What Puttman Infrastructure does

Puttman Infrastructure is a Portland, Oregon-based privately-held infrastructure investment and utility management firm that finances, develops, owns, and operates water, wastewater, and energy utilities at the district and small-community scale across the western United States. The company deploys mission-aligned long-term capital through direct acquisition of small utilities (50 to 5,000 customers), greenfield development via public-private partnerships (P3), and long-term management contracts, serving real estate developers, higher education institutions, government agencies, and small communities. Over the past twenty years, Puttman has deployed more than $250M in capital and built a project portfolio ranging from $75M to over $2B in total development value, with nine wholly-owned utility subsidiaries and multiple flagship P3 engagements.

The company's core technical capability centers on proprietary recycled water systems. Its NORM (Natural Organic Recycled Machine) treats 100% of wastewater to produce clean reclaimed water for toilet flushing, irrigation, and cooling water, reducing total water use by more than 50% (saving approximately 7,000,000 gallons annually at Hassalo on Eighth). Tidal Flow Wetland Living Machine configurations combine constructed wetlands, vertical flow cells, filtration, and UV or chlorine disinfection for secondary and tertiary treatment. Puttman also delivers district energy, micro-hydro, and onsite renewable energy systems (rooftop solar PV and solar thermal), exemplified by the Oregon Convention Center 2MW solar PV array that produces 25-30% of the building's electricity. Several of its projects have achieved LEED Platinum certification, and Hassalo on Eighth is the largest project in North America to achieve the Living Building Challenge net-zero non-potable water goal. The firm was recognized as a 2020 Utility of the Future Today by WEF, NACWA, WRF, and WateReuse Association with EPA and DOE support.

Puttman generates revenue through three principal streams. First, regulated utility rate revenue billed monthly (most subsidiaries) or quarterly (Avimor Water Reclamation), with publicly downloadable rate schedules for 2025 and 2026 across South Coast Water, Emerald Valley Wastewater, Bents Court Water, Seavey Loop Water, Lakeshore Water, and Quigley Recycled Water. Second, development fees, project investment returns, and long-term ownership economics on infrastructure delivered through P3, design-build, design-build-operate-finance, or concession structures on anchor projects such as Jordan Downs, Broadway Corridor, UC Santa Cruz Student Housing West, Bellingham waterfront, and West 2nd District. Third, recurring management services — general management, O&M, customer billing and collections, regulatory compliance, financial planning, and construction services — for both owned and third-party utilities. Tom Puttman serves as President and CEO. The firm has executed six announced acquisitions since 2017 and continues to deploy capital into the western US utility market.

Name

Puttman Infrastructure

Legal name

Puttman Infrastructure

Website

https://puttman.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Puttman Infrastructure is a Portland-based infrastructure investment and utility management firm that finances, develops, owns, and operates water, wastewater, and energy utilities for real estate developers, government agencies, higher education institutions, and small communities across the western United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Utility Investment and Ownership: Direct investment in and ownership of water, wastewater and energy utilities, generating returns through long-term utility operations, rate revenue, and asset appreciation.
2. Project Development: Development fees and investment returns from sustainable infrastructure projects including recycled water systems, district energy, and renewable energy installations.
3. Utility Management Services: Comprehensive management services including general management, operations and maintenance, customer billing and service, and construction services for utilities they manage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Puttman Infrastructure invests in, develops, and long-term owns and operates water, wastewater, and renewable energy utilities at the district and small-community scale across the western United States. Through direct utility investment, sustainable infrastructure development, public-private partnerships, and comprehensive operations, maintenance, and customer-billing services, the company delivers turnkey recycled water, district energy, and solar PV systems for real estate developers, institutions, government agencies, and communities.

