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Valuation & data firm

WestWater Research

The water economics firm behind the market's benchmark index. Reviewed by WaterLeases editors; introductions run through our matching desk so your details land with context.

At a glance

Type
Valuation & data
Coverage
Western United States
Handles
Appraisal · advisory
Pricing model
Professional engagement fees
Direct contact
Via matching

What WestWater Research does

WestWater Research is not a marketplace or a listing service; it is the economics and valuation consultancy the rest of the market quotes. The firm produces formal water right appraisals, market studies, and transaction advisory work, and it is the research partner behind the Nasdaq Veles California Water Index, the NQH2O benchmark this site tracks on its rates page.

That position makes WestWater the channel for a specific kind of owner: large or institutional holdings where a bank, a court, a board, or a counterparty needs a defensible, formal number. For a typical family right weighing a seasonal lease, a formal appraisal is more instrument than the job needs; for a major holding, it is the instrument.

  • Formal water right appraisals
  • Market studies and transaction advisory
  • Research behind the Nasdaq Veles California Water Index (NQH2O)

Who WestWater Research fits

A good fit if

  • Large or institutional holdings needing bank-grade appraisals
  • Estates, litigation, and financing that require a formal defensible value
  • Agencies and companies commissioning market studies

Worth weighing

  • A formal appraisal is a professional engagement, sized for significant holdings
  • Owners exploring a lease or sale usually start with a market valuation range, not a full appraisal
  • Advisory work is not a sales channel; you still need a marketplace or broker to transact

How a deal here typically runs

  1. 01
    Scope the engagement

    Asset, purpose (financing, estate, litigation, transaction), and deliverable.

  2. 02
    Research and analysis

    Comparable transactions, hydrology, and demand analysis.

  3. 03
    Deliver the appraisal

    A formal, defensible valuation the institution can rely on.

Contact WestWater Research

Introductions run through our desk

We do not publish direct contact details. Tell us what you hold, and a WaterLeases analyst confirms WestWater Research is the right fit, then makes the introduction with your context attached, so you skip the cold-form queue.

Get matched →

WaterLeases is independent and not affiliated with WestWater Research. This profile is editorial, based on the firm's public positioning as of our review. Introductions we make may earn WaterLeases a referral fee at no cost to you; that never changes what we recommend. Reviewed 2026-08-28.

Get matched · WestWater Research~60 sec

Tell us about your water.

Five quick questions match you with WestWater Research or the channel that fits better, with your situation attached so the conversation starts warm.

What do you want to do?

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a formal appraisal to lease or sell my water?

Usually not to start. A market valuation range, like the one our desk provides, tells you whether a deal is worth pursuing. Formal appraisals earn their fee when a bank, court, or institutional counterparty needs a number it can rely on.

What is WestWater Research's connection to the NQH2O index?

WestWater is the research firm behind the Nasdaq Veles California Water Index, the weekly benchmark for California spot water that WaterLeases quotes on its rates page with a live sourced value.

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