Stormwater 2026: Five trends to unlock asset performance

Looking ahead to 2026, digital technology innovations are poised to help stormwater utilities squeeze more value from every infrastructure dollar while delivering the resilient systems communities need. The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI), data interoperability, geographic information systems (GIS) -centric datasets and integrated workflows will give operators the tools they need to overcome mounting infrastructure challenges in the coming year and beyond. While utilities continue wrestling with oversight requirements, aging infrastructure, changing weather patterns, rising community expectations and constrained funding, improved asset lifecycle management will offer opportunities to reduce operational costs, gain deeper insight into system behavior and deliver higher quality service. Here are five key trends that will shape the stormwater sector in 2026:

Assets tell the full story: Leverage the data

In the coming years, the evolution of asset lifecycle management through GIS enriched with 3D modeling capabilities will open new possibilities for infrastructure management. These systems will create precise digital representations that reveal patterns easily missed in traditional analysis. When combined with comprehensive asset data, the models will give stormwater utilities a deeper understanding of system behavior and operating conditions over time to support strategic decision making.

Predictive maintenance powered by AI will deliver impressive results. By analyzing asset performance patterns, these systems will identify infrastructure requiring intervention before problems escalate. Research from Deloitte demonstrates that predictive maintenance strategies applied to utilities can reduce costs by as much as 40% compared to reactive approaches. For agencies operating on constrained budgets, this will represent a game-changing opportunity to redirect savings toward addressing deferred maintenance while improving overall system reliability.

Reality capture technology will be more accessible and powerful, enabling comprehensive infrastructure assessment without proportional increases in specialized staff. Democratization of these capabilities will mean utilities can build richer datasets that improve predictive models over time. Integrated asset lifecycle management systems will transform data into actionable analysis that supports evidence-based construction, operations and maintenance priorities.

Compliance without complexity: Streamlined regulatory management

Stormwater managers will also continue to increase their adoption of systems that simplify compliance management. Connected data environments will streamline compliance by consolidating information from across utility operations into a single accessible platform, freeing technical staff to focus on analysis and problem solving rather than data gathering. When data interoperability allows information to flow seamlessly between systems, utilities will maintain compliance with less effort while improving the quality and completeness of their documentation.

AI capabilities will continue improving exponentially, providing organizations with the power to quickly unlock insights from historical asset records, as well as real-time data, simply by typing a question. Agentic AI will elevate compliance management by monitoring permit conditions continuously and flagging potential issues before they occur. Using AI to help manage extensive infrastructure networks will help prioritize activities based on risk factors with higher precision than through manual analysis. Both compliance outcomes and operational efficiency will be optimized. The shift from reactive compliance to proactive management will present opportunities to enhance utility operations with better outcomes for the communities being served and for the environment.

Transparency builds trust: Engaging stakeholders

Another significant trend will be the growing use of connected platforms to make project information accessible in ways that strengthen public trust. Staff will be able to quickly assemble comprehensive project details from a single source, and the transparency benefit will prove invaluable. When discussing capital improvement priorities with stakeholders, these visualizations will build understanding and support for necessary investments. Communities will appreciate the openness and responsiveness, building goodwill that organizations need when seeking support for rate increases or bond measures.

Reality capture technology and 3D visualization will document project progress in compelling ways. Visual evidence will demonstrate tangible value to stakeholders, helping utilities build public support for long-term investments that stormwater systems require.

Improved asset lifecycle management will enable utilities to deliver proactive services that exceed the expectations of the public. When utilities predict where problems will occur and intervene before failures, citizens will experience fewer disruptions. The cumulative effect will be measurably improved service levels that position utilities as responsive stewards of community infrastructure.

Weather the storm with data-driven models: Enhanced predictive capabilities

While stormwater utilities have been investing in IoT solutions, monitoring parameters such as flow and level, analyzing that data to derive the insights on what is happening or likely to happen has been a challenge. Integrated workflows combining real-time sensor data, hydraulic models, asset history, and AI enabled analytics will give agencies the ability to understand system performance during actual storm events, enabling informed prioritization and decision making. Predictive accuracy will improve by modeling future scenarios with confidence, supporting better capital planning and operational decisions that actually address the problems communities face.

AI applications will prove particularly valuable for processing vast amounts of sensor data and identifying patterns human analysts might not detect. Armed with these insights, utilities will implement proactive operational responses that reduce property damage and environmental pollution.

More with less: Maximizing efficiency and resource optimization

Finally, utilities will increasingly leverage task automation and integrated workflows to help departments accomplish more with existing staff. Administrative processes that once required dedicated personnel will occur seamlessly through automated systems. The productivity gains will allow experts to concentrate on activities requiring professional judgment and specialized knowledge. Utilities will find they can expand service delivery without proportional increases in headcount, a particularly valuable capability given current labor market challenges.

Data analytics will enable smarter investment decisions by revealing which interventions will deliver the greatest return. Strategic allocation of limited capital funds will deliver maximum benefit to communities while extending the life of existing systems. The ability to direct resources where they will have the greatest impact will represent a significant advance in capital planning sophistication.

Improved service levels will create a positive feedback loop. When technology investments generate operational savings, residents will become more willing to support the ongoing investments that infrastructure requires.

Embracing the digital advantage

Technology trends emerging in 2026 will form an interconnected ecosystem where capabilities reinforce each other. Connected data environments will provide the foundation for interoperability. AI applications will become more powerful when accessing comprehensive datasets. Reality capture will deliver greater value when information integrates into asset management workflows. Digital delivery approaches will reach full potential when supported by robust data platforms. The synergies will multiply the benefits utilities can achieve.

Infrastructure operators embracing these technologies will position themselves to address current challenges while building capacity for future demands. As regulatory requirements evolve, infrastructure continues aging and climate patterns shift, organizations with mature data management practices, integrated workflows and AI-enhanced decision support will adapt more readily.

Technology implementation will offer the opportunity to improve how the stormwater sector manages assets, serves constituents, and responds to environmental challenges. These capabilities hold significant promise for utilities seeking to promote sustainability, resilience and community livability.