Global Water Resources

What Global Water Resources does

Global Water Resources, Inc. is a publicly traded water resource management company (NASDAQ: GWRS, formerly TSX: GWR Global Water Resources Corp) headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, that provides regulated water, wastewater, and recycled water utility services to residential, commercial, irrigation, and municipal customers across growth corridors in metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson. Founded in October 2004, the company operates 39 water, wastewater, and recycled water systems serving 65,639 active connections as of Q4 2025, with approximately 120 employees and revenue of $55.8 million in FY2025 (up 5.8% from $52.7 million in 2024).

The company's core operating platform is its Total Water Management (TWM) approach, an integrated methodology for managing the full water cycle within the same geographic service areas. Technical infrastructure includes Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) deployed for 15+ years with smart meters and sensor networks that read customer meters continuously and enable real-time leak detection; a separate purple pipe distribution system delivering Class A+ recycled water for irrigation, parks, school grounds, and ballfields; and a six-tier conservation rate design that prices higher consumption at higher tiers to incentivize reduced water use. The Maricopa Water Reclamation Facility processes approximately 4 million gallons of wastewater daily, and the company has recycled 18.5 billion gallons of water in total.

Global Water Resources generates revenue through regulated service fees approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission, with income driven by customer base growth (organic connections averaging 7.7% annually over 5 years vs 1.5% for publicly traded water utility peers), consumption volumes, and rate adjustments recovered via rate cases. Growth levers include organic connection additions in Maricopa, Pinal County, Sahuarita, Green Valley, and other Arizona communities; acquisitions of fragmented water and wastewater utilities (12 utilities acquired over the past six years, adding ~7,700 connections and $4.4 million of revenue); rate case filings to recover capital investments; and new service area development via Designation of Assured Water Supply (DAWS) certifications and Arizona's Ag-to-Urban program. The company has raised its dividend for 10 consecutive years, currently at $0.30396 per share annually, and invested $67.3 million in infrastructure during 2025 with $200 million expected over the next five years.

Name

Global Water Resources

Legal name

Global Water Resources, Inc.

Website

https://gwresources.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Global Water Resources is a publicly traded Arizona water utility (NASDAQ: GWRS) operating 39 water, wastewater, and recycled water systems serving 65,639 active connections across Phoenix and Tucson growth corridors, using its Total Water Management platform and AMI smart meter infrastructure to deliver regulated utility services under ACC-approved rates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Utility Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Non‑Potable Reuse Utilities (Irrigation, Industrial, Cooling) (EUANAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Advanced Treatment & Purification Utilities (MF/UF, RO, AOP, UV) (EUANAGAD), Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Asset Management (EUAEAMAH)

Keywords

• Water utility services
• Wastewater treatment
• Recycled water distribution
• Total water management
• Regulated water utilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Regulated Water Utility Services: Revenue is generated through regulated service fees from providing water, wastewater, and recycled water services. Income is driven by customer base growth (organic connections), consumption volumes, and rate adjustments approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). The company files rate cases to recover capital investments and operating expenses with a reasonable return on infrastructure investments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Global Water Resources, Inc. is a publicly traded water resource management company that provides regulated water, wastewater, and recycled water utility services to customers across growth corridors around metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. The company operates 39 water, wastewater, and recycled water systems serving approximately 65,639 active connections through its Total Water Management (TWM) approach, which integrates water supply, wastewater treatment, and recycled water distribution within the same geographic areas to conserve groundwater and support sustainable growth.

