Water is one of the planet's most coveted and widely used resources. Like other commodities, such as oil and gold, water assets can add significant diversification to any portfolio. One of the best ways to gain exposure to the water industry is through a water exchange-traded fund (ETF).

Much of 2018 was rosy for the industrials sector. Businesses with excess cash early in the year fueled a spending spree on equipment and other industrials products as well. Given the poor general performance of the industrials sector in 2018, it comes as no surprise that exchange-traded funds (ETFs) which focused on these stocks also suffered as well.