Artificial intelligence is creating new possibilities for the water sector, from helping utilities make better use of data to supporting more efficient operations and infrastructure planning. At the same time, the rapid growth of AI and the data centers that support it, is creating new questions about water demand, infrastructure, sustainability, and community impacts.
The Water-AI Nexus™ Center of Excellence was created to address both sides of that equation.
Founded by the Water Environment Federation (WEF), Amazon, The Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania, and Leading Utilities of the World, the Water-AI Nexus brings together leaders in utilities, technology, academia, finance, and other sectors around two interconnected priorities:
- AI for Water: Leveraging AI capabilities to solve pressing water scarcity and management challenges
- Water for AI: Ensuring AI infrastructure uses water as efficiently as possible
At WEFTEC 2026, attendees can explore these issues at the Water-AI Nexus Stage in Hall G, Booth 6310 on the exhibition floor, with dedicated programming focused on real-world applications, utility implementation, water and data center infrastructure, policy, cybersecurity, workforce considerations, and more.
Two Sides of a Rapidly Evolving Conversation
The Water-AI Nexus starts with the idea that sustainable water management and digital infrastructure can reinforce one another.
On the AI for Water side, water professionals are already exploring how AI can support everything from forecasting and modeling to asset management, operational decision-making, cybersecurity, and workforce support. The conversation is increasingly moving beyond whether AI has a place in water to how it can be implemented responsibly, securely, and effectively.
Water for AI presents a different set of questions. The continued expansion of data centers and other digital infrastructure means utilities and communities are being asked to plan for new water demands, evaluate alternative supplies, understand wastewater impacts, and balance economic development with long-term water stewardship.
Both will be part of the conversation at WEFTEC.
Wendi Wilkes, WEF Senior Director of Strategy & Operations, sees WEFTEC as an important setting for moving both sides of that conversation forward.
“WEFTEC is the forum for bringing together the leaders shaping the future of water. The content at the Water-AI Nexus Stage will address two rapidly evolving challenges: how AI can strengthen the management of water services and resources, and how the water sector can sustainably meet the growing infrastructure and water needs of the AI economy. Attendees will hear from utilities, technology companies, researchers, policymakers, and other partners working to move innovation toward practical, scalable implementation.”
And the conversation extends beyond the Water-AI Nexus Stage. Across the WEFTEC technical program, 20+ sessions will dig deeper into AI, digital transformation, data center water needs, digital twins, predictive operations, asset management, workforce implications, and other emerging applications. Attendees can find these sessions by searching “AI” in the agenda within the new WEFTEC mobile app or the online planner. Together, the technical sessions and Water-AI Nexus Stage give attendees multiple ways to explore both AI for Water and Water for AI throughout WEFTEC.
Water-AI Nexus Stage Programming
The Water-AI Nexus Stage will bring utility leaders, technology companies, researchers, policymakers, associations, and other experts together for three days of programming.
Sessions span both sides of the Water-AI Nexus, including how utilities are implementing AI today, the policies and governance shaping its adoption, sustainable approaches to data center growth, alternative water supplies, cybersecurity, and collaboration between the water and technology sectors.
Monday, September 28
10:00–10:45 a.m. | State of the Industry: Water and AI
Speakers: Ralph Exton, WEF; Sonora Hill, Amazon; Kishia Powell, Leading Utilities of the World; and Howard Neukrug, University of Pennsylvania Water Center
11:00–11:30 a.m. | How 18 Utility Leaders are Using AI
Speakers: Angela Charles, Charlotte Water; and Matt Kennelly, LOTT Clean Water Alliance
Moderator: Peiffer Brandt, Raftelis
11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m. | Federal & State Perspectives on AI: Policy, Innovation, and the Future of Water
Speakers: Pouya Lavian, U.S. EPA,; and Anthony DeRosa, ASDWA
Moderator: Corey Williams, WEF Board Member
Tuesday, September 29
12:45–1:30 p.m. | Delivering AI to Manage the Water That Delivers AI
Speakers: Gert Van der Walt, Amazon; Anne LeGuennec, Veolia; Snehal Desai, Xylem; and Bernard Koh, Singapore PUB
Moderator: Gert Van der Walt, Amazon
1:45–2:30 p.m. | From Digital Twins to AI Agents: What Water Utilities Are Implementing Now
Speakers: Amber Boone, SOCWA; Jeff Sparks, HRSD; and Kate Newhart, Oregon State University
Moderator: Prabhushankar Chandrasekeran, Arcadis
