WSP Visioneer Voices | Water for all

December 8, 2025

Welcome to WSP Visioneer Voices — where thought leadership meets real-world impact.

In this talk Ansel Bather, National Vice President – Water & Wastewater, WSP in Canada, explores one of the most urgent challenges of our time – access to clean water, and answers the question ‘How to get water to as many people as possible—sustainably, equitably, and efficiently?’.

Dive in and discover what happens when vision meets purpose.

Meet our speaker – Ansel Bather, National Vice President, Water & Wastewater for WSP in Canada

Ansel Bather is the National Vice President – Water & Wastewater for WSP in Canada. With a career spanning over 30 years he has been committed to helping guide stakeholders, bringing transformative visions to life – always with a focus on equity, resilience and creating lasting value for our communities.

Key takeaways from this talk

Access to clean water is essential for life, yet over 2 billion people still lack safe access.

Solving this crisis requires innovation in infrastructure, policy, technology, community engagement, and climate resilience.

Now is the time to shift from reactive solutions to proactive, inclusive, and sustainable water strategies for all.

The challenge: Despite technological progress and a booming water industry, billions still lack safe drinking water due to systemic issues like aging infrastructure, poor governance, climate change, and inequality.

The opportunity: To reimagine global water access through innovation, collaboration, and inclusive design—leveraging smart infrastructure, data, policy reform, and community-led solutions to build a future where clean water is available to all.

Five critical areas to address

1. Infrastructure innovation

We need to rethink how we build and deliver water systems.

Decentralized solutions like solar-powered desalination and rainwater harvesting.
Smart water grids that detect leaks and optimize flow.
Mobile water delivery for disaster zones and remote communities.

2. Policy & governance

Water access is also an issue for our policy makers and governments

We need:

Cross-border cooperation on shared water resources.
Transparent pricing models that ensure affordability.
Regulatory frameworks that prioritize sustainability and equity.

3. Technology & data

Digital tools are game changers.

AI for demand forecasting.
Blockchain for water rights and usage tracking.
Remote sensing for groundwater mapping.

These innovations help us make smarter decisions—and reach more people.

4. Climate resilience

Water systems must withstand extremes.

Designing for droughts and floods.
Restoring natural ecosystems like wetlands.
Integrating water strategies into climate action plans

5. Community engagement

Infrastructure must serve people.

That means:

Listening to local voices.
Empowering women and Indigenous communities.
Educating the next generation on water stewardship.

Water for all

Water for all

Welcome to WSP Visioneer Voices — where thought leadership meets real-world impact.

Meet our speaker – Ansel Bather, National Vice President, Water & Wastewater for WSP in Canada

Meet our speaker – Ansel Bather, National Vice President, Water & Wastewater for WSP in Canada

Key takeaways from this talk