The ADS Foundation and The Nature Conservancy’s Brightstorm program are joining efforts at WEFTEC 2026 – the largest water conference in North America, taking place September 26-30 in New Orleans. They will showcase Smart Watershed Network Management (SWNM) and how smart stormwater systems can upgrade legacy infrastructure to better manage stormwater, protect water quality, reduce flooding, and support the nature on which all life depends.

The collaboration reflects the ADS Foundation’s commitment to advancing solutions that protect water and build more resilient communities. By supporting Brightstorm’s research and bringing together ADS’ water management expertise with new technologies and data-driven approaches, the Foundation is helping move innovative stormwater solutions from research and pilot projects toward broader real-world applications.

Most stormwater infrastructure was designed as a series of isolated, passive systems, often focused on flood control rather than water quality, ecosystem health, or climate adaptation. Today, technology can help communities make better use of this existing infrastructure. By combining sensors, real-time data, and adaptive controls, SWNM connects individual sites into a responsive network that can react to changing rainfall and other conditions – helping reduce flooding, improve water quality, and support healthier waterways and ecosystems.

A smart watershed doesn’t replace nature; but it can learn from what it does best. By holding water longer and releasing it more slowly, natural systems help manage rainfall while supporting healthier ecosystems. SWNM uses sensors and active controls to help engineered infrastructure better mimic how the land manages water on its own.

Bringing Smarter Stormwater Management to WEFTEC

ADS Foundation and Brightstorm will join industry partners, Arup and Amazon Web Services, for a panel discussion to introduce SWNM and explore what’s needed to scale smarter infrastructure.

The panel, “What It Takes to Scale Intelligent, Interconnected Stormwater Infrastructure,” will take place Tuesday, September 29, from 1:45–2:15 p.m. CT at the Circular Water Economy Pavilion in Hall D, Booth #2659.

The panel will include updates on the living lab in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon (IRL), one of four EPA-designated National Estuary Programs in the state. With more than 11,000 ponds and lakes, 80% of which are privately owned, and receiving more than 50 inches of annual rainfall, the IRL watershed provides a unique environment for testing and scaling smarter stormwater solutions.

Panelists will explore the technology, partnerships, and policy conditions needed to move smarter stormwater management from individual projects to solutions that can be scaled and replicated across communities.

See Smart Watersheds in Action

Throughout the conference, attendees can visit the ADS Foundation and Brightstorm booth in the Circular Water Economy Pavilion in Exhibit Halls A–J, Booth #3062.

The booth will showcase how advances in computing power, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are opening new possibilities for stormwater management. Attendees can also engage with Alluvia, a free open-access gateway designed to build, host, iterate, and scale smart watershed tools. As Alluvia is always evolving, visitors are encouraged to explore, share feedback, and suggest future additions as it grows.

At WEFTEC, ADS Foundation and Brightstorm will dive into what it takes to scale smarter, adaptive infrastructure – connecting with fellow industry professionals to build better stormwater management for thriving communities, healthier ecosystems, and cleaner waterways.

About the ADS Foundation

The ADS Foundation seeks to improve quality of life by building resilient and sustainable communities that inspire social equity in recycling, education, mental health, housing, and water. Established by Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in 2020, the ADS Foundation is committed to partnering with organizations that improve availability and access in these five areas. The ADS Foundation is funded primarily by Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE: WMS), a leading provider of innovative water management solutions in the stormwater and onsite wastewater industries and one of the largest plastic recyclers in North America. To learn more about the ADS Foundation, go to www.adspipe.com/corp/impact/ads-foundation.

About Advanced Drainage Systems

Advanced Drainage Systems is a leading manufacturer of innovative stormwater and onsite wastewater solutions that manage the world’s most precious resource: water. ADS and its subsidiary, Infiltrator Water Technologies, provide superior stormwater drainage and onsite wastewater products used in a wide variety of markets and applications including commercial, residential, infrastructure and agriculture, while delivering unparalleled customer service. ADS manages the industry’s largest company-owned fleet, an expansive sales team, and a vast manufacturing network of approximately 64 manufacturing plants and 35 distribution centers. The company is one of the largest plastic recycling companies in North America, ensuring over half a billion pounds of plastic is kept out of landfills every year. Founded in 1966, ADS’ water management solutions are designed to last for decades. To learn more, visit the Company’s website at www.adspipe.com.

About Brightstorm

Brightstorm is a program of The Nature Conservancy. Brightstorm modernizes aging stormwater infrastructure using data, technology, and collaboration to protect clean water, healthy ecosystems, and resilient communities. By applying advanced assessment tools, smart controls, and AI-driven insights, Brightstorm helps stormwater systems function more like nature – capturing more rainfall, filtering pollutants, and reducing flood risk. Through Living Labs such as in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon, the collaborative approach transforms passive stormwater ponds into an interconnected, smart network that can be replicated across the U.S. and globally.

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. For more news, visit our newsroom or follow The Nature Conservancy on LinkedIn.

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