The water infrastructure crisis goes beyond aging pipes and outdated systems. It’s about trying to run 21st century operations with 20th century tools, creating inefficiencies that can quickly become dangerous. Ashley Boudet, founder of BCG Water and Pivora Collective, has spent more than a decade addressing these challenges in settings ranging from boutique wineries to underserved communities. Whether climbing water tanks or navigating regulatory boardrooms, she’s committed to finding real, lasting solutions.
Using Outdated Tools in Modern Systems
Here’s something that might surprise you: we’re still trying to run modern water systems with tools from decades ago. “Most people don’t realize we’re operating 21st century water systems with 20th century tools,” says Ashley Boudet, founder of BCG Water and Pivora Collective. “That’s not just inefficient. It’s dangerous.”
Ashley has seen it firsthand, over and over again. Good people doing their best with equipment that should have been replaced years ago. Outdated processes slowing everything down. And yet, they keep showing up—because they care. “The water industry is full of passionate, committed people,” she says. “But the systems they work in are outdated and overregulated in all the wrong ways.” Operators spend more time on paperwork than actually running operations. Regulators can’t keep up with what’s happening on the ground. And small water systems that keep rural America going are barely hanging on. This isn’t just a technical issue. It’s a human one.
Identifying the Core Design Flaws
Most tech companies look at water problems and think the answer is more computers, more data, more dashboards. Ashley Boudet sees it differently. “This isn’t a tech problem. It’s a design problem,” she says. “We don’t need to digitize chaos. We need to design clarity.” She’s seen what happens when digital tools are layered on top of already-broken systems. Things don’t get better. They just get more complex. But what if water systems could actually learn from what’s happening in real time? What if they could support the people who run them, instead of making their jobs harder? “Systems should learn, adapt, and actually empower the people running them,” Boudet explains.
That’s the thinking behind her work at Pivora. Instead of trying to replace human expertise, they’re building tools that make it more powerful.
Designing AI That Empowers Operators
Everyone’s talking about AI these days, but most of it doesn’t help real people doing real work. “AI has massive potential in water, but only if it’s grounded in reality and responsibility,” Boudet explains. Her team is building something called the Benjamin Panel that watches sensor data and flags problems before they turn into disasters. No buzzwords, just better information when you need it. Imagine every water system operator has a smart assistant that spots compliance issues, suggests when to adjust chemical dosing, and recommends upgrades without making everything more complicated. “Imagine if every operator had a virtual co-pilot that flags compliance risks, optimizes dosing, and suggests upgrades without adding complexity. That’s what AI with integrity looks like—the human stays in the loop, but now with superpowers,” she describes.
Building Smarter Policies and Teams
Technology can’t fix everything that’s wrong with water systems. Boudet knows this from experience. “Technology alone won’t fix our water crisis. We need policy updates that reflect real-world realities. We need training that builds a future-ready workforce,” she says. That’s why her team is working on GWAP, the Global Water Access Platform. Think of it as a place where all the different people who deal with water systems can actually talk to each other. “It’s a digital space where regulators, engineers, operators, and business owners can collaborate across systems and borders. We’re building not just smarter tools, but smarter teams,” she explains. Because water problems are too big for any one group to solve alone.
Here’s what really matters to Boudet: making sure small communities get the same quality tools as big cities. “Integrity means ensuring small systems, underserved communities, and non-traditional operators get the same access, funding, and support as the big guys,” she emphasizes. Rural water systems can’t be an afterthought. The old way of thinking about infrastructure isn’t cutting it anymore. “If we want 21st century results, we can’t keep relying on 20th century mindsets,” she argues. Water systems need to reflect how we actually live and work now. AI should make human operators smarter, not replace them entirely. Boudet sees her work as more than just building better technology. “This isn’t just water, it’s life. Let’s build the future we deserve, one system at a time,” she says. After years of seeing what doesn’t work, she’s focused on what does.
Connect with Ashley Boudet on LinkedIn to explore how responsible tech can modernize critical infrastructure.