Product overview

Puttman Infrastructure is a national leader in water, wastewater and energy utilities at the district and small-community scale. The company offers a portfolio of utility products including recycled water systems (Hassalo on Eighth, UC Santa Cruz Student Housing West, OHSU South Waterfront, Nike World HQ, Broadway Corridor, Jordan Downs, West 2nd District, Quigley Farm), water utilities (South Coast Water Company, Bents Court Water Company, Seavey Loop Water Company, Lakeshore Water Company), wastewater utilities (Emerald Valley Wastewater Company, Government Camp Sanitary District, Avimor Water Reclamation Company), and renewable energy systems (Oregon Convention Center Solar PV, UC Santa Cruz Renewable Energy, Jordan Downs Energy, Bellingham District Energy, Broadway Corridor Energy). The company provides integrated service offerings including utility investment and acquisitions, infrastructure development, utility management, operations and maintenance, customer service, construction, and public-private partnership (P3) services. Puttman Infrastructure invests $250M to acquire and improve existing water, wastewater and energy utilities across the western United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hassalo on Eighth Recycled Water System Recycled water system using NORM (Natural Organic Recycled Machine) to treat 100% of wastewater for a multi-building mixed-use LEED Platinum development at Lloyd EcoDistrict, Portland, Oregon, serving toilet flushing, irrigation, and cooling water while reducing water use by over 50%.
• South Coast Water Company Wholly owned water utility providing quality, reliable, and safe water service for the South Coast community in Florence, Oregon (serving customers since 1980).
• Emerald Valley Wastewater Company Wholly owned wastewater treatment utility serving the Emerald Valley community and portions of the City of Creswell, Oregon, providing wastewater collection and treatment since 1980.
• Bents Court Water Company Wholly owned water utility providing water service to the Bents Court community in Aurora, Oregon (since 2000).
• Seavey Loop Water Company Wholly owned water utility providing water service for the Seavey Loop community in Eugene, Oregon (since 1985).
• Lakeshore Water Company Wholly owned water utility providing water service for the Lakeshore community in Veneta, Oregon (since 1990).
• Avimor Water Reclamation Company Wholly owned water reclamation utility providing sewer and recycled water service to the Avimor community in Boise, Idaho, planned to be the largest and most innovative water recycling system in Idaho.
• Civita Reclaimed Water Company Wholly owned reclaimed water company serving the Civita development in San Diego, California.
• Quigley Recycled Water Company Recycled water company serving the sustainable Quigley Farm development in Hailey, Idaho, treating and reusing 100% of wastewater onsite for irrigation, toilet flushing, and snow making.
• UC Santa Cruz Student Housing West Recycled Water (Heller) Recycled water system serving the Heller Site of UC Santa Cruz's $500M Student Housing West campus expansion, collecting, treating and reusing 100% of wastewater for the project's net-zero water goal.
• UC Santa Cruz Student Housing West Recycled Water (Hagar) Recycled water system serving the Hagar Site of UC Santa Cruz's $500M Student Housing West campus expansion, achieving the net-zero water goal.
• OHSU South Waterfront Campus Recycled Water System Recycled water system serving Oregon Health & Science University's South Waterfront Campus, currently the largest recycled water system serving a hospital campus in the United States, treating and reusing 100% of campus wastewater.
• Nike World Headquarters Recycled Water System Water recycling system serving Nike's Beaverton, Oregon World Headquarters campus, collecting, treating and reusing wastewater for non-potable uses such as toilets and irrigation.
• Port of Portland Headquarters Recycled Water System Onsite wastewater treatment system serving the first LEED Platinum Port headquarters facility in the United States, featuring a 7,500 GPD Living Machine with constructed wetlands for non-potable reuse.
• Broadway Corridor Recycled Water System Recycled water system for Portland's $2B Broadway Corridor redevelopment, collecting, treating and reusing 100% of wastewater to achieve a net-zero water goal.
• Jordan Downs Recycled Water System District recycled water system for the $1.5B Jordan Downs public housing redevelopment in Los Angeles, the first neighborhood-scale recycled water utility of its kind in Los Angeles.
• West 2nd District Recycled Water Company Recycled water company serving the $1B West 2nd District redevelopment in Reno, Nevada - Nevada's first recycled water system, established to meet the project's net-zero water goal.
• Oregon Convention Center Solar PV 2MW rooftop solar PV system with over 6,500 panels on the LEED Platinum Oregon Convention Center, producing 25-30% of the facility's electricity.
• Jordan Downs Energy System Building-mounted solar PV renewable energy system for the Jordan Downs redevelopment, with no natural gas used - the first neighborhood-scale renewable energy utility of its kind in Los Angeles.
• Bellingham District Energy District energy, district water, and micro-hydro system totaling over $25M in value for Bellingham's downtown waterfront redevelopment, partnered with the City and Port of Bellingham.
• UC Santa Cruz Student Housing West Renewable Energy (Hagar) Solar PV and solar thermal renewable energy system for the Hagar Site of UC Santa Cruz's $500M Student Housing West campus expansion; no natural gas used and helps achieve a net-zero carbon goal.
• UC Santa Cruz Student Housing West Renewable Energy (Heller) Solar PV and solar thermal renewable energy system for the Heller Site of UC Santa Cruz's $500M Student Housing West campus expansion; no natural gas used and helps achieve a net-zero carbon goal.
• Broadway Corridor Energy System Renewable energy strategy utilizing onsite and offsite solar PV systems for Portland's Broadway Corridor redevelopment, supporting the City of Portland's climate action plan goal.
• Government Camp Sanitary District Wastewater collection and treatment service for the village of Government Camp, Oregon (serving the community for over 50 years).
• Utility Investment and Acquisition Services Direct utility investment and long-term ownership through secure, mission-aligned, long-term capital, including acquisition of existing water, wastewater, and renewable energy utilities serving 50 to 5,000 customers, plus special districts, co-ops, and associations.
• Sustainable Infrastructure Development Services Leadership in sustainable infrastructure and small-community-scale utility development through innovative delivery models and partnership structures, encompassing over $250M of award-winning projects developed over twenty years.
• Utility Management Services Comprehensive utility management from plant operations to customer billing, including general management, financial planning, risk management, regulatory compliance, and emergency response.
