71.   Robin Rather, an equity analyst at Edward Jones, a brokerage firm in St. Louis, also likes water companies.

72.   Schlitterbahn, the New Braunfels-based water park company, is completing its new park this summer at the south end of the island after years of pleading.

73.   Shares in water companies suffered the most after the industry regulator said companies should compensate customers for poor service.

74.   Smaller fines have been imposed on water companies and in cases involving natural gas explosions.

75.   Some suspect the Nebraska Democrat is bowing to water companies in his state.

76.   Some ventures went bust, like Azurix, its spinoff water company.

77.   Some water companies have added fluoride to their products for children.

78.   Still, some consumers say additional publicity by the water heater companies would have saved them a lot of irritation.

79.   The acquisitions have included bottled water companies, commercial service providers and a company with patented technology used to remove oil from water.

80.   The acquisition would not require an automatic referral to a U.K. anti-trust authority, unlike when one water company wishes to buy another.