Water AI Nexus Sets WEFTEC 2026 Program
Water-AI Nexus Center of Excellence will host three days of WEFTEC 2026 sessions on utility AI, data centers and cybersecurity.
The Water-AI Nexus™ Center of Excellence will host three days of panel sessions at WEFTEC 2026 in New Orleans from Sept. 28 through 30. The program, held at Booth 6310 in Exhibition Hall G at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, will examine utility AI deployment, sustainable approaches to data center growth, alternative water supplies, policy and cybersecurity. Founded by the Water Environment Federation, Amazon, The Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania and Leading Utilities of the World, the center brings water utilities, researchers, technology companies and policymakers into the same program. Speakers include representatives of the U.S. EPA, Amazon, Veolia, Xylem and Singapore PUB.
Utility AI In Practice
The Monday program opens with “State of the Industry: Water and AI,” featuring Ralph Exton of the Water Environment Federation, Sonora Hill of Amazon, Kishia Powell of WSSC Water and Leading Utilities of the World, and Howard Neukrug of Water Center at Penn.
A second session, “How 18 Utility Leaders are Using AI,” will feature Angela Charles of Charlotte Water and Matt Kennelly of LOTT Clean Water Alliance, moderated by Peiffer Brandt of Raftelis. A federal and state policy discussion follows, with Pouya Lavian of the U.S. EPA and Anthony DeRosa of ASDWA, moderated by Corey Williams of the WEF Board of Trustees.
Data Center Water Planning
On Tuesday, “Delivering AI to Manage the Water That Delivers AI” includes Gert Van der Walt of Amazon, Anne LeGuennec of Veolia, Snehal Desai of Xylem and Bernard Koh of Singapore PUB.
Other sessions will cover digital twins and AI agents already being implemented by water utilities, planning for growth in the AI era, and alternative water supply for the digital economy. The latter panel brings together John Hanula of Stantec, Desai of Xylem and Pete Oveson of Trojan Technologies, moderated by Shannon McCarthy of IDRA and Bruno Pigott of WateReuse Association.
Infrastructure And Cybersecurity
The final day will address AI applications for stormwater and collection systems, data center cooling through heat recovery, responsible data center development, and cyber threats to water systems. Speakers include Eric Harold of Carollo Engineers, Oluwole McFoy of Houston Public Works, Kevin Leach of Vanderbilt University and Charles Stephens of the National Rural Water Association.
The Water-AI Nexus program is positioned within WEFTEC 2026, the Water Environment Federation’s annual exhibition and conference. Credentialed media can request access through the WEFTEC online press room.
Water And AI Collaboration
The Water-AI Nexus Center of Excellence was founded to develop sustainable water practices for AI infrastructure while applying artificial intelligence to water challenges. Its WEFTEC stage brings utility operations, policy, infrastructure planning and system security into a single three-day agenda.
