Freshwater and wastewater utilities are undergoing a profound transformation. As populations grow and cities expand, the demand for freshwater is outpacing supply at an alarming rate. In fact, according to a statement made by Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th United Nations General Assembly, experts predict a staggering 40 percent shortfall in freshwater resources by 2030. Aging infrastructure exacerbates the crisis, with up to half of treated water lost to leaks before it even reaches consumers. Meanwhile, operating drinking water systems has never been costlier, with energy expenses consuming as much as 40 percent of the average budget.
Adding to these challenges, climate change is driving a surge in global flooding through heavier rainfall and rising sea levels, which can severely disrupt the provision of safe drinking water by contaminating water sources, damaging infrastructure, and overwhelming treatment facilities. A recent example is the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in October 2024 where residents were left for weeks without clean drinking water because of sediment buildup from the flooding.
Since 2000, the number of recorded floods each year has more than doubled according to a climate report by the NOAA. In the face of these escalating pressures, communities are relying on the ingenuity and expertise of water technicians and other water industry professionals like never before.
…experts predict a staggering 40 percent shortfall in freshwater resources by 2030. Aging infrastructure exacerbates the crisis, with up to half of treated water lost to leaks before it even reaches consumers.
This is where artificial intelligence (AI) enters the picture. With its ability to amplify human skills, AI-powered tools serve as a game-changing ally in this mission by supporting experts in achieving better project outcomes with fewer errors and at greater speed. The payoff? More sustainable systems and safer, cleaner water for communities across the globe.
And this isn’t a distant pipe dream—AI is already making a difference. According to Autodesk, 66 percent of design leaders anticipate that AI will become critical to their business within the next two to three years, leveraging it for tasks like automating workflows and optimizing predictive maintenance. Meanwhile, 35 percent are already using AI to enhance workplace safety and risk analysis.
The potential is immense, and the impact is already unfolding.
In a recent eBook entitled, “Autodesk AI in water management: rising to meet new challenges,” Autodesk takes a deep dive into the power of AI in water management, exploring how new AI-powered design tools can unlock game-changing automation and analytical capabilities for water industry professionals.
Here are three ways AI can help water industry professionals achieve more efficient water management:
More efficient drainage planning
Drainage planning sits at the heart of any water management project. These plans face their greatest challenges during critical moments like storms and floods, often falling short due to inadequate scenario testing and the growing impact of extreme weather events.
Fortunately, AI-powered design solutions, such as the InfoDrainage Machine Learning Deluge Tool, can help water professionals create resilient drainage plans that not only withstand today’s storms but also address future challenges posed by climate change.
According to the eBook, “It lets users instantly pinpoint areas on a site with the highest risk of flooding, while also highlighting the best spots for stormwater controls like ponds and swales.”
The water industry faces immense challenges from climate change, aging infrastructure, and growing demand for freshwater, but AI-powered tools are paving the way for a smarter, more resilient future.
Faster data analysis
Government infrastructure projects such as building a school or hospital are often characterized by tight timeframes and high expectations, leaving little room for extensive analysis and review.
For water industry professionals, this means they may not have the luxury of weeks to thoroughly assess flood risk data and analytics—critical components of their work. The pressure to deliver quickly, combined with the complexity of managing flood risks, demands innovative tools and solutions to ensure projects are both efficient and effective.
Through the use of AI-powered design solutions like the InfoDrainage Machine Learning Deluge Tool, water industry professionals can save time on data management, minimize remedial work, and receive more accurate analytics.
As highlighted in the eBook, the Deluge Tool’s AI capabilities can analyze weeks of site data in seconds, delivering native data to predict critical issues such as channeling and ponding with precision.
Accelerated pipe inspections
Pipe inspections are an inherently slow and expensive process, often limiting the amount of infrastructure that can be assessed within a given year. This constrained scope leaves large portions of the pipeline network for large facilities and projects unchecked, increasing the risk of undetected issues such as blockages and pipe corrosion.
Adding to the challenge, the quality and consistency of the data gathered can vary significantly depending on who conducts the pipe inspection, making it nearly impossible to develop an accurate, comprehensive understanding of the entire network. This lack of reliable insights limits water professionals’ ability to implement proactive maintenance and disrupts effective capital planning, leaving water systems exposed to potential failures and operational inefficiencies.
With its ability to amplify human skills, AI-powered tools serve as a game-changing ally in this mission by supporting experts in achieving better project outcomes with fewer errors and at greater speed. The payoff? More sustainable systems and safer, cleaner water for communities across the globe.
Thankfully, advanced AI design solutions like the VAPAR.Solutions + Info360 Asset tool empowers water industry professionals to conduct comprehensive, AI-driven inspections across their entire pipeline network. According to the eBook, these tools identify issues in a fraction of the time traditionally required, enabling faster, more efficient workflows while ensuring data consistency and reliability throughout the entirety of the process.
The water industry faces immense challenges from climate change, aging infrastructure, and growing demand for freshwater, but AI-powered tools are paving the way for a smarter, more resilient future. By streamlining tasks like drainage planning, data analysis, pipeline inspections, and more, AI empowers water professionals to work faster, with greater precision, and achieve better outcomes.