Product overview

Global Water Resources is a water resource management company operating 39 water, wastewater, and recycled water systems (as of 2026) primarily in growth corridors around metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. The company's core offering is its Total Water Management (TWM) platform, which integrates water supply, wastewater treatment, and recycled water distribution within the same geographic areas. Key service brands include GW-Santa Cruz Water Company and GW-Palo Verde Utilities Company. The company supports its utilities with advanced metering infrastructure, a customer self-service portal, and a six-tier conservation rate design program. The company recycles over 1 billion gallons of water annually and serves approximately 65,639 active connections as of Q4 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Utility Services Provides drinking water treatment, storage, and distribution services to residential, commercial, and municipal customers across Arizona communities in growth corridors around metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson.
• Wastewater Services Collects and treats wastewater from homes and businesses, processing approximately 4 million gallons daily at the Maricopa Water Reclamation Facility for safe return or reuse.
• Recycled Water Services Treats wastewater to Class A+ standards for reuse in irrigation, landscaping, and other non-potable applications, delivered through a separate purple pipe distribution system.
• Total Water Management (TWM) Comprehensive integrated water management platform that combines water supply, wastewater treatment, and recycled water distribution within the same geographic areas to maximize water reuse, minimize potable water consumption, and reduce demand on scarce non-renewable aquifers.
• Customer Self-Service Portal Online platform enabling customers to access billing information, pay bills, start or stop service, request payment arrangements, report leaks, view hourly/daily water usage data, and access water conservation tips.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced freshwater use by over 30% through recycled water systems
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GarneyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for infrastructure projects including the $2.2 million lift station upgrade at the Water Reclamation Facility in Maricopa. Worked with Capital Pump on the project.
• Capital PumpminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for infrastructure projects including lift station work at Water Reclamation Facility. Worked with Garney on the $2.2 million upgrade project.
• Arizona Corporation CommissioncoreOthersRegulatory body that sets rates and monitors service quality for investor-owned water companies in Arizona. The company files rate cases with the ACC and operates under ACC-approved tariffs.
• Residential Utility Consumer Office (RUCO)minorOthersIndependent agency representing customer interests in rate cases. Participated in settlement negotiations for GW-Santa Cruz and GW-Palo Verde rate cases.
• Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR)coreOthersState agency managing Arizona's water resources. The company files Designation of Assured Water Supply (DAWS) applications with ADWR to expand water supply capacity. ADWR administers the Ag-to-Urban program for converting agricultural water rights to municipal use.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pure Cycle Corporation: Small water and wastewater utility serving growth corridors in Colorado with a focus on water scarcity solutions and developer services. Similar size, growth-oriented model, and exposure to rapidly growing Western U.S. markets make it highly comparable to Global Water Resources.
• Artesian Resources Corporation: Small-cap regulated water utility serving Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Similar business model as a regulated investor-owned water utility with wastewater services, comparable scale and rate-base growth strategy.
• York Water Company: Oldest investor-owned water utility in the United States, serving Pennsylvania with regulated water and wastewater services. Comparable small-cap regulated utility profile with similar dividend-paying, conservative growth characteristics.
• Middlesex Water Company: Small-cap regulated water and wastewater utility serving New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Similar business model, scale, and regulated utility economics as Global Water Resources.

Broad incumbents

• SJW Group: Mid-cap water utility holding company serving California, Texas, Connecticut, and Maine. Similar regulated water and wastewater utility model with broader geographic diversification and larger scale than Global Water Resources.
• California Water Service Group: Largest investor-owned California water utility with regulated water and wastewater services. Comparable regulated utility model serving growth markets, though at significantly larger scale and focused on California.
• American States Water Company: California-based water and wastewater utility serving military installations and communities. Similar regulated utility economics and recurring revenue model, though more diversified across contract services.
• Essential Utilities: Large-cap water and natural gas utility serving Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, and other states. Operates regulated water/wastewater services similar to Global Water, though at much larger scale and with diversified geographic footprint.

Regional players

• EPCOR Utilities: Canadian-based water and wastewater utility with operations in Arizona (including Tucson and other Arizona communities). Comparable focus on Arizona water utility market and recycled water services, making it a direct regional competitor.

Emerging players

• H2O Innovation: Water treatment technology company providing membrane filtration, recycled water systems, and water reuse solutions. Comparable focus on water reuse and recycling technology, though operates as a solutions provider rather than utility operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-water-resources

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Water Resources