One Water: AI and energy needs in a sustainable water future
In this episode Talking Under Water co-host Bob Crossen speaks with Gabriel Collins, the Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, about the evolving pressures on industrial water use and the widening implications of the AI boom. Drawing from his cross-sector expertise, Collins unpacks why water is an inherently hyper‑local resource and how industries — ranging from semiconductor fabrication to refineries and petrochemical plants — are adapting to shrinking supplies and rising costs.
The conversation explores how data centers are straining municipal systems and, in some cases, driving new water‑reuse investments. Collins shares real‑world examples illustrating how creative contracting and industrial partnerships can help utilities upgrade critical infrastructure. He also highlights the increasing viability of air‑cooling technology as an alternative in water‑scarce regions.
Shifting to oil and gas, Collins explains how produced water, seismicity concerns, and disposal challenges are prompting operators to rethink water management strategies. Throughout the discussion, he stresses the importance of “fit‑for‑purpose” water use and the opportunities for circular water practices that avoid mixing contaminated and freshwater streams.
The episode closes with a look at the logistical and economic barriers that still limit a truly integrated one‑water approach.
Show Notes
- Gabriel Collins, Baker Institute for Public Policy
- Gabriel Collins on LinkedIn
- The Sinews of Civilization Substack
- WWD Emerging Leaders submissions
- WW Emerging Leaders submissions
- StormCon 2026 registration
Timestamps
- 00:00 – Introduction
- 01:39 – Industrial Water Use in 2026
- 03:04 – Blind Spots vs. Barriers
- 05:07 – Water Reuse, Recycling, and Sector Differences
- 06:34 – Fit‑for‑Purpose Water & Evolving Standards
- 09:02 – Costs, Margins, and Sensitivity to Water Price
- 11:03 – Data Centers & Municipal Pressure
- 14:25 – Policy Levers & Infrastructure Investment
- 17:34 – Oil & Gas: Produced Water, Disposal, and Seismicity
- 20:19 – One Water & Virtual Water Displacement
- 22:08 – Barriers to Circular Water
- 26:35 – Housekeeping
About the Podcast
Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld (WW) and Stormwater Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.
About the Author
Bob Crossen
Bob Crossen is the vice president of content strategy for the Water and Energy Groups of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B. EB2B publishes WaterWorld, Wastewater Digest and Stormwater Solutions in its water portfolio and publishes Oil & Gas Journal, Offshore Magazine, T&D World, EnergyTech and Microgrid Knowledge in its energy portfolio. Crossen graduated from Illinois State University in Dec. 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in German and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. He worked for Campbell Publications, a weekly newspaper company in rural Illinois outside St. Louis for four years as a reporter and regional editor. Crossen can be reached at [email protected].