Water is the most important commodity that we largely take for granted. It is essential not only for life but also for a range of industries and almost all economic activities. From agriculture and beverages to industrial applications and consumer staples, there is a clear and growing demand for fresh, clean water -- and a limited supply.
Add the impact of climate change, which is shifting water flows and leading to potential water shortages worldwide, and there is a pressing need for governments and the private sector to invest in water infrastructure.
A market with almost unlimited demand and limited supplies can make for an intriguing investment. There are a large number of water stocks to pick from, including utilities, filtration companies, and the makers of pumps and pipes needed to transport water. However, utilities tend to be limited in their geographic reach, and water tech and equipment companies are often specialists.
Water exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are baskets of stocks that provide broad exposure to the sector without forcing an investor to pick individual companies. You'd have to buy a lot of stocks to get exposure to the entire sector. So it could make more sense to invest in water through an ETF that gives you a small interest in many companies focused on making sure clean water gets to where it is needed.
Top water ETFs in 2026
Company | Total Assets | Description |
|---|---|---|
Invesco Water Resources ETF (NASDAQ:PHO) | $2.0 billion | A top-heavy collection of water stocks ranging from filtration-tech makers to utilities to pumping-equipment makers. |
First Trust Water ETF (NYSEMKT:FIW) | $1.9 billion | A less concentrated portfolio heavy on water tech stocks but including companies working in many different parts of the water chain. |
Invesco S&P Global Water Index ETF (NYSEMKT:CGW) | $1.0 billion | An index-based ETF that tries to provide broad global water exposure via the S&P Index that tracks the world's 50 largest water-related companies. |
Invesco Global Water ETF (NASDAQ:PIO) | $290.1 million | A more concentrated global portfolio with some exposure to emerging markets and a higher expense ratio. |
Ecofin Global Water ETF (NYSEMKT:EBLU) | $57.9 million | A relatively small entry with a focus on sustainability and ESG and low expenses. |
Global X Clean Water ETF (NYSEMKT:AQWA) | $17.8 million | An ETF focused on clean water through industrial water treatment, storage and distribution infrastructure, as well as purification and efficiency strategies. |
1. Invesco Water Resources
NASDAQ: PHO
Key Data Points
Investment management company Invesco (IVZ +0.49%) dominates the water ETF market, and the Water Resources (PHO +1.02%) fund is its largest offering. Based on the Nasdaq U.S. Water Index, the fund seeks to track the performance of companies that purify, deliver, and conserve water for homes, businesses, and industries. It is not limited to companies doing business in the U.S., but it is heavily focused on stocks that trade on U.S. markets.
As of January 2026, the top five holdings in the Invesco Water Resources ETF were:
- Ecolab (ECL +0.59%).
- Ferguson (FERG +1.04%).
- Roper (ROP +0.37%).
- Waters (WAT +2.30%).
- American Water Works (AWK -2.01%).
The five stocks represent about 37% of total assets, and Invesco Water Resources has a 0.59% expense ratio.
2. First Trust Water
NYSEMKT: FIW
Key Data Points
The water ETF sponsored by First Trust Advisors is based on the ISE Clean Edge Water Index, which comprises companies that derive a substantial portion of their revenue from the potable and wastewater industry. That can include utilities and other companies, but the index is weighted toward the companies that make the tech that helps to make water safe to drink.
As of January 2026, the top five holdings in the First Trust Water ETF (FIW +0.78%) were:
The five stocks represent about 22% of total assets, and the ETF has a 0.51% expense ratio.
3. Invesco S&P Global Water Index
NYSEMKT: CGW
Key Data Points
NASDAQ: PIO
Key Data Points
5. Ecofin Global Water
How water ETFs work
Water ETFs work by pooling investor money to buy a diversified basket of stocks in companies across the entire water industry, from utilities and infrastructure to technology. The idea is to give investors broad sector exposure through a single trade, addressing essential global demand and scarcity.
Water ETFs provide exposure to critical areas such as water infrastructure, technology, and utilities, allowing you to invest in solutions for water scarcity and management.
How to invest in water ETFs
ETFs can be bought and sold just like stocks. Like stocks, ETF prices move throughout the trading day as buyers and sellers appear, as opposed to mutual funds, which are repriced once daily.
To buy an ETF, simply use the ticker just as you would when buying a stock. Provide the ticker and the number of shares you want to buy, and you are well on your way to being invested in a water ETF.
How to choose a water ETF
Some factors to consider when choosing a Water ETF:
- What is the focus? Is this ETF leaning towards utilities or water technology? Or a mix of both?
- What are your goals? Some ETFs aim to maximize income, while others focus on growth. Read about individual ETFs on their fund pages and see if the fund's goals are a good match for what you want.
- Check expenses. ETFs' expenses (as measured by the expense ratio) can vary. Higher fees make it harder to beat the market.
Related investing topics
Are water ETFs right for you?
Water isn't the most glamorous investment, but it is hard to think of a commodity more critical to society. Nations have gone to war over access to water. Those days are hopefully behind us, but given how widely water is used and the limited amounts of it available in many parts of the world, water should be an area of significant investment and growth in the years to come.
Buying into the water industry can also provide a nice counterweight to more speculative tech investments or boom-and-bust cyclical companies. Buying ETFs instead of individual companies provides an easy way to gain geographic and subsector diversification without having to devote too much of your portfolio to the industry.
FAQ
Water ETFs FAQ
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