Seminar

AI, Data, Data Centers: Strategies and Opportunities for the Water Sector

February 12-13, 2026

West Palm Beach, FL

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Financial & Legal Roundtables

AI, Data, Data Centers: Strategies and Opportunities for the Water Sector

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use-title 02/12/2026 12:00 AM 02/13/2026 12:00 AM America/New_York AI, Data, Data Centers: Strategies and Opportunities for the Water Sector West Palm Beach, FL

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An AWWA Communities Program Roundtable

Sponsored by Arcadis

AI, Data, Data Centers: Strategies and Opportunities for the Water Sector

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly transforming the water sector in substantial ways. So are the data centers powering this technology revolution. And behind both of these growing activities is the increasing collection, management, and use of data.

Discover how your utility can do more than just navigate these disruptive changes but instead benefit from them.

Don’t miss this interactive roundtable designed specifically for utility executives and senior managers. Join your peers and hear expert insights on vital trends and innovations when it comes to AI, successful management strategies for utilities as data centers and their water demands expand across the country, and learn tips and practices to more effectively collect, manage and protect key operational data.

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Registration Is Open

Register Here

Dates & Location:

February 12 – 13, 2026
West Palm Beach Marriott Hotel
West Palm Beach, Florida

Roundtable Pricing:
$350 — AWWA Member
$450 — Non-member

Who Should Attend?

Water utility c-suite (i.e., CEOs, GMs, CFOs, COOs, CIOs, GCs, Senior management staff, etc.)

Water utility IT and related senior staff

Senior water sector leaders (consultants, manufacturers, etc.) in the AI and related space

Senior municipal government, legal, and financing staff

Financial and legal professionals in the infrastructure/water space

Representatives from large water user industries

Representatives from data center and related AI interests

Quick Links

Hotel Reservations

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Cancellation Policy

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Program

The Roundtable will take place at the West Palm Beach Marriott Hotel, 1001 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. All times below are in eastern time; program topics are subject to adjustment.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2026

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Attendee Check-in (light lunch available)

1:00 p.m.

Welcome, Introduction, Overview of the Roundtable
Tracy Mehan (AWWA)

1:30 p.m.

AI: What is it? Challenges and Opportunities for Water Utilities
An overview of what AI is and is not (reality vs. the sales pitch), including: the progression and impacts of AI on water utility operations; how policies and practices for AI are being developed and implemented by water utilities; key components to a successful rollout of AI and related digitalization activities; and some of the key challenges water utility leaders face in implementing and/or expanding the use of AI and digitalization in their operations.



3:00 p.m.

Break

3:30 p.m.

Utility Data and AI: Collecting It, Using it, and Why It Matters
An interactive discussion on the role of data, its collection and uses in water utility AI-related activities and other key operations, including: what data is and where it can be found in utility operations; the collection process and securing of information contained in data; legal aspects of data collection and its uses; examples of how various water utilities are successfully managing the challenges and risks of data collection; and the positive impacts effective data collection and management can contribute to water utility AI and other operations.

5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Networking Reception

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2026

8:00 a.m.

Registration (continental breakfast available)

8:30 a.m.

Opening remarks and summary of previous day’s sessions

8:45 a.m.

Data Centers: A New Frontier for Water Utilities
An overview of what data centers are and how they impact water utilities and relate to their AI activities, including: what are some of the key potential impacts data centers pose to water systems; how water utilities are managing these impacts; what the energy-related impacts of data centers are and their impact on water systems; the role AI and related tools can (and do) play in working with data centers to effectively manage their water demands; and a discussion of the findings in AWWA’s white paper, “Cooling the Cloud: Water Utilities in a Data-Driven World,” which addresses these and other related topics.


10:30 a.m.

Break

10:45 a.m.

AI, Data, and Data Centers: Putting It All Together and Moving Forward
A round-robin discussion by and between water utility and sector leaders on: the evolving management and integration challenges of data, data management, and the uses of AI in their water system operations; how they are preparing for possible data center development in their service areas; changes they are making to their capital planning and strategic plans to meet evolving data and AI needs; and how they are meeting the demands of growing regulatory issues surrounding the continuing evolution of AI, data collection, and data center development.


12:15 p.m.

Wrap Up, Thank Yous

12:30 p.m.

Adjourn

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West Palm Beach Fl
West Palm Beach Marriott Hotel

1001 Okeechobee Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL 33401

The Roundtable will take place on February 12 and 13 in the hotel’s function space.

Location

West Palm Beach, FL

Situated in downtown, less than five miles from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), the West Palm Beach Marriott welcomes you with exceptional service and sophisticated meeting spaces.

A small block of rooms is reserved at the nightly rate of $329 plus taxes & fees, available until January 14 or until sold out, whichever occurs first. Please book early!

Book Your Room

Roundtable Registration Cancellation Policy: AWWA must receive cancellations in writing. Phone cancellations are not accepted. All cancellations dated more than four weeks prior to Roundtable’s first day will receive a refund, minus a 25% administrative fee. Within four weeks of the event’s start date: cancellations will not be refunded; however, substitute registrants are welcome. Email requests for substitutions or cancellations to service@awwa.org.

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