6 Essential Water Industry Insights | Powerful Lessons from Experts Shaping the Future
The water industry is undergoing significant transformation as new regulations, shifting water rights, rapid technological advancements, and rising demand from both agriculture and urban areas reshape its landscape. Drawing on decades of hands-on experience, Doug Picatti of Picatti Brothers and Headwater Companies consultant Tom Tompkins share practical insights into these evolving challenges and their six strategies to keep water management effective and resilient.
This post will highlight the essential lessons of:
- 1. Building Trust & Adaptability | The Roots of Picatti Brothers
- 2. Navigating Change | Agriculture, Urban Growth & Water Rights
- 3. Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) | Efficiency Via Partnership
- 4. Technology & Conservation | The New Standard
- 5. Regulation, Urbanization & the Power of Collaboration
- 6. Looking Forward | Adaptability, Education & Resilience
- Putting Our Water Industry Insights Together
Meet Tom Tompkins | Regional VP of Headwater Companies
Tom Tompkins is the Regional Vice President at Headwater Companies, where he oversees business across seven western states and is dedicated to supporting licensed contractors like Doug Picatti.
Tom began his career at 2M under Bill Mills, the company’s owner. After 2M was sold and became Headwater Companies, Tom continued with the organization, working directly for Bill’s son. Following the acquisition of Western Hydro, Tom took over management of two branches, solidifying his leadership role within the company.
Headwater Companies operates in 38 states through eight distinct companies and approximately 80 separate locations, providing extensive resources for water industry professionals nationwide. With 34 years of water industry experience, Tom offers significant expertise in water management, technology integration, and navigating regulatory compliance.
You can learn more about Headwater’s network and locations here.
1. Building Trust & Adaptability | The Roots of Picatti Brothers
The first essential water industry insight is the critical importance of trust and adaptability. Founded in the 1920s, Picatti Brothers has built its reputation on evolving with the needs of its clients and community in the Yakima Valley.
What began as well and pump repair for local farmers has grown into a multifaceted operation supporting municipal projects and advanced upgrades — always with a strong focus on reliability and responsive service.
Doug Picatti emphasizes that staying ahead in the water industry has required continual adaptation to client demands and regulatory shifts. Through having a people-centered approach — and often stepping up during emergencies — Doug’s family has fostered lasting trust and resilient customer relationships across Central Washington.
Doug Picatti
“Picatti Brothers was founded in 1928 by my grandfather and his brother. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been providing water to farms, families and agriculture here in the Yakima Valley. Staying adaptable is what’s kept us here for generations.”
2. Navigating Change | Agriculture, Urban Growth & Water Rights
The second essential insight is the growing complexity at the intersection of agricultural needs, urban expansion, and evolving water policy. Stricter water rights and increased regulation — such as those addressed by agencies like the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) —are driving all stakeholders to reassess resource management practices.
Both urban sprawl and evolving requirements for municipal water intensify the competition for supply. According to Tom Tompkins, the adoption of new tools — such as water meters in rural and semi-urban areas — has become necessary to increase transparency and maintain supply.
Tom Tompkins
“We are seeing more state regulation in residential wells and subdivision, and the same thing for municipalities. But the biggest fight over water has always been agriculture and ranching, and those are the major water concerns in all of the western states.”
3. Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) | Efficiency Via Partnership
The third of our essential water industry insights highlights how implementing vendor managed inventory (VMI) represents a major leap in supply chain efficiency within the water sector for Picatti Brothers.
VMI shifts the responsibility for tracking, stocking, and servicing critical parts to the vendor, enabling operators to reduce downtime and focus on their core missions. Real-time tracking and proactive service, especially when paired with remote monitoring, further enhance system reliability.
Doug Picatti described VMI as transformative: by using real-time usage data and predictive maintenance, customers can minimize breakdowns and ensure essential equipment is always available.
“One of the primary things Tom has done that’s been so instrumental to Picatti Brothers is providing the vendor managed inventory (VMI). We now have access to inventory right away – everything is on the shelf. We don’t have to go to get it, we don’t have to charge our customers for acquisition time. We have it all right here, and the technical resources behind VMI has been fantastic.”
