Infrasync Newsletter #27 - Empowering Utility Teams: The Human Side of Digital Transformation

Author

Andrew Swirsky
May 06, 2025

May 2025 • Number 27

Join us for LinkedIn Live: The past, present, and future of smart sewer networks on May 29, 11:30 PM CST.

During the first four months of the year, we have been growing and scaling to meet the needs of our utilities. This is critical timing as the issues of workforce retirements, aged and failing infrastructure, extreme weather impacts, and water availability are not taking a pause. It has never been a more challenging time to run a water utility.  

As an engineering and technology company are deeply focused on the actual work of solving utilities issues with good data and science. We sometimes forget to take a step back and let everyone know what we are working on. To overcome that we wanted to let our close friends in the industry know what are working on. We have active projects with the following utilities who have made a commitment to improving their systems with technology:  

  • Shreveport, Louisiana – Digital and Physical Water Distribution System Master Plan 

  • Bowling Green, Kentucky – Water loss data integrations and automated reporting 

  • Immokalee, Florida – Drinking water and wastewater sensor networks and live monitoring  

  • North Miami Beach, Florida – Water distribution, AMI, and water loss digital Assessment.  

With each of these projects these utilities are taking a step forward in their physical and digital integrations. The common trend is leadership who want to overcome the status quo and help their teams grow and success in spite of their challenges.

Our team is also growing as we welcomed Suzanne Givler, PE as a full-time hire earlier this year!

There are many professionals passionate about a united digital and physical approach for water utilities but looking for a dedicated role in that space vs the more traditional capital projects. This gives us hope for the future of the industry and accelerating innovation. Utility operators, engineers, and data scientists are ready to work together to move forward, we just need the systems and programs in place to enable this evolution in utility operations.  

-Andrew Swirsky

Empowering Utility Teams: The Human Side of Digital Transformation in 2025

Introduction

Digital tools are now essential to address aged and failing infrastructure. Our water systems are old and starting to fail in pockets around the country but are accelerating in their failure each year as we underinvest in our infrastructure. Current projections are a funding gap of $1.25 trillion over 20 years or $62.5 BILLION a year. The only way to overcome this funding gap is with a combined PHYSICAL and DIGITAL approach.

By 2030, nearly one-third of the water utility workforce is expected to retire, threatening the stability of our water systems. At the same time, digital technologies like AI, IoT, and real-time analytics are transforming how utilities operate. Often with the promise of greater efficiency and resilience. But technology alone isn’t enough, people are the heart of this transformation.

To use a combined physical and digital approach, utilities must bridge a skills gap so that operators can leverage new technologies effectively. The success of this transition depends on investing in the people who run these systems. When we support our people, our people support our water systems.

The Aging Workforce Crisis…

We hosted a LinkedIn Live Event, " Bridging the Data Gap - What Utility Managers need to know" where Andrew & Daniel Swirsky shared their expertise and discussed about how utility management operators can use their data systems to lower non-revenue water, reduce sewer overflows, and control their systems during emergency weather events.

Thanks to everyone that joined us live!

Do you want to relive the experience? Maybe you missed it?

Great meeting with the City of North Miami Beach.

Check out what our team is doing in Florida!

MOVIE - The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

In a village in Malawi, a 13-year-old boy named William Kamkwamba faced a devastating drought that caused the family's crops to fail, leading to famine in his hometown.

Determined to save his village, William conceived a plan to build a windmill to power the town's broken water pump.

He dreamed of bringing a luxury often taken for granted – electricity and running water – to his small community.

Based on a true story, this film was written, directed by, and stars Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Where: Netflix

WWP CONFERENCE 2025

Andrew Swirsky was at the Wet Weather Partnership Annual Workshop in Pittsburgh, PA.

Do you want to read his insights?

Join Infrasync in May!

Join us at the Gulf Coast Water Conservation Symposium

When: May 21, 2025

Where: Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, TX

Join us at the TAWWA One Water Summit

When: May 22-23, 2025

Where: American Bank Center, 1901 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX

Stay current with us, for a clear water future, until next time.