After years of collecting and organizing data, the water sector appears to be reaching a turning point: AI is helping utilities put that information to work proactively.
In this episode, Seth Nickinson, Director of Product at SewerAI, brings the perspective of a software developer responding to what utilities need from AI—and what still makes them cautious.
He sees adoption accelerating as people bring experience with tools like ChatGPT into the workplace, along with firsthand knowledge of their limitations.
That puts trust at the center of the conversation: an AI tool needs to understand the questions utility staff are asking and work reliably with their system’s records.
The practical opportunities often involve time-consuming work, such as analyzing inspection histories or preparing the same findings for different audiences. SewerAI’s new Command Center offers one example, letting users ask questions about their inspection records and digital maps in everyday language.
AI is also shortening the path from a customer’s request to a new software capability, changing how quickly developers can respond to local needs.
An equally important challenge is preserving the knowledge of retiring employees who understand why their particular sewer system behaves the way it does.
Protecting those records raises questions about where data goes and whether outside AI providers can use it for training.
Looking ahead, Nickinson expects more analysis to happen directly inside inspection robots and sensors rather than on distant servers.
His vision is an assistant that helps utilities adapt a maintenance schedule when a storm arrives or equipment fails, connecting accumulated knowledge to the decisions crews face that day.
Learn more about SewerAI at https://www.sewerai.com/
VIDEO CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
1:06 Sponsor Message
2:21 Turning Data Into Proactive Work
3:46 AI Adoption and Building Trust
6:00 What Utilities Want From AI
8:04 Command Center and Asking Questions of Data
9:45 Keeping Up With AI and Building New Tools
11:55 Local Sewer Challenges and Workforce Knowledge
14:22 Cybersecurity and Protecting Customer Data
15:41 The Future of AI in the Field
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
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