Doug Picatti
4. Technology & Conservation | The New Standard
The fourth essential water industry insight is the pivotal role of technology and conservation in shaping modern water management.
Ongoing advancements in monitoring and technology have significantly influenced how water managers respond to seismic events and natural disasters. An event Tom thinks most poignantly reflects technological advancements in natural disasters is the Hegben Lake earthquake, which happened in Montana in 1959.
For more on technology’s impact in these contexts, check out the USGS case study on the Hebgen Lake Earthquake.
Equipment like variable frequency drives (VFDs) are also setting new benchmarks for pump system efficiency by matching output to actual demand. This not only reduces energy costs but also extends the life of important infrastructure — a vital secondary consideration for utilities and agricultural operations alike.
Tom and Doug believe the integration of smart monitoring, water meters, and digital controls now gives water managers real-time access to system data, supporting proactive maintenance and more accurate billing.
“You can use your cellphone to run the water in your field. The days of meters, wires, and all of that are gone. You have a Wi-Fi signal, and you’re done. You can figure an issue out, quickly fix it, and walk away. You barely ever have to touch the well, pull anything out, or test wires.”
Tom Tompkins
5. Regulation, Urbanization & the Power of Collaboration
The fifth essential water industry insight is the growing influence of regulations and urbanization — and the critical importance of collaboration. Regulations increasingly affect every aspect of water management.
From updated reporting requirements to conservation mandates, compliance pushes organizations toward innovation. Bringing together regulators, vendors, utilities, and consumers creates an environment where best practices and new technologies can be adopted more rapidly and effectively.
A prime example of these dynamics can be seen in collaborative projects like those surrounding the SQK Dam in Montana (formerly known as the Kerr Dam), where multiple stakeholders — including regulators, energy companies, and local communities — balance resource use, environmental stewardship, and regulatory obligations.
On the West Coast, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) also plays a critical role in regulation and urbanization.
“A great example of regulation is variable frequency drives (VFDs). There’s a lot of conversation within Labor & Industries about how to read and enforce the rules relative to VFDs. It’s common for our questions to work their way up to Olympia because the interpretation methods and techniques can be very different from company to company. Now, L&I is starting to take a more serious look at things. I think it’s good for everybody, but it’s a very new time for the water industry.”
Doug Picatti
6. Looking Forward | Adaptability, Education & Resilience
The sixth essential water industry insight centers on the need for adaptability, ongoing education, and resilience. The water industry faces ongoing challenges such as aging infrastructure, changing climate patterns, and the need for continuous innovation. Both Picatti and Tompkins underscored that meeting these challenges requires individuals and organizations to embrace change, keep learning, and be flexible at every level.
New tools — from AI analytics to advanced monitoring systems — are supporting teams in making faster, smarter decisions, but lasting resilience depends on experienced people, flexible strategies, and ongoing knowledge-sharing.
“Technology will continue to play a big part in the future of water management. From using your phone to control pumps and pivots to energy-efficient innovations like permanent magnet motors, the industry is moving toward smarter, more sustainable solutions. These advancements not only relieve pressure on the grid but also save homeowners money while improving system performance.”
Tom Tompkins
Putting Our Water Industry Insights Together
In a world of evolving challenges, sustainable water management hinges on effective collaboration. Water remains one of our most vital and carefully regulated resources, especially in the West Coast where the agriculture and ranching industry is thriving.
Insights from water industry leaders like Tom Tompkins and organizations like Picatti Brothers are setting the standard for adaptability, innovation, and partnership. They are showing that progress is driven by partnership and technological advancements.
As utilities, contractors, regulators, and communities begin to align on best practices and share knowledge, they are create a stronger, more resilient future. By embracing innovation and collaboration, with new tools, smarter systems, and stronger relationships, the water industry can continue to adapt and safeguard one of our land’s most vital resource for generations to come.
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If you’re looking for expert guidance or reliable solutions for your well or water pump needs, Picatti Bros can help! Our team is here for you — contact us today to schedule a consultation or discuss your project.