In this episode Talking Under Water co-host Bob Crossen speaks with Gabriel Collins, the Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, about the evolving pressures on industrial water use and the widening implications of the AI boom. Drawing from his cross-sector expertise, Collins unpacks why water is an inherently hyper‑local resource and how industries — ranging from semiconductor fabrication to refineries and petrochemical plants — are adapting to shrinking supplies and rising costs.
The conversation explores how data centers are straining municipal systems and, in some cases, driving new water‑reuse investments. Collins shares real‑world examples illustrating how creative contracting and industrial partnerships can help utilities upgrade critical infrastructure. He also highlights the increasing viability of air‑cooling technology as an alternative in water‑scarce regions.
Shifting to oil and gas, Collins explains how produced water, seismicity concerns, and disposal challenges are prompting operators to rethink water management strategies. Throughout the discussion, he stresses the importance of “fit‑for‑purpose” water use and the opportunities for circular water practices that avoid mixing contaminated and freshwater streams.
The episode closes with a look at the logistical and economic barriers that still limit a truly integrated one‑water approach.
Show Notes
Gabriel Collins, Baker Institute for Public Policy
Gabriel Collins on LinkedIn
The Sinews of Civilization Substack
WWD Emerging Leaders submissions
WW Emerging Leaders submissions
StormCon 2026 registration
Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction
01:39 – Industrial Water Use in 2026
03:04 – Blind Spots vs. Barriers
05:07 – Water Reuse, Recycling, and Sector Differences
06:34 – Fit‑for‑Purpose Water & Evolving Standards
09:02 – Costs, Margins, and Sensitivity to Water Price
11:03 – Data Centers & Municipal Pressure
14:25 – Policy Levers & Infrastructure Investment
17:34 – Oil & Gas: Produced Water, Disposal, and Seismicity
20:19 – One Water & Virtual Water Displacement
22:08 – Barriers to Circular Water
26:35 – Housekeeping
About the Podcast
Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld (WW) and Stormwater Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.