• Operations and Maintenance Services Reliable, safe, and cost-effective utility operations and maintenance covering water supply, distribution, sewer collection, treatment and disposal, water/wastewater reuse, meter reading, and regulatory compliance.
• Customer Service and Billing Customer billing and service including account management, monthly/quarterly billing and collections, delinquent-account collections, custom websites, customer newsletters, surveys, and customer-management technology.
• Public-Private Partnership (P3) Services National leadership in P3 delivery of innovative infrastructure systems partnering with government agencies and higher education institutions to fund and manage water, wastewater, and recycled water infrastructure assets through fully private utilities, concessions, and other arrangements.
• Construction Services Licensed general contractor services including design-bid-build, design/build, CMGC, capital improvement projects, major and minor repairs, commissioning, and start-up.
• Financial Planning and Management Support General management support covering strategic planning, financial planning, budgeting, reporting, risk management, tax and audit support, legal support, and emergency response.
• Development and Owner-Representative Services Concept planning, feasibility assessments, investment due diligence, asset management, owner-representative services, capital improvement planning, funding options, commissioning and start-up, and PUC engagement.
• Industrial Wastewater and Renewable Energy Services Industrial partnerships for wastewater pretreatment systems and wastewater digesters, including renewable energy generation, for breweries, food production, and manufacturing facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces water use by over 50%, saving 7,000,000 gallons annually at Hassalo on Eighth
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• City of Portland and Continuum DevelopmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Puttman Infrastructure was selected as district infrastructure developer for the City's $2B Broadway Corridor redevelopment. Working with the City and its development partner to implement district water and district energy solutions.
• Oregon Convention Center, Metro, Pacific Power, Energy Trust of Oregon and SolarCitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership to identify, define, and deliver a 2MW solar PV system on the LEED Platinum Oregon Convention Center. Puttman Infrastructure helped develop and deliver the system which is one of the highest producing systems ever installed on a US convention center.
• City and Port of Bellingham and Hartcort DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Puttman Infrastructure partnered with the Port of Bellingham, City of Bellingham and Hartcort Development to help implement district energy systems for the $1B waterfront redevelopment. Leading creation of new district energy system, district water system, and micro-hydro system totaling over $25M.
• UC Santa Cruz and Capstone Development PartnersflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Long-term public-private partnership (P3) between UC Santa Cruz and Puttman Infrastructure for the $500M Student Housing West campus expansion. Puttman Infrastructure finances, develops and manages recycled water and renewable energy systems.
• City of Reno and West 2nd District Development PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Selected by the City of Reno and West 2nd District Development Partners to support development of $1B West 2nd District. Responsible for financing, developing and operating the district infrastructure systems including Nevada's first recycled water system.
• Jordan Downs Community Partners (Bridge Housing, Michaels Development), City of LA, LA Department of Water and PowerflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Infrastructure development partner for $1.5B Jordan Downs redevelopment, the largest public housing redevelopment in the US. Puttman implementing over $150M in infrastructure improvements including sustainable infrastructure systems through P3 arrangement.
• American Assets Trust, GBD, GlumaccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partnership for Hassalo on Eighth, the largest project in North America to achieve Living Building Challenge net-zero non-potable water goal. NORM team represented by American Assets Trust, GBD, Glumac and Puttman Infrastructure.
• Hennessy CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHennessy Company selected Puttman Infrastructure to provide a recycled water system for its Quigley Farm development in Hailey, Idaho, envisioned to be one of the most sustainable communities in Idaho.
• Water Environment Federation (WEF), NACWA, Water Research Foundation (WRF), WateReuse AssociationminorOthersRecognition program partners for Utility of the Future Today initiative, supported by EPA Office of Wastewater Management and DOE Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy.
• WateReuse, U.S. Green Building Council, Urban Land Institute, EcoDistricts, Institute for Sustainable InfrastructureminorOthersActive member and supporter of industry associations advancing sustainable infrastructure including WateReuse Association, USGBC (LEED), ULI, EcoDistricts, and Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (Envision).
• Oregon Health & Science UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for OHSU South Waterfront Campus recycled water system, the largest recycled water system serving a hospital campus in the US. Expansion completed in 2019 to serve two new towers.
• Lane Community College and Systems West EngineersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to upgrade campus energy system as Phase 1 of an energy investment strategy to achieve a carbon neutral campus by 2040.
• Coeur d'Alene Casino and ResortminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater recycling system to serve $75M expansion of Coeur d'Alene Casino and Resort in Idaho. System collects, treats and reuses 100% of wastewater for golf course and resort landscape irrigation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Corix Infrastructure: Corix is a utility infrastructure platform that develops, finances, and operates water, wastewater, and district energy systems through P3 and municipal partnerships, closely mirroring Puttman's district-scale, sustainability-focused utility ownership and development model.
• Vicinity Energy: One of the largest district energy operators in the U.S., owning and operating steam, hot water, and chilled water networks serving institutional and commercial customers. Puttman's district energy work at Bellingham, UC Santa Cruz, and Jordan Downs is directly comparable in customer profile and delivery model.
• Enwave Energy: District energy provider operating steam, hot water, and chilled water systems for institutional, commercial, and residential customers, with growing focus on low-carbon and waste-heat recovery solutions comparable to Puttman's sustainability-driven district energy offerings.

