Built for private‑equity deal teams and strategic acquirers in water, wastewater & waste.
We pair capital with hands‑on know‑how to build profitable, sustainable water and resource‑recovery businesses.
Operator Rigor, Investor Speed
Field‑tested discipline delivered at private-equity pace.Shared Risk, Shared Reward
Co‑investment and board seats align our economics with yours.ESG and Compliance Baked‑In
Permitting, PFAS diligence, and full regulatory compliance are integral, not afterthoughts.Sustainability Fit
Scorecard, roadmap, and reporting for every target.
International Reach, Local Insight
Years leading water and waste businesses in North America, Australia, Asia & Europe help us navigate regulations—and cultures—on both sides of the deal.Scalable bench
We can pull functional or regional specialists from our network when the mandate demands it.
Services for Private‑Equity Sponsors and Strategic Buyers
Every engagement is tailored. Timelines below are typical; scope and speed flex to match the deal.
Pre-Deal Diligence
De‑risk your LOI with rapid, deal‑specific diligence
Technology, operations & ESG red‑flag audit
Management‑bench and market stress test
Value‑bridge report showing upside and downside drivers
Growth Blueprinting
Market sizing and sales‑force mapping
EBITDA bridge with Quick‑Win tracker
Digital and automation roadmap for margin lift
100‑Day wins, 3‑Year scale
“Eric’s operator-level insight and disciplined board guidance have been instrumental in sharpening Synagro’s growth strategy and accelerating our M&A pipeline. His ability to translate complex operational realities into investor-ready decisions is a genuine asset.”
Bob Preston, Chief Executive Officer, Synagro Technologies
Board‑Level Value Creation
Operator insight on a quarterly cadence
Strategy refresh and KPI heat‑map reviews
Capital‑allocation and M&A pipeline guidance
Sustainability maturity scorecard and 3-year action plan: Ready for the fund’s ESG report.
Exit readiness and investor narrative alignment
Interim Leadership: CEO/CRO cover at the sponsor’s request.
Integration PMO on Demand
Plug‑and‑play war room for roll‑up platforms
Activate when you need day‑1 readiness
Live synergy tracking
Six‑month close‑out reporting—without slowing the next acquisition.
Founding Story & Mission :
Why Watershed ?
Eric Gernath started Watershed Growth Partners after three decades running water and waste businesses on four continents. Two forces made the timing right:
Capital was looking for solid, ESG‑friendly assets.
Deal teams needed operators who could judge a target and then see the plan through.
A watershed channels scattered streams into one force.
That’s our goal: bring capital, operating skill, and market insight together to turn complex environmental assets into lasting value.
How we work
Pressure‑test the deal. We check the numbers, assets, people, and market at the pace your deal requires.
Find add‑ons. Focused outreach surfaces targets others miss.
Invest and stay. We put skin in the game, take a board seat, and guide strategy, sales, and integration—sharing risk and reward with the sponsor.
Contact Us
Share a brief overview of your opportunity—expect a response within two business days.