The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is proud to be featured in the latest episode of “Earth with John Holden,” which aired on Bloomberg TV on Nov. 16, 2025. This special segment highlights WEF’s leadership in launching the Water-AI Nexus™ Center of Excellence, a global hub where water and artificial intelligence converge to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges.
A First-of-Its-Kind Initiative
The Water-AI Nexus™ Center of Excellence advances water sustainability in AI development while leveraging artificial intelligence to solve critical water issues. WEF is convening leaders from utilities, technology, academia, and finance – including Amazon, The Water Center at Penn, and Leading Utilities of the World – to drive innovation and collaboration. As WEF Executive Director Ralph Exton explains, “The Water-AI Nexus™ is a great example of WEF leading the transformation to the Circular Water Economy in action. Adopting advanced technologies is essential for modernizing water infrastructure and protecting public health. By harnessing AI and circular water principles, we can make our systems more efficient, secure, and resilient.”
Showcasing Innovation in “Data Center Alley”
The episode takes viewers to “Data Center Alley” in Ashburn, Virginia, where WEF member Loudoun Water demonstrates the power of water reclamation. Millions of gallons of treated water are used to protect local ecosystems and support the digital infrastructure that powers our connected world. Amazon, a founding leader of the Water-AI Nexus™, is featured for its commitment to sustainable water use in data centers. “One of the first questions we ask when we go into a new region to put up data centers is if reclaimed or recycled water is available. If available, we work very closely with those utilities to utilize this sustainable source,” says Gert Van Der Walt, Senior Water Resources Manager at Amazon Web Services.
AI for Water, Water for AI
The Water-AI Nexus™ Center of Excellence is built on a dual mission:
- Water for AI: Ensuring AI infrastructure uses water as efficiently as possible.
- AI for Water: Leveraging AI to solve pressing water scarcity and management challenges.
WEF’s partners, including Imagine H2O, are developing and scaling AI-enabled solutions for water’s biggest challenges. “AI is reshaping water management by providing new and smarter tools to help utilities improve their internal operations, and this helps them get better metrics over time,” notes Miguel Sibiyan, Program Manager at Imagine H2O.
Advancing the Circular Water Economy
This episode celebrates breakthrough partnerships and technologies that are moving global water stewardship forward. It also highlights WEF’s commitment to building a passionate, diverse water workforce; resilient communities; and a circular water economy that reduces waste, recovers nutrients and energy, and regenerates nature.
To learn more about the Water-AI Nexus™ Center of Excellence and how you can get involved, visit water‑ai‑nexus.org.