K-water, City of Austin to Collaborate on AI Water Management and Pursue Local Demonstration Projects

\ \ [Financial News] Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) is pursuing cooperation with the City of Austin, Texas, on AI- and digital-based water management. It plans to address rising water demand driven by urban development and data center expansion, and to support Korean water companies in conducting local technology demonstrations and identifying business opportunities.
K-water said it met with a delegation including Austin Deputy Mayor Michael Rogers at the Han River Basin Headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the 29th and signed an MOU on cooperation in AI-based water management.
The two organizations will work together on data-driven water resource management, including digital twins, and smart water management. They plan to share best practices and technologies in water management, hold joint seminars, and identify and carry out joint proof-of-concept (PoC) projects for local applications.
Austin, the capital of Texas, is seeing growing water demand due to its advanced industries and urban development. Austin’s water utility has expressed interest in securing alternative water resources and adopting smart water management technologies to ensure a stable water supply.
Discussions on cooperation began in January this year, when representatives of the Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce expressed interest in K-water’s technology at CES 2026. The two sides have continued to engage, with K-water attending the Korea-Texas Business Summit last August.
K-water plans to connect its experience in water management using AI and digital technologies with local demand. Its digital twin water management platform and AI-based autonomous operation system for water treatment plants were ranked first and third, respectively, in the Top 10 Innovation Projects by Public Institutions in June. This month, its AI water treatment plant technology also passed the official ballot for an ISO Draft International Standard (DIS).
K-water will also explore ways to connect Korean water companies with technologies suited to local demand, helping them gain experience applying their technologies in the United States and build a foundation for entering the market.
President Yoon Seok-dae said, “Building on the water management capabilities we have developed over the past 60 years, we will support Austin in securing water resources and managing water efficiently, and expand cooperation to help Korean water companies enter global markets.”
[email protected] Choi Ga-young Reporter