Are we finally treating water risk as a government-level issue, rather than as a line item that only appears when something breaks?
In this episode, I’m joined by Emilio Tenuta, SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ecolab, to explain why water has become a strategic variable for business, alongside energy and carbon. Ecolab works with customers in more than 40 industries in more than 170 countries, so Emilio has a front-row seat to how quickly the conversation is changing.
Why water risks will feel different in 2025
One of the most useful parts of this conversation is how Emilio views water as “hyperlocal.” A company can publish a global goal, but the real pressure manifests itself area by area, place by place, community by community.
We also discuss the misconception that water is primarily an operational matter. The knock-on effects are reflected in uptime, expansion plans, permits, reputation and the social license to operate.
Emilio points to disclosure data that puts real money behind the issue. CDP has estimated water-related supply chain risks at $77 billion for responding companies, which helps explain why boards are paying closer attention.
Where AI meets water and energy
AI is a catalyst in two directions at once. It can help organizations measure, predict and reduce waste, but it also drives demand for more data centers, more power and more cooling.
We explore the tension that many people whisper about: building digital capacity in places already experiencing water stress. Emilio’s vision is pragmatic: the answer is responsible innovation, coupled with transparency about how water is used and how its impact is managed.
That takes us into Ecolab’s commitment to digital visibility and real-time control, because you can’t improve what you can’t see.
From ‘site to chip’ cooling and smarter management
Emilio says Ecolab’s 3D TRASAR technology for direct-to-chip liquid cooling is designed to protect high-performance servers by monitoring coolant status indicators in real time and translating that data into actionable steps for operators.
We also discuss what happens when AI is applied to the waterfront of the data center equation. Ecolab and Digital Realty have described a pilot in 35 US data centers to reduce water use by up to 15% and avoid up to 126 million liters of drinking water annually.
In closing, we discuss circularity as a business strategy, the role of collaboration through efforts like the Water Resilience Coalition, and why Ecolab’s Watermark Study is worth reading if you want to get a sense of water management and public sentiment.
So where does listening leave you on the big question: Will AI become a stress test for local water systems, or a tool that finally helps us make them function better, and why?
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