Regional players

• Northwest Natural Water Services: Related-entity water/wastewater utility operator sharing the nwnaturalwaterservices.com email domain with Puttman, providing water and wastewater services in the Pacific Northwest. Geographic and operational overlap makes it the most directly comparable regional operator.

Broad incumbents

• SUEZ North America (Veolia): Large regulated and contracted water and wastewater services operator in the U.S., serving municipal, industrial, and commercial customers. It is a broad incumbent in the same end markets as Puttman, though at significantly greater scale and with a different service mix.
• American Water Works: Largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility in the U.S., serving over 14 million people across 14 states. Comparable to Puttman's regulated water utility ownership and management model, though operating at a vastly different scale and with a regulated utility holding company structure.
• Essential Utilities: Holding company for regulated water, wastewater, and natural gas utilities serving customers across 10+ states. Its multi-utility platform structure and history of acquiring small water/wastewater systems directly parallels Puttman's small-utility roll-up strategy.
• ENGIE North America: Major North American district energy, renewables, and utility-scale infrastructure operator with significant P3 and on-site energy experience. Comparable in district energy and renewable project delivery, though much larger in scale and broader in geography.
• Quanta Services: Leading infrastructure construction firm specializing in electric, gas, water, and telecom utility construction. While primarily a construction contractor rather than a utility owner, it operates in the same end markets and is a potential partner or competitor for Puttman's construction services offering.

Others

• KKR Global Infrastructure: Global infrastructure investor with significant water utility, district energy, and P3 infrastructure investments. As a potential capital partner or competitive bidder for utility acquisitions, KKR is a relevant comparable for Puttman's investor-backed small-utility consolidation strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/puttmaninfra

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Puttman Infrastructure