Clean Water The Blue Gold Investment

As I wrote this detailed analysis, I must confess to being relieved living in Oregon [USA] nearby the "Cascade Mountains" that hold one of the largest underground clean water supplies in North America. In good faith, I will also disclose as of this article's completion date; I did not hold any financial interests in the companies listed, rather it is an in-depth unbiased global report.

Currently, the world is struggling to cope with a very serious clean water shortage in more than 80 countries around the globe - this problem is approaching "crisis" level. Even today in America's own backyard we see 20% shortages. Therefore, many talk of investing in clean water – a whopping $460 billion global market, and an investment sector that analysts have dubbed "blue gold," because of the immense profit potential this resource holds.

As my research uncovered, people worldwide use vastly different amounts of water in their daily lives. On average, the U.S. citizen uses nearly 158 gallons (600 liters) each day (bathrooms, cooking, food, drinks, hot water-cleaning, laundry, car wash, heating etc.), whereas people in some of the world's poorest countries must make do with less than 10% of that amount. The single biggest reason for the discrepancy is the scale of a country's infrastructure. When it comes to absolutely critical commodities, there's no question that clean water is at the top of the list. You need it. I need it. Every single person in the world needs it. It's without doubt the most precious commodity on the face of the planet. No matter what country you live in...or whether you're rich or poor...there is nothing more important to basic human survival. Whoever, controls water literally controls life on Earth.

The U.S. EPA estimates that over $3 billion is spent each year in the U.S. on repairing and upgrading the drinking water infrastructure alone, and costs are expected to increase significantly. The U.S. industrial demand alone for clean water is driving the growth of water technologies, currently a $6 billion market, and is expected to grow into a $20 billion market by 2012.

For all the talk about oil, natural gas, and even electricity, those resources pale in comparison to clean water, the essential commodity for life and whose global demand will continue to increase by at least 20% - 35% within the next 10-years. Regions affected by clean water shortages include, North America, Europe, South America, Africa, Middle East/India, and parts of Asia.

In fact, as recently as November 2008, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence Reports, "Global Trends 2025 – A World Transformed" estimates, forecasted that by 2025 over 1.4 billion people in 36 countries will be without sufficient water for drinking and agricultural needs.

Further, many leading innovative R&D centers in the world - for example; "The Dr. James Martin Institute for Civilization, Science & Innovation, University of Oxford" calculates that unless aggressive steps are implemented within the next 20 years to treat clean water as a critical strategic global issue, significant portions upwards of 20% of the species found on Earth will not survive becoming extinct as a result.  

The two major issues in the world pertaining to water are supply and cleanliness. As the world's population increases to over 10-billion people by 2045, the supply of water is being stressed due to greater consumption, which drives the need to increase and improve water treatment. In addition, many developing countries lack the basic infrastructure to provide their growing populations access to clean water, even when the treatment facilities are in place.

The research shows in particular industry sectors offering significant returns include; "water/waste-water treatment", "water infrastructure", and "clean water technologies".   Case Study Several developing countries such as Singapore have aggressively set out to find alternative ways to provide its 4.4 million people with 1.36 billion liters of necessary clean water a day.

For example on March 19, 2009; GE Water-Energy and the National University of Singapore (Water Technology Center) announced a $100 million joint R&D investment to develop new solutions for low-energy seawater desalination, water reclamation and more efficient water reuse. GE's ZeeWeedTM hollow fiber ultra-filtration membrane technology is used to produce high-quality reclaimed water from treated wastewater at the Bedok NEWater plant and the nation's first large-scale membrane bioreactor plant at Ulu Pandan.

Additionally, two important portable drinking water plants, Chestnut Avenue Water Works and Choa Chu Kang Water Works also use GE ultra-filtration membranes to purify water for portable use. GE is a worldwide leader in water purification and conservation technologies and solutions. In China, the country's population of over one billion is also causing major supply and demand problems: China faces an annual water shortage of 40 billion cubic meters.

