Technology Will Help the Water Industry Address Climate Change, Changing Consumer Demands

In the eyes of U.S. water and wastewater sector stakeholders, aging infrastructure, aging workforce and intensifying natural disasters are the top challenges facing the water and wastewater industry in 2021, according to Black & Veatch’s 2021 Strategic Directions: Water Report.

A recent article by WaterWorld discusses the report and the current state of the water and wastewater sector with Cindy Wallis-Lage, president of Black & Veatch’s water business. Wallis-Lage stresses the adaptability and agility of the industry, as it has been able to overcome the myriad challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent barrage of extreme weather events.

Moving forward, the water utility owners and operators that enjoy continued success will be those willing to deploy the newest technologies, which can help them work in new ways as they face climate-related disasters, changing customer demands and the work-from-home revolution. The marvel of digitalization lies in its versatility — digital platforms can be mixed and matched to meet the unique needs of each business.

“Those utilities that have embraced innovation, that have embraced technology — including data analytics, additional water tools, and automation — have been able to use these tools to get their jobs done more effectively and efficiently,” said Wallis-Lage to Waterworld.