By Marina Donovan
Global water demand is expected to rise significantly over the next 20 years, driven by population growth, agricultural practices and industrial development, as noted by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. By 2050, water use is projected to increase by 20 to 50% above current levels, with the industrial and domestic sectors growing at the fastest pace.
These trends, along with the increasing demand for goods and services, underscore the urgent need for modernized infrastructure. Integrating advanced technologies and leveraging tools like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will be essential to optimizing operations, enhancing service delivery and promoting sustainability. Utilities are using AI to address challenges related to cybersecurity, maintenance, consumer engagement and more.
While the potential of AI and ML is immense, realizing it requires a workforce that is both prepared and adaptable. By investing in workforce development and bridging these gaps, water utilities can establish a foundation for continuous innovation to address challenges and create efficiencies.
Barriers to AI Adoption
AI and ML are recognized as modern-day solutions capable of addressing both chronic and emerging challenges in the water sector. However, their implementation requires careful workforce coordination. This year’s Itron Resourcefulness Insight report, which surveyed 600 electric and gas utility executives about AI and ML, revealed the following barriers to adoption:
- Lack of Expertise: 43% of utilities surveyed stated expertise as a significant barrier to AI adoption. This gap highlights the urgency for workforce development, ensuring that utilities have the skilled personnel necessary to manage and operate enhanced systems.
- Legacy Infrastructure: AI and ML systems will require robust, secure and standardized data infrastructures. Reliance on outdated infrastructure, of which 40% identified as a key barrier, highlights an area where growth and transformation can usher in positive impacts.
- Hesitancy: Utilities prioritize reliability and regulatory compliance, creating a cautious culture. This culture, as 39% of utilities noted, may hinder the adoption of modern technologies. Demonstrating AI and ML’s reliability and scalability will be critical in overcoming this hesitancy.
Measures to Improve Workforce Readiness
Water utilities are not immune to these challenges. To bridge the growing divide between current capabilities and growing demands, water utilities can take proactive steps to prepare for AI and ML adoption:
- Upskilling the Workforce: A key focus that water utilities can turn to is investing in both data infrastructure and workforce development. Examples of programs like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program create pipelines in recruiting and training workers for a digitally-enabled future. Investing in workforce development enables utilities to provide their teams with the necessary skills to handle advanced technologies effectively and maintain stable operations.
- Localized Solutions: Each region faces its own set of unique challenges when it comes to both maintaining and improving infrastructure. Two surveys conducted by the EPA indicated a total infrastructure funding deficit exceeding $1.2 trillion over the next two decades. To address these challenges, water utilities can customize their workforce training strategies to meet the specific requirements of their region and operators, ensuring effective solutions for local challenges.
- Strategic Partnerships: Water utilities should not feel isolated in their digital transformation efforts. By partnering with trusted technology providers, utilities can leverage external expertise to accelerate AI and ML adoption, overcome skill gaps and reduce costs. These partnerships enable the implementation of integrated, data-driven systems that empower better decision-making.
Surging into the Future
Water utilities are sitting at the edge of opportunity. Bridging the workforce readiness gap and taking steps to implement AI will help utilities increase operational efficiency, remain at the forefront of innovation and support the delivery of more sustainable water services for the communities they serve. By prioritizing training, partnerships and localized solutions, utilities can align workforce capabilities with the increasing complexity of modern water systems.
Marina Donovan is vice president of global marketing, ESG and public affairs at Itron. She has more than 25 years of global technology marketing and public relations experience with a background in data security, communications networks and mobile. Prior to joining Itron in 2018, she was vice president of marketing for Silver Spring Networks.
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