Today, 449 Chinese cities currently suffer water shortages - 110 of which have reached critical levels. Beijing, site of the 2008 Summer Olympics, is short one billion cubic meters of water every year. According to research, "75% of China's drinking water is unsuitable for drinking and cooking, and 80% of China's seven major river systems no longer support fish." China uses 30 more cubic kilometers of water than is replaced by rain. China's water reserves per capita are about one-quarter of the global average. China is so desperate to tackle the problems that it's planning to invest $125 billion over the next 2-3 years to beef up its crumbling water infrastructure. It's also considering building a network of canals from the Yangtze River in the south to the cities of the north. The project could take more than 60 years and cost over $60 billion dollars - but the government has little option.  

Clean Water Equities Performance vs. S&P 500 Over the past five years, the Dow Jones U.S. Water Index ($DJUSWU) has surged over 80%. Since the beginning of 2007, it's outperformed the S&P 500 by over 20% - not including the hefty dividends many water companies pay. And between 2000 and 2007, water utility stocks returned 134.5%, while S&P 500 returns crept to a measly 2.7%, according to Global Summit Management. Water Investors who parked money in water utilities for a 10-year period were even happier, scooping a massive 446% gain from 1995 to 2005, while the S&P 500 earned about 9% over the same period. Conclusion- What's the future hold for BLUE GOLD (H2O) Investments? Although, I spent time finely polishing my crystal-ball, one cannot be absolute in such matters, but it is a certainty we live in an increasingly more populated world - and there will be another 2.5 billion people on the planet by 2045 – it is likely to be a much thirstier world. Those extra people will need feeding. For example, agriculture accounts for about 70% of global water use, extra consumption for growing food is likely to reduce the amount available for those basic needs of drinking, cooking, sanitation and washing causing severe clean water stress worldwide.

Studies also show a correlation between lack of clean water availability resulting in a 5%-15% drop in the measured development of human populations IQ brain functions. Among scientists who study human development, it is a widely-held view that each person needs access to survive of at least 6-gallons (20 – 40 liters) of clean water each day for the basics - to drink, cook and wash sufficiently to avoid disease transmission.

Yet for example, at the height of the East African drought crisis, people were getting by on less than five liters a day - in some cases, less than one liter a day, enough for just three glasses of drinking water per day that cannot sustain healthy human life.

As global clean water resources continue to be stressed driving-up the costs and it is already known that human population numbers will steadily rise. As a result the "growth stocks" listed in this report, all now developing the critical clean water technologies and services necessary to sustain life will benefit in comparison to other investment sectors by superior profits and growth with increased clean water demands of at least 20% - 35% for the next 20-years. One future investor concern might be the intervention of government regulators capping "Blue Gold" (clean water) profits but that is unlikely for the next decade.

About the Author

BIO: Mr. Rickman is a respected CEO/Developer living in Oregon. For over 30-years, companies large and small have relied on his innovative business development, Internet marketing and sales eCommerce services. He is a published sustainable analyst, ghost-writer columnist and co-author worldwide of several books including Eight Billion People.  Mr. Rickman holds advanced business and technical degrees from Boston University. For more information visit: http://www.sustainablevirtualbiz.com  or call (503) 621-4953. 

Oxford Out of the Blue "By The Way"

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions GB Auctions

Best Match Items Ending First Newly-Listed Items First Price + Shipping: Lowest First Price + Shipping: Highest First

Tommy Hilfiger HERITAGE OXFORD SHORT SLEEVE SOLID SHIRT $17.49 Time Remaining: 19d 23h 44m Buy It Now for only: $17.49 Buy It Now

New 495 Jil Sander JS16020 Oxford Shoes 385 85 $166.99 Time Remaining: 58m

Womens Easy Spirit Anti Gravity Blue Leather Flats Oxford Shoe Size 8 M MINT $9.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1h 15m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 Buy It Now

Tommy Hilfiger Heritage L S Solid Oxford Shirt $20.99 Time Remaining: 13d 16h 24m Buy It Now for only: $20.99 Buy It Now

