According to the Wall Street Journal (as cited in this Water Technology Online blurb), water industry stocks rose 24% in value in 2004, with companies like GE, ITT Industries and Pentair among those getting the most attention. Wall street investors, the article says, are looking at these and other water technology vendors.
Importantly, these are very acquisitive companies. As these larger firms grow and seek to acquire new technologies, it opens up exit opportunities for venture-stage funders who invest in the smaller firms they will target for acquisition.
It may be true, as many have said, that "water is the next oil."
