Overcoming Barriers to Adopting Artificial Intelligence

Presentation Description: The “silver tsunami” of retirements and rapid data growth are straining decision-making at water utilities. Recent Water Research Foundation studies (e.g., WRF 5176) identify two key strategies to mitigate these challenges: (1) upskilling staff with digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI), and (2) recruiting data-literate talent and teaching them water fundamentals. Despite these clear strategies, the adoption of the next generation of digital solutions incorporating AI remains limited. The 2025 AWWA State of the Water Industry Report found that while half of utilities have defined AI needs, only 24% of large U.S. drinking water utilities have launched pilots. Barriers include digital literacy gaps, data infrastructure and quality challenges, and cybersecurity concerns (Rapp et al., 2023).
This presentation will showcase practical examples of utilities applying AI today and introduce a framework for overcoming barriers around privacy, cybersecurity, and responsible use. We demonstrate how accessible tools, integrated into existing workflows, deliver quick wins without large upfront investments. Case studies include:
• Processing thousands of scanned tap cards into a service line inventory 95% faster than manual review.
• Answering staff training questions about water reuse regulations with reliable AI-supported guidance.
• Generating interactive figures and reports from diverse wastewater datasets (spreadsheets, lab reports, operational data) to support timely decisions.
Through these examples, we show how water and wastewater utilities can bridge adoption gaps and harness AI/ML to solve real-world challenges.