JEFFREY CAMPBELL BlackWhite Ad Long Oxford Platform Shoes NEW sz 6 $94.55 Time Remaining: 2h 9m Buy It Now for only: $120.00 Buy It Now

Rachel Roy NEW Jorgein Womens Oxfords Shoes Medium Blue Casual BHFO 7 $7.50 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 3h 5m Buy It Now for only: $37.62 Buy It Now

Tommy Hilfiger HERITAGE OXFORD STRIPE SHIRT $20.99 Time Remaining: 23d 20h 54m Buy It Now for only: $20.99 Buy It Now

Vintage 1960s White and Navy Blue Oxford Shoes by Ticos Deadstock Never Worn $29.95 Time Remaining: 46m

NEW WOMENS XSENSIBLE STRETCH LEATHER OXFORD COMFORT SIMONE LACE NAVY SHOE 6 W $99.99 Time Remaining: 1h 17m

Tommy Hilfiger HERITAGE OXFORD STRIPE SHIRT $20.99 Time Remaining: 28d 16h 58m Buy It Now for only: $20.99 Buy It Now

GITMAN BROS VINTAGE Button Collar Oxford Shirt Short Sleeve EUC 144 Mens XL $19.99 Time Remaining: 52m

Salvatore Ferragamo Sneakers Tennis Shoes Oxfords Denim Canvas SIZE 8 $34.99 Time Remaining: 3d 46m

New St Johns Bay IRON FREE OXFORD SHIRTS Stripes Plaids $24.99 Time Remaining: 7d 22h 15m Buy It Now for only: $24.99 Buy It Now

Donato Marrone 10 Baby Blue Oxfords Lace up Leather Upper Pre owned $39.99 Time Remaining: 1h 58m Buy It Now for only: $59.99 Buy It Now

NINE WEST NAVY BLUE LEATHER OXFORDS WITH 1 1 4 HEEL WOMENS SIZE 6M $3.99 Time Remaining: 3h 32m

Tommy Hilfiger HERITAGE OXFORD SOLID SHIRT $20.99 Time Remaining: 24d 19h 44m Buy It Now for only: $20.99 Buy It Now

Womens BORN Navy Oxfords Leather w Suede Tassels Sz 65 GREAT condition $9.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 3h 40m

Nunn Bush Mens 95 M Black Cap toe Oxfords Genuine Leather Upper Pre owned $39.99 Time Remaining: 1h 58m Buy It Now for only: $69.99 Buy It Now

Tommy Hilfiger HERITAGE OXFORD SHORT SLEEVE STRIPE SHIR $17.49 Time Remaining: 8d 7h 27m Buy It Now for only: $17.49 Buy It Now

Stafford Brand Wrinkle Free Button Down Oxford Dress Shirt Light Blue NWOT $1.00 Time Remaining: 30m

NWT 95 Ralph Lauren Polo Shirt Oxford Mens Size 2X 2XB 2XL Classic LS Blue NEW $49.99 Time Remaining: 41m

Tommy Hilfiger SHORT SLEEVE MULTI STRIPE OXFORD $33.60 Time Remaining: 9d 16h 38m Buy It Now for only: $33.60 Buy It Now

Wedge Wood Blue Oxford Pants 33 x 27 Made in USA Golf Slacks Trousers $14.99 Time Remaining: 40m

IZOD NEW Oxford Mens Button Down Shirt Blue Embroidered S $7.50 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 51m Buy It Now for only: $22.80 Buy It Now

New Womens Brogued Lace Up Oxfords Flat Black Blue Tan Sand Cambridge 31 6 10 $23.95 Time Remaining: 29d 1h 11m Buy It Now for only: $23.95 Buy It Now

JCrew blue oxford button down size small $13.99 Time Remaining: 1h 33m

Tommy Hilfiger Blue Oxford Cotton Mens Shirt Medium $19.00 Time Remaining: 33m

BN Womens Lace Up Flat Oxford Flats Boots Shoes Red Blue Yellow Purple Orange $16.99 Time Remaining: 24d 17h 51m Buy It Now for only: $16.99 Buy It Now

