The Emergence of AI in the Water Sector: Opportunities and Challenges for Water Resources Planning

Water utilities today face rising costs, regulatory demands, climate uncertainty, aging infrastructure and the need to protect vulnerable ecosystems, all while managing increasingly complex and integrated systems with diverse water supplies. Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents powerful new technologies that can help utilities address these challenges and build resilience. However, rapid advancements in AI often outpace real-world implementation. The goal of this research is to explore approaches to using AI and provide water utilities with guidance on integrating AI technologies into water resources planning. The project will culminate in an “AI Guidebook for Water Resources Planning” that provides actionable steps toward AI implementation, along with recommendations for tracking and adopting new advancements.