Why you should stock up on water companies

In a bid to boost the economy and repair damage caused by underinvestment, $6.4bn of Obama's stimulus package is earmarked for water projects. That's creating big opportunities for some American firms.

Exhausted and ageing, London's Victorian sewage and water system is one of the capital's biggest headaches. But it could be worse. New York's sewers regularly overflow with wastewater, while diarrhoea among children is a recurrent problem in Milwaukee.

The trouble is, investment in US water infrastructure has been falling for years. Yet water usage has tripled over the last 30 years, even as the population has grown by just 50%, says Goldman Sachs. Texas, for example, where the population is set to double by 2060, faces the prospect of water rationing unless there is an increase in government investment.

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Jody Clarke

Jody studied at the University of Limerick and was a senior writer for MoneyWeek. Jody is experienced in interviewing, for example digging into the lives of an ex-M15 agent and quirky business owners who have made millions. Jody’s other areas of expertise include advice on funds, stocks and house prices.