Mens Ralph Lauren Polo Shirt Medium Red and Blue Plaid Dress to Casual Oxford $15.00 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 2h 27m

Mens Polo by Ralph Lauren Oxford Yarmouth Dress Shirt Size 16 1 2 33 $19.99 Time Remaining: 44m

New Womens Perforated Cut Out Lace Up Oxford Flats Flower Pt Cambridge 04F 6 10 $22.95 Time Remaining: 8d 21h 8m Buy It Now for only: $22.95 Buy It Now

GRAVATI FOR NEIMAN MARCUS Blue Leather Lace Up Cap Toe Oxfords Sz 75 $49.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 13m

Mens RALPH LAUREN Yarmouth Shirt155 34 Pinpoint Oxford EXCELLENT cond $17.95 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 35m

New Women Suede Leather Slip On Deslick Flat Oxford Fringe Boat Loafers Shoes $39.99 Time Remaining: 25d 10h 33m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 Buy It Now

Ralph Lauren Polo Yarmouth 18 36 100 Cotton Oxford $9.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 50m

mens american eagle vintage fit oxford button up blue large shirt $7.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 37m

Oversized Colorful Jelly Candy Sports Quartz RUBBER Wrist Watch UNISEX Men WOMAN $2.99 Time Remaining: 3d 3h 37m Buy It Now for only: $2.99 Buy It Now

Polo Ralph Lauren Shirt Long Sleeve Button Blue Pinpoint Yarmouth Oxford 15 33 $15.50 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 20m

NWT 79 Ralph Lauren Polo Shirt Mens 2XL 2X Big Oxford Blue Button Down SS NEW $43.99 Time Remaining: 1h 19m

BN Womens Bowed Boyfriend Oxford Flats Boots Dress Shoes Beige Cocoa Blue $15.02 Time Remaining: 14d 16h 24m Buy It Now for only: $15.02 Buy It Now

NWT 79 Ralph Lauren Polo Shirt Mens Size 3XLT Oxford Blue Button Down SS NEW $43.99 Time Remaining: 1h 19m

Kenneth Cole Reation Oxford Lace Up Shoes Mens 95 US $14.95 Time Remaining: 3h 6m

New Style Oxford Flat Color Blue Navy Jl 982 $17.99 Time Remaining: 10d 6h 6m Buy It Now for only: $17.99 Buy It Now

Mens Prada Gray Fabric w Suede and Blue Trim Casual Oxfords Size 95 $64.99 Time Remaining: 3d 6h 9m

DOMENICO VACCA BLUE OXFORD RAISED COTTON SHIRT BLOUSE TOP 38 $31.00 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 2h 47m

Diesel Mens New Remy Blue Green Black Brown White Casual Fashion Sneakers Shoes $54.99 Time Remaining: 16d 17h 55m Buy It Now for only: $54.99 Buy It Now

ALDEN TWO TONE NAVY WHITE LEATHER SUEDE SADDLE OXFORD SHOES BROGUES 95 D $159.99 Time Remaining: 4h 19m

198 Polo Ralph Lauren Varsity Oxford Mens Jacket Navy 100 Cotton NWOT $51.00 (15 Bids) Time Remaining: 2h 55m

MENS NAVY BLUE TORCH OXFORD DRESS SHOE WITH FREE RETURN SHIPPING $44.95 Time Remaining: 24d 15h 1m Buy It Now for only: $44.95 Buy It Now

WOMENS AUTHENTIC KEEN SLATE BLUE MESH SPORT OXFORDS SHOES 85 M $24.99 Time Remaining: 5d 15h 46m

KITESTRINGS HARTSTRINGS 1 Piece Romper Blue White Oxford Stripes Button Down 3T $8.52 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 52m

Oxford Blues List Price: $26.99 Sale Price: $24.49 You save: $2.50 (9%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description With a bribe to a computer hacker to juggle the admissions list and a lucky night in Las Vegas to bankroll his tuition, brash American Nick De Angelo is off to England's prestigious Oxford University. He's not going for an education...

