The people behind AI: supporting the water sector through digital transition

Artificial Intelligence (AI) gets a lot of attention for what it can do, predict, automate and optimise. But in a sector as critical as water, the technology is rarely the hard part. The hard part is the people. The culture and the trust required to make it work.

The water community has long been recognised for its stability, reliability, and deeply embedded professional culture. Generations of operators, engineers, and scientists have built systems grounded in experience, discipline, and sound judgement. This conservatism has protected public health and ensured continuity of service for decades. It reflects an industry that understands the weight of its responsibility.

Today, however, the operating environment is changing. Climate variability is putting new pressure on source water quality and reliability. Aging infrastructure must now perform under conditions it was never designed for.

At the same time, workforce demographics are shifting, and many experienced professionals with decades of operational knowledge are approaching retirement. That knowledge doesn't automatically transfer to the next generation. Unless we act now, some of it will simply walk out the door.

AI and digital tools are emerging as one way to bridge that gap; not to replace experienced professionals, but to support continuity, strengthen visibility, and enable better decisions. The technology exists. What's missing, in many cases, is the translation.

Too much data, not enough clarity

The gap between those two things is where we both work. We both made deliberate career shifts into digital and AI-focused roles, drawn not by trends, but because the need is real and the gap between technology and translation is wide.

Our doctoral training, in chemistry and engineering, contributes to shaping the analytical thinking and structured approach we now apply. A PhD, as its core, is training in navigating uncertainty. It builds discipline to investigate the unknown, evaluating evidence critically, organising large and complex datasets, and communicating findings clearly to an audience that questions, critiques, and validates conclusions.

In an industry undergoing rapid digital change, these skills will be integral to assisting with the adoption of AI in the water sector.

One of the most common challenges utilities face today with digital transformation isn't a lack of information, it's the opposite. Data without structure creates noise, not insight. And noise creates hesitation.

Through structured AI education and strategic guidance, water professionals can better understand not just what AI can do, but whether a specific tool is worth investing in, how to evaluate it critically, and how to embed it in a way that delivers measurable returns.

The goal isn't AI adoption for its own sake. It's smarter decisions, better outcomes, and investment that pays off.

Where change starts

Real progress in this sector rarely begins with a product pitch. It begins with a conversation, often without a defined agenda, where someone simply listens. Organisations like the Australian Water Association create exactly these spaces: open dialogue, honest questions, and genuine curiosity about what's working and what isn't.

From those conversations, pilot programs emerge. Utilities and technology teams test tools in real environments, on real problems, and build confidence through evidence rather than assumption. Language shifts. Mindsets open. What starts as uncertainty becomes curiosity and curiosity becomes action.

What develops isn't a transaction. It's a partnership.

The foundation is being laid now

The groundwork being laid today through conversations, pilots, education, and persistence will shape the water sector’s digital future. Every utility that runs a successful pilot, every professional who builds their AI literacy, every partnership created between technology providers and operational teams, contributes to a sector that is smarter, more resilient, and better equipped for what's ahead.

Digital transformation is simply the next chapter. And behind every successful implementation will be people, curious, committed to supporting the industry every step of the way.

Dr Purvi Midwinter is a digital water specialist at Adasa Systems, working with utilities across Australia and New Zealand to strengthen operational visibility through integrated monitoring and intelligent systems. With a PhD in chemistry and more than 15 years’ experience across the water and environmental sectors, she translates complex operational challenges into practical digital solutions that are aligned with real-world utility needs.

Dr Andrea Gonzalez is Co-Founder of Albon and Founder of Inside AquAI, an education and advisory platform helping water and wastewater utilities build practical, ROI-focused artificial intelligence capability. A water engineer with more than 15 years’ experience across Australia and Colombia, she combines sector expertise with AI strategy to support smarter, more sustainable operations. She holds a PhD from UNSW and is a Chartered Professional Engineer.