The ADS Foundation and The Nature Conservancy’s Brightstorm program are showcasing Smart Watershed Network Management (SWNM) at WEFTEC 2026 in New Orleans, highlighting the use of sensors, real-time data and adaptive controls to improve stormwater management.

SWNM connects individual stormwater infrastructure sites into a responsive network that can react to changing rainfall and other conditions. The approach is intended to help communities reduce flooding, improve water quality and support healthier waterways by allowing existing infrastructure to hold and release stormwater more adaptively.

The organizations are supporting research and pilot projects aimed at moving smart stormwater technologies toward broader deployment. Their work includes a living lab in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon watershed, where more than 11,000 ponds and lakes provide an environment for testing and scaling connected stormwater systems.

At WEFTEC, the ADS Foundation and Brightstorm are also highlighting Alluvia, a free, open-access platform for developing and scaling smart watershed tools. The organizations will participate in a Sept. 29 panel with Arup and Amazon Web Services examining the technology, partnerships and policy conditions needed to scale interconnected stormwater infrastructure across communities.