Miracle at Oxford List Price: $14.99 Sale Price: $13.49 You save: $1.50 (10%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description MIRACLE AT OXFORD stars Josh Lucas (SWEET HOME ALABAMA) and Dominic West (THE FORGOTTEN) in the inspirational account of a team rising to meet the ultimate challenge of winning back its honor! To Oxford University, "The Boat Race" – the intensely competitive annual rowing competition between Oxford and its archrival Cambridge -- is more important than the Olympics...

Oxford Blues [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ] Sale Price: $18.99 See Reviews For This Product Description Spain released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2...

The Hurt Locker [Blu-ray] List Price: $34.99 Sale Price: $23.99 You save: $11.00 (31%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description The making of honest action movies has become so rare that Kathryn Bigelow's magnificent The Hurt Locker was shown mostly in art cinemas rather than multiplexes. That's fine; the picture is a work of art...

Blue Guide Oxford & Cambridge, Sixth Edition List Price: $21.95 Sale Price: $16.46 You save: $5.49 (25%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description The perfect introduction to these historic university cities. Attractions include a wealth of old buildings and excellent museums, beautiful churches, parks, and gardens. The sixth edition offers plenty of ideas for out-of-town excursions, and useful, up-to-date recommendations on where to stay and what to eat...

Van Heusen Men's Long Sleeve Easy Care Pinpoint Oxford Solid Shirt, Light Blue, 17 - 34/35 List Price: $40.00 Sale Price: $24.99 You save: $15.01 (38%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Classic style and comfort, available in big and tall sizes. With a button down collar, chest pocket and single-button cuff. Round hem.

Oxford Unruled Index Cards, 5 x 8 Inches, Blue, 100 per Pack (7520-BLU) Sale Price: $6.79   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description The perfect cards to have on hand. Quality engineered for uniform size. Commercial quality card stock. Global Product Type: Index Cards; Ruling: Plain; Color(s): Blue; Card Size (W x H): 5 x 8.

Date Night (Extended Edition) (With Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] List Price: $39.99 Sale Price: $19.99 You save: $20.00 (50%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Tina Fey and Steve Carell are two of the most charming performers in entertainment today. Their goofy attractiveness makes them a perfect couple in Date Night: an unremarkable husband and wife from New Jersey, they get mistaken for crooks in Manhattan, sending them on a wild night replete with snooty wait staff, crooked cops, glitter-specked strippers, a shirtless superspy (Mark Wahlberg, as buff as ever), and a preposterous car chase...

Tommy Hilfiger Oxford Blue Full/Queen-size Comforter $0 This comforter from Tommy Hilfiger features mitered, appliqued cotton ribbons with an inserted Tommy Hilfiger label and small piping at the edges. This stylish comforter is made from 100-percent cotton.

Tommy Hilfiger Oxford Blue King-size Comforter $0 This comforter from Tommy Hilfiger features mitered, appliqued cotton ribbons with an inserted Tommy Hilfiger label and small piping at the edges. This stylish comforter is made from 100-percent cotton.

Tommy Hilfiger Oxford Blue King-size Duvet Cover $0 This duvet cover set from Tommy Hilfiger features mitered, appliqued cotton ribbons with an inserted Tommy Hilfiger label and small piping at the edges. This duvet cover set is made from 100-percent cotton with a 200 thread count.

Tommy Hilfiger Oxford Blue Twin-size Duvet Cover $99.99 This duvet from Tommy Hilfiger features mitered, appliqued cotton ribbons with an inserted Tommy Hilfiger label and small piping at the edges. This duvet is made from 100-percent cotton with a 200 thread count.

Olsen Haus Women's Charm Oxford Blue Heels $78.99 Brand & Style - Olsen Haus Charm Oxford ; Width - Medium (B, M) ; True Color - Eggplant ; Upper Material - Suede ; Outsole Material - Man-Made ; Heel Height - High (3" and up)