New strategies and financing models can jumpstart development
Infrastructure Week this year is May 12-16, and it focuses on the theme “Stronger Infrastructure, Stronger Nation.” Seven Seas Water Group would like to add to the conversation with ideas that can move projects off the drawing board. Communities across the United States face surging growth and have aging infrastructure. The need for adaptable, cost-effective water and wastewater solutions has never been more urgent. The recent 2025 Infrastructure Report Card from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the U.S. an overall grade of ‘C’. More specifically, drinking water infrastructure received a grade of ‘C-‘, and wastewater infrastructure received a grade of ‘D+’, highlighting the significant need for improvements in these critical areas.
While the traditional design-bid-build (DBB) model and large-scale, centralized projects still have their place, decentralization and modern infrastructure delivery models can do away with many of the drawbacks that come with them. How can utilities, communities, businesses, and industry expedite a resilient, secure water future with today’s economic realities?
The Power of Decentralized Treatment
Traditional, centralized water and wastewater infrastructure has long been the backbone of municipal systems. However, as demand grows and aging infrastructure struggles to keep pace, decentralized treatment solutions are emerging as a scalable, resilient alternative.
Decentralized treatment refers to water and wastewater systems that operate independently or in smaller clusters rather than relying on a single, large-scale facility. These systems offer several advantages.
- Scalability and flexibility: Modular treatment plants can be deployed quickly and expanded as needed simply by adding more units, ensuring that communities can adapt dynamically to changing water demands.
- Lower pipe costs: By treating water closer to the point of use, decentralized systems reduce the need for extensive pipeline networks, cutting costs and minimizing disruptions. Keeping wastewater local also allows reuse where it was never viable before because of the costs associated with returning treated effluent from a distant plant.
- Rapid deployment: Modular plants for decentralized applications can be installed in months rather than years, accelerating infrastructure development. Their steel construction is every bit as permanent as concrete construction with the added benefit of easier mobility.
- Resilience: Decentralized systems may reduce the risk of wide service failures. If a single, smaller plant goes offline in a weather event, the impact is more localized than when a large, centralized plant serving an entire region breaks down. Repairs on smaller plants typically happen more quickly than on large-scale systems. Seven Seas’ civil structures are also built to the maximum wind and seismic ratings, and equipment is restrained for maximum safety.
Seven Seas has been at the forefront of decentralized treatment, providing sustainable solutions that empower municipalities and developers to meet demand efficiently. With more than 200 wastewater treatment plants under lease in the U.S., Seven Seas ensures reliable service with a 98.7% plant availability rate.
Smarter Financing: Eliminating Risk and Unpredictability
Capital outlay, capital expenditure, CAPEX, initial investment —regardless of name, it is the 800-pound gorilla of traditional DBB projects, and significant risk comes with it. If the project fails or suffers cost overruns, the buyer is on the hook for them. Additionally, the time-consuming complexities and costs of issuing bonds, levying taxes, securing private investment, or seeking federal funding can challenge even the most patient.
Must the burden of CAPEX be so daunting? Not necessarily. Some of today’s popular delivery modes can shrink or eliminate the CAPEX burden, including the public-private partnership (P3), build-own-operate (BOO), and build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) contract models. With these arrangements, financing is provided by the water company, and the provider assumes the project risk.
Seven Seas’ Water-as-a-Service® (WaaS®) offers financing through these powerful contract models. With WaaS®, municipalities and developers gain high-quality water and wastewater treatment without capital investment or operational burdens. These agreements are structured to:
- Shift risk to Seven Seas, ensuring that municipalities and developers avoid the financial and operational uncertainties of plant ownership.
- Eliminate CAPEX, allowing communities to prioritize other infrastructure investments while benefiting from fully funded treatment solutions.
- Replace unpredictable operating expenses with predictable, easily budgeted billing, ensuring financial stability and no hidden costs.
- Cover all long-term operations and maintenance with no surprise charges or unexpected repair bills.
- Align customer and provider interests through performance-based contracts, guaranteeing high reliability and service quality.
WaaS® Builds Stronger Water Infrastructure
Water-as-a-Service® guarantees high plant availability, earthquake and wind resilience, and a strong GRESB sustainability rating for long-term reliability without financial strain.
Seven Seas is ready with decentralized systems and innovative financing to make the infrastructure of tomorrow possible today. Ready to build a stronger water future without the upfront investment? Contact Seven Seas today to explore how our Water-as-a-Service® solutions can meet your community’s growing needs.
Image Credit: Jason Page
Erik Arfalk is the Senior Vice President of Business Development at Seven Seas, specializing in innovative and sustainable water and wastewater solutions in the US and the Caribbean. Previously, he was the Chief Commercial Officer at Fluence Corporation, where he launched MABR. Erik has held leadership roles at Atlas Copco and GE in Europe and the US, starting his career in strategy consulting. He holds a Master's in Business Administration and Economics from Lund University, Sweden. Erik's passion for water solutions and his talent for building strategic partnerships have established him as a respected industry leader.