In this episode Talking Under Water editors from other industry publications discuss how water serves as the invisible backbone of modern infrastructure, industry and technology, and what could happen if that resource suddenly disappeared. Featuring perspectives from across the Endeavor Business Media network, the conversation explores the critical role water plays in cooling data centers, supporting commercial buildings, and enabling manufacturing operations.

Data Center Frontier Editor-in-Chief Matt Vincent explains how water helps manage the enormous heat loads generated by AI and cloud computing infrastructure, and why water availability is becoming a major consideration for both operators and communities. Building Design+Construction Managing Editor Quinn Purcell highlights the dependence of hospitals, schools, multifamily housing, and other facilities on water for everything from sanitation to HVAC cooling systems. IndustryWeek Editor-in-Chief Tom Wilk details how manufacturing relies on water as a raw ingredient, a cleaning agent, a cooling medium, and a key component of production quality and safety.

Together, these perspectives reinforce the message behind Imagine a Day Without Water: water is far more than a utility. Whether powering digital services, maintaining comfortable buildings, or keeping factories running, its absence would create immediate and far-reaching consequences for businesses, communities, and everyday life.

Show notes

Submit your Day Without Water story by emailing a voice memo to [email protected].

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

00:52 – AI growth puts water and cooling in the spotlight

02:05 – Data centers, AI infrastructure, and the cost of losing cooling water

05:26 – How commercial buildings depend on water beyond the obvious uses

07:44 – What happens when buildings face a day without water

08:49 – Manufacturing's dependence on water for production, sanitation, and cooling

11:31 – 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 and Stormwater Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, stormwater 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.    

Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing [email protected] engaging with them on X @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media.