Water 2050 Technology Think Tank Report highlights acceleration, transformation

The second think tank report of the Water 2050 initiative led by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) highlights recommendations developed by a diverse group of influential thinkers from within and outside the water community.

The Water 2050 Technology Think Tank Report includes recommended actions in four broad categories:

• Accelerate innovation
• Transform water services through next-generation technology
• Apply technology as the “Great Water Equalizer”
• Achieve a secure cyber future

The 26 participants in the Water 2050 Technology Think tank met Dec. 5-7, 2022, at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California. They represented water and wastewater utilities, manufacturing and consulting communities, innovation incubators, Silicon Valley thought leaders, privacy and cybersecurity experts, regulators and academics, CEOs, and an agriculture research hydrologist. The think tank opened with a video featuring the perspectives of AWWA young professionals.

“It is our responsibility as water professionals and technology innovators to chart a course for a successful and sustainable future,” said Chi Ho Sham, AWWA immediate past president and a member of the Water 2050 Leadership Team. (Pictured above, participants in the Water 2050 Technology Think Tank.)

“By collaborating with influential thinkers from within and beyond the traditional water community, we will be better positioned to harness transformational new technologies and approaches, and at the same time, mitigate unintended consequences,” he added.

Water 2050 seeks to envision the future of water and chart a course for sustainability. The Water 2050 Sustainability Think Tank took place Sept. 26-28 in Las Vegas. The Water 2050 Economics Think Tank was Jan. 23-25 in New York City. Two other think tanks are being held over the next six months to visualize the future of water through the additional drivers of governance and social/demographics.
 
High-level recommendations are being reported after each think tank. Once all five are completed, information from the reports will be combined into a final Water 2050 report. Outcomes will be presented at AWWA’s 2023 Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE23) in Toronto, ON.

To engage in AWWA’s Water 2050 initiative or to learn more, visit the Water 2050 webpage.