Washington, D.C. – The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) has submitted comments to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) on the development of a national Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan. In the letter, AMWA highlights the critical intersection of AI development and water resource management and urges policymakers to assess AI’s impact on water demand while leveraging AI for water efficiency.
“AI presents both challenges and opportunities for water utilities,” said AMWA CEO Tom Dobbins, CAE. “As AI-driven industries expand, we must account for increased water demands in data centers, manufacturing, and technology, while harnessing AI’s potential to optimize utility operations, improve leak detection, and enhance water conservation efforts.”
AMWA encourages the AI Action Plan to conduct a comprehensive water footprint assessment on AI’s water impacts, identify opportunities for AI to advance water conservation, and encourage collaboration between AI developers and water managers to ensure long-term sustainability. The association also outlines actionable steps for consideration to address these opportunities.
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The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) has been the unified and definitive voice for the nation's largest publicly owned water systems for over 40 years. AMWA's membership serves more than 160 million people with safe drinking water.
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