November 3, 2026
The Water-Energy Nexus: Interdependence and Sustainability
By Maddy Dolby
The water-energy nexus serves as a framework and analytical tool to help promote sustainability. Energy is required at every stage of the water cycle, including extraction, treatment, heating, and wastewater management. Likewise, water is needed for energy production, including thermoelectric power plants, extracting fuels, and producing biofuels.
The water-energy nexus can be used as a tool to break down institutional silos, prevent systematic blind spots, and optimize resource use. By breaking down these silos and encouraging collaboration between the water and energy sectors, it supports integrated decision-making rather than isolated planning. The nexus can also highlight where water systems consume excessive energy and where energy systems place unnecessary demands on water sources.
In addition, it can guide cities in designing circular systems that reuse both wastewater and waste heat, improving overall efficiency and sustainability.
How the Water-Energy Nexus Works in Practice
The water-energy nexus can be used in data modeling, policy screening, and circular system design. Engineers can use circular design principles to build wastewater plants that generate their own electricity through renewable energy. Governments can use the nexus framework to evaluate whether climate or energy policies may increase water scarcity. Software and data models can also track how changes in the power grid can affect regional water availability and security, enabling more informed planning and resource management.
The Sustainability Challenge
One of the challenges within the water-energy nexus is balancing growing demand with long-term sustainability. According to the International Energy Agency, freshwater withdrawals for energy production are projected to increase by approximately 50% by 2035. Global water demand is also expected to rise in the coming decades due to population growth, urbanization, and economic development.
To help address these challenges, stakeholders are advocating for strategies that can improve both water and energy efficiency. These strategies include reducing energy use in water-intensive industries, expanding water-efficient renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar systems, and increasing water conversation through efficient irrigation technologies and water recycling. Water reuse and reclamation also help maximize the value of available water resources while helping reduce overall demand.
Technology is also playing a pivotal role in advancing the water-energy nexus. Innovations such as smart grid technologies can help optimize water use in energy production, while advances in desalination, like reverse osmosis, improve access to freshwater. In agriculture, precision irrigation and other advanced farming practices reduce both water and energy consumption. Together, these technologies support more efficient and sustainable management of water and energy resources.
Sustainability in Practice at GF
Sustainability is at the heart of GF’s Flow Solutions business. By 2030, GF aims to drive sustainable impact through its business by creating value through sustainable innovation, reducing its environmental footprint where it matters most, empowering people and strengthening safety, and scaling its impact through collaboration.
To learn more about GF's sustainability efforts, visit georgfischer.com/sustainability.