrete water quality data from LabWare, air quality monitoring data from Mount Maunganui, coastal ecology datasets, water use data and geothermal information.

Bringing these datasets into a central system enables BOPRC to analyse environmental conditions across different datasets and identify trends and relationships that may be difficult to detect when information is managed separately.

This has been relevant to air quality monitoring in Mount Maunganui. The airshed was designated as polluted in 2019 following breaches of New Zealand’s National Environmental Standards for Air Quality for particulate matter (PM10). The council can use monitoring data alongside information on industrial activity and weather conditions to support regulatory decisions and track changes in air quality.

Strengthening data quality and traceability

BOPRC has adopted the National Environmental Monitoring Standards (NEMS) quality coding framework within Aquarius, establishing a consistent approach to environmental data collection, validation and quality assurance.

The platform also connects datasets with supporting metadata, including field measurements, photographs, comments and measurement methods. Audit logs record corrections and changes to metadata, providing a traceable record of how data has been reviewed and updated.

The data review toolbox allows staff to compare raw and corrected datasets while maintaining the audit trail. This supports greater confidence in data used for regulatory decisions, analysis and public reporting.

Digitising field data collection

Since introducing Survey123 for field data capture in December 2020, BOPRC has been able to move information from field sites into its data management workflow more quickly.

Field teams can capture measurements, photographs and contextual observations directly during site visits, reducing reliance on handwritten records and manual transcription. The approach helps minimise input errors while ensuring supporting information is retained alongside the relevant monitoring data.

The council has also developed methods for incorporating qualitative observations into its geothermal monitoring datasets. Observations such as odour and water colour can be recorded as structured information and displayed alongside measured data as time series.

This allows BOPRC to analyse changes in geothermal features alongside parameters such as bore temperatures and fluid chemistry, rather than keeping observational information separately in spreadsheets.

Bringing different forms of environmental knowledge together

BOPRC is also exploring how Mātauranga Māori can be incorporated into its environmental data management practices.

The initiative recognises that environmental monitoring can encompass both quantitative measurements and qualitative, place-based knowledge. The council is investigating ways to represent observations and cultural perspectives within its data frameworks, alongside conventional scientific monitoring.

Expanding access to environmental data

BOPRC uses Aquarius WebPortal to provide public access to quality-assured environmental data. The self-service approach reduces the administrative burden of responding to individual data requests while giving external users direct access to information.

The council has developed reports for specific applications and user groups. Farmers can access information such as soil moisture and other agricultural indicators, while universities and research organisations can use the data for environmental studies.

For BOPRC, making data more accessible also creates a clearer link between environmental monitoring and decision-making by allowing stakeholders to view and interpret information about their local environment.

A central platform for growing monitoring demands

As BOPRC’s monitoring network and environmental responsibilities continue to expand, Aquarius is providing a central infrastructure for managing increasingly diverse environmental datasets.

The integration of measurements, field observations, metadata and supporting documentation gives the council greater control over data quality and traceability, while the web portal extends access beyond internal teams.

What began as a system for managing hydrological data has developed into a broader environmental data platform, supporting BOPRC’s work across water, air, land and geothermal resources.

The joint whitepaper, Whole Life Carbon Assessment – Embodied Carbon Quantification in Hong Kong, examines embodied carbon across building components and project stages, providing a more comprehensive picture of where emissions arise and where they can be reduced. Published on 9 Aug 2026, the study draws primarily on residential and commercial projects in Hong Kong, with additional reference cases from the Chinese Mainland.

RLB is an independent global construction, property and management consultancy specialising in areas including cost management and quantity surveying, project and programme management, asset advisory and sustainability. The firm operates across 36 countries with more than 4,600 people, bringing a commercial and cost perspective to the study alongside Arup’s engineering and sustainability expertise.

That combination is important because carbon reduction in construction is increasingly moving from a broad sustainability ambition to a project-level decision. The built environment accounts for around 40% of global carbon emissions, while in Hong Kong, buildings are responsible for more than 60% of carbon emissions and around 90% of electricity consumption. Yet assessing a building’s carbon footprint remains challenging when measurements are inconsistent or limited to selected parts of a project.

The study aims to address this gap by combining RLB’s Bills of Quantities data with carbon assessment methodologies. Rather than focusing on a building’s structure and envelope, the assessment considers a wider range of components, including substructure and superstructure, façades, space planning, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems, and external works. This provides a fuller view of embodied carbon across a building’s lifecycle.

The findings point to a significant carbon reduction opportunity. For Hong Kong projects assessed across full lifecycle boundaries, total embodied carbon typically falls between 1,100kg and 1,400kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per square metre — around 30-40% higher than international benchmarks. The study attributes the difference in part to Hong Kong’s high-rise building typologies and reliance on carbon-intensive structural materials.

Structure emerges as the largest source of embodied carbon, accounting for more than half of a building’s footprint. This makes structural design one of the most important levers for reducing emissions, particularly when decisions are made early enough to influence the project. Structural optimisation, scheme optioneering and the use of lower-carbon materials such as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) concrete and recycled steel could deliver meaningful reductions, according to the study.

The research also connects carbon performance with construction cost. By mapping carbon impacts against RLB’s quantity data, the approach gives project teams a way to consider carbon alongside cost when evaluating materials, designs and construction options. For developers and project owners, this can turn carbon assessment from a reporting exercise into a tool for making better investment and design decisions.

Timing is critical. The study highlights the concept and procurement stages as points where opportunities for carbon reduction remain available. By the time a project reaches construction, many decisions affecting its embodied carbon have already been locked in. Bringing Whole Life Carbon Assessment into the design process earlier can therefore help teams identify lower-carbon alternatives before they become more expensive or difficult to implement.

The study also points to the growing role of digital tools and AI in making carbon assessment more efficient. Arup and RLB developed an AI agent to interpret Bills of Quantities and structure the information needed for carbon calculations, demonstrating how automation could help reduce the time required to turn project data into usable carbon insights. At the same time, the authors note that better standardisation of carbon factors and methodologies will be necessary to improve consistency and comparability, especially for MEP systems where data remains fragmented.

For an industry increasingly expected to demonstrate measurable progress towards net zero, the significance of the study lies less in producing another carbon benchmark than in making carbon part of the same conversations that already shape projects: what to build, how to build it and what it will cost.

As Hong Kong works towards its 2050 net-zero target, and the Chinese Mainland towards 2060, more consistent whole-life carbon data could give developers, designers, engineers and quantity surveyors a stronger basis for deciding where emissions can be designed out — before a building is even constructed.