Arcadis has announced the next phase of its AI for Water Innovation Challenge, an organization-wide applied innovation program that pairs internally crowd-sourced AI ideas with real challenges faced by utilities, regulators, and public agencies. Selected concepts are advanced through seed-funded pilots in partnership with clients.
As part of this next phase, Arcadis has begun progressing five winning ‘AI for Water’ ideas with client partners in controlled, real-world settings. One of the first exploratory pilots is now underway with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP), focused on assessing how AI-assisted tools could support limited elements of stormwater permitting reviews.
The six-month pilot with NYC DEP is intentionally narrow in scope and designed to provide decision support for NYC DEP application review teams. It explores how AI can enhance review processes for Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), such as by identifying potential inconsistencies and non-compliance areas, while maintaining existing regulatory standards and keeping all professional judgment and decision-making with NYC DEP employees.
NYC DEP administers New York City’s stormwater permitting program, which supports the City’s broader stormwater management and climate resilience objectives, including implementation of the Unified Stormwater Rule. Consistent with the agency’s emphasis on data-driven operations and careful modernization, the pilot is structured as a learning exercise rather than an operational change initiative.
Early work has focused on mapping permitting workflows, assessing the feasibility and accuracy of multiple AI platforms for ‘completeness’ and ‘correctness’ checks, and refining AI prompts aligned with NYC DEP’s established SWPPP templates. Findings will inform any future consideration of AI-assisted tools.
Heather Polinsky, CEO, Arcadis said: “AI is reshaping every sector, and the question is not whether it will have an impact, but how responsibly and effectively it is applied.
“The AI for Water Innovation Challenge reflects that real applied innovation opportunity. By co-creating and testing solutions in partnership with our clients, we can turn disruption into a positive force for resilience, efficiency, and long-term economic value.”
The pilot is among the first from Arcadis’ AI for Water Innovation Challenge, with additional client-partnered pilots expected to begin in 2026. These efforts are designed to generate practical evidence and decision-making guidance on the responsible application of AI in real operational and regulatory contexts - helping inform future adoption across the water sector.
About Arcadis’ AI for Water Innovation Challenge:
The Arcadis AI for Water Innovation Challenge was created to move beyond experimentation by pairing innovation in the water sector directly with operational needs and clear client value. In its first phase in 2025, more than 40 ideas were submitted from across Arcadis, with five concepts selected based on relevance, feasibility, and suitability for responsible, client-partnered pilots. By testing ideas in real operational contexts, the program helps identify which AI applications can deliver tangible benefits and credible investment cases.