2:45–3:30 p.m. | Meeting Water Demands through Collaboration: Planning for Growth in the AI Era
Speakers: Joseph Danyluk, Jacobs; and John Newsome, Columbus Water & Power; Moderator: Howard Neukrug, University of Pennsylvania
3:45–4:15 p.m. | AI, Data Centers, and Water Security: The Role of Alternative Water Supply in Powering the Digital Economy
Speakers: Marco Arcelli, ACWA; Snehal Desai, Xylem; and Pete Oveson, Trojan Technologies
Moderators: Shannon McCarthy, IDRA, and Bruno Pigott, WateReuse Association
Wednesday, September 30
9:00–9:30 a.m. | Advancing AI for Stormwater and Collection Systems: From Theory to Implementation
Speakers: Eric Harold, Carollo Engineers; and Oluwole (OJ) McFoy, Houston Public Works
Moderator: Andrew Collier, Autodesk
9:45–10:15 a.m. | Rethinking Data Center Cooling Through Heat Recovery
Speakers: Elizabeth Mitchell, HDR; Brad Carter, Alfalaval
10:30–11:00 a.m. | Powering AI: Enabling Responsible Data Centers
Speakers: Greta L. Zornes, CDM Smith; and Jon Koomey, Koomey Analytics
Moderator: John Ikeda, WEF
11:15–11:45 a.m. | Protecting Water Systems in the Age of AI-Powered Cyber Threats
Speakers: Kevin Leach, Vanderbilt University; and Charles Stephens, National Rural Water Association
Moderator: Susi Ricker, WWEMA
A Growing Network of Water and AI Leaders
The conversations taking place at WEFTEC are part of a larger effort to bring more perspectives into the Water-AI Nexus.
This year, WEF and the initiative’s founding leaders announced a major expansion of the Water-AI Nexus Advisory Council, bringing together organizations from across the water, technology, infrastructure, research, engineering, and nonprofit sectors.
The expanded Advisory Council includes the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, Imagine H2O, International Desalination and Reuse Association, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National Rural Water Association, National Association of Water Companies, Smart Water Networks Forum, WateReuse Association, Autodesk, CDM Smith, Grundfos, HDR, Raftelis, Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association, WaterISAC, and Xylem, along with members of WEF’s volunteer community.
Advisory Council members help guide Water-AI Nexus priorities, contribute thought leadership, participate in events and roundtables, and collaborate on programming and awareness-building initiatives.
That breadth is also reflected on the WEFTEC Stage, where several Advisory Council organizations will participate directly in discussions throughout the week.
LaPorcha Carter, WEF Director of Strategic Partnerships, says that bringing those perspectives together is essential to advancing the work of the Water-AI Nexus:
“The growth of the advisory council to include diverse, cross-sector partners strengthens our ability to ensure that AI innovation is both relevant and responsive to real-world challenges. By uniting leaders from technology, engineering, utilities, and nonprofit organizations, we can leverage a wide range of expertise and perspectives to develop solutions that are both innovative and practical. The intersection of sustainable water use and the growing ubiquity of AI presents challenges and opportunities that no single sector can address alone. Meaningful progress will require collaboration, shared knowledge, and a collective commitment to delivering sustainable impact.”
Practical Resources for the Water Sector
The Water-AI Nexus extends beyond conversations and convenings. This Center of Excellence is also designed to help water professionals better understand AI, prepare their organizations for its adoption, and navigate the water implications of growing digital infrastructure.
Recent resources include Building an AI-Empowered Water Workforce, which outlines four principles for a worker-first approach to AI adoption, and AI 101 for Water Professionals, a foundational training designed to establish a shared baseline of AI literacy across the water community.
WEF has also released Frequently Asked Questions, providing practical guidance to help utilities engage proactively with data center development, understand water and wastewater considerations, and plan for growth.
Additional Water-AI Nexus resources address sustainable water use by data centers, generative AI in the water sector, data center effluent, AI-driven water innovation, and other emerging issues at the intersection of water and digital infrastructure.
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Continue the Conversation at WEFTEC 2026
As AI moves further into water operations and digital infrastructure places new demands on water systems, the relationship between these two sectors will only become more important.
Start at the Water-AI Nexus in Hall G, Booth 6310, and explore how AI for Water and Water for AI come to life across the WEFTEC 2026 exhibition floor.
Looking for more info about the Water-AI Nexus Center of Excellence and how you can get involved? Visit water-ai-nexus.org.