Puerto Rico Water Rationing Underscores Growing Importance of Water Risk as Marshall & Stevens Convenes National Forum

September 9 Virtual Forum to Explore How Water Scarcity Is Reshaping Agriculture, Infrastructure, Investment, Energy and Asset Values

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, August 10, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — As hundreds of thousands of residents in Puerto Rico face water rationing due to worsening drought conditions, Marshall & Stevens, a premier full-service valuation consulting, transaction advisory, and litigation support firm announced it is convening a panel of leading experts for its 2026 Water Forum, titled “Navigating Water Risk Across Agriculture, Infrastructure, and Capital” on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

The recent developments in Puerto Rico serve as another reminder that water is becoming one of the economic, infrastructure and investment challenges of our time. While every region faces different circumstances, prolonged drought, increasing demand, aging infrastructure and climate variability are placing growing pressure on water systems across the United States and around the world.

Registration for the virtual forum is available at: https://events.marshall-stevens.com/2026-water-forum.

“The challenges unfolding in Puerto Rico are a reminder that reliable water cannot be taken for granted,” said Jennifer Simmonson, MAI, Director at Marshall & Stevens. “Although the circumstances differ from region to region, communities, businesses and investors everywhere are asking similar questions about water availability, infrastructure resilience and long-term planning. Water is increasingly influencing where we invest, how we develop communities and how we assess risk.”

The 90-minute virtual forum will bring together senior leaders from water infrastructure, water technology, agriculture, institutional investment and energy to examine the growing imbalance between water supply and demand and its implications for businesses, communities and capital markets.

The forum will be moderated by Jennifer Simmonson, MAI, Director in the Real Estate Practice at Marshall & Stevens. Panelists include:

• Bobby Majumder, Partner, Co-Chair of the Energy Industry Team and member of the Board of Directors, FBT Gibbons

• Rosemary Knight, George L. Harrington Professor of Geophysics at Stanford University and Senior Fellow in the Woods Institute for the Environment

• Nati Louzon, VP, IDE Israel & O&M Division and CEO, IDE Americas, IDE Water Technologies

• Megan Nicholas Harper, Director of Water Resources, Nuveen Natural Capital

“Water is no longer simply an environmental issue or an agricultural issue,” Simmonson said. “It is becoming a defining factor in economic development, infrastructure planning, real estate valuation, food production, energy generation and capital allocation. Organizations that understand these dynamics will be better positioned to navigate future risks and identify opportunities.”

The discussion will examine how growing competition for water is reshaping agriculture, real estate, infrastructure, technology and investment decisions across the economy.

“In the West, the major agricultural investors I’ve spoken with tell me water availability and reliability are now the primary drivers of new farmland investment decisions,” Simmonson added. “Water is changing farming practices, influencing development patterns and affecting entire markets. Investors and owner-users are increasingly chasing reliable water supplies. Our forum will explore how these realities are affecting valuations today and what they could mean for the future.”

The Forum will focus on four central themes:

Water in the West: A Systemic Challenge
Panelists will examine the Colorado River, groundwater regulation, surface water constraints and the long-term implications for agriculture and economic growth throughout the American West.

Infrastructure and Technology Responses
The discussion will explore desalination, groundwater recharge, water banking, solar canal projects, storage solutions and other technologies designed to improve water security while evaluating their scalability and economic viability.

Competing Uses: Data Centers vs. Agriculture
As artificial intelligence, cloud computing and energy infrastructure continue to expand, demand for water is increasing in many regions already experiencing constraints. Panelists will discuss how policymakers, developers and investors can balance competing priorities.

Valuation Volatility and Investment Risk
Experts will examine how water scarcity is increasingly influencing asset values, underwriting, lending decisions and long-term investment strategies across multiple sectors.

The Forum is designed for institutional investors, financial professionals, agricultural and land investors, water and infrastructure developers, energy companies, real estate professionals and business leaders seeking to better understand how water risk is reshaping markets and long-term asset values.

By bringing together experts from across these disciplines, Marshall & Stevens aims to foster a practical, solutions-oriented discussion about one of the most consequential issues affecting the economy.

The challenging situation unfolding in Puerto Rico is a reminder that water challenges can emerge gradually and have immediate consequences for families, businesses and entire communities. While the causes and solutions differ from one region to another, the need for resilient infrastructure, informed investment and long-term planning is universal.

The Marshall & Stevens forum will contribute to the critical conversations by bringing together experts who can share practical insights into managing water risk before today’s challenges become tomorrow’s crises.

The 2026 Water Forum: Navigating Water Risk Across Agriculture, Infrastructure, and Capital will take place virtually on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time / 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Registration information is available at:
https://events.marshall-stevens.com/2026-water-forum.

About Marshall & Stevens
Marshall & Stevens is a premier full-service valuation consulting, transaction advisory, & litigation support firm. The firm serves clients across a wide range of industries and asset classes, helping businesses, investors and other stakeholders understand the value and risks associated with complex assets and changing markets.

For more information or to schedule an interview with a Marshall and Stevens spokesperson, please contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or dan@danrene.com

Dan Rene
Dan Rene Communications
+1 202-329-8357
dan@danrene.com

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Written By: EIN Presswire