Leading Utilities today welcomed the expansion of the Water-AI Nexus™ Center of Excellence Advisory Council, marking a significant step in strengthening collaboration at the intersection between the global water sector and artificial intelligence.

As a founding leader of the Water-AI Nexus, along with WEF, Amazon and the Water Center at UPenn, Leading Utilities plays a central role in helping utilities engage with emerging digital infrastructure challenges while keeping sustainable water management at the centre of innovation. The expanded Advisory Council brings together a broad coalition of associations, utilities, technology firms, and research institutions, reflecting the growing recognition of the interdependence between water systems and AI development.

New members include major organisations such as AMWA, ASDWA, Imagine H2O, IDRA, NACWA, NAWC, NRWA, SWAN, and the WateReuse Association, alongside companies including Autodesk, CDM Smith, Grundfos, HDR, Raftelis, and Xylem. The group is designed to better align technological innovation with the operational realities of water utilities.

Through its global network of leading utilities, Leading Utilities contributes an operator-led perspective focused on ensuring that AI applications are grounded in real-world system constraints and deliver measurable benefits in resilience, efficiency, and sustainability.

Utilities sit at the centre of both the opportunities and risks associated with AI adoption, and the initiative is intended to ensure that innovation translates into practical improvements across the sector.

Council members will contribute through thought leadership, participation in global forums, and collaboration on initiatives spanning both “Water for AI” and “AI for Water.” Leading Utilities’ involvement ensures that high-performing utilities remain directly represented in shaping these priorities.

The Water-AI Nexus will convene partners at major international events throughout 2026 and 2027, including the Global Water Summit, Singapore International Water Week, and WEFTEC, providing platforms for continued dialogue and implementation.

For Leading Utilities, the initiative reinforces its mission to connect leading utilities globally, accelerate innovation, and advance best practice across the sector.

To learn more about the Water-AI Nexus, please visit water-ai-nexus.org. We continue to welcome engagement from mission-aligned organizations.