MentorAPM will showcase new AI-powered asset intelligence tools for water and wastewater utilities at WEFTEC 2026, as the sector looks for practical ways to use artificial intelligence in infrastructure decision-making.
The company will use the event to demonstrate how credible asset data can support better operational, condition, risk and reliability decisions. WEFTEC 2026 will take place at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, with the conference running from September 26-30 and the exhibition from September 28-30.
MentorAPM said it will provide live demonstrations and customer examples at booth #1211, including a walkthrough of MentorLens, its tool for Level 2 rapid condition assessments. The company will also give attendees an early look at Nelson, its asset-aware AI coworker, which is currently in beta ahead of a broader launch planned for 2027.
“In this day and age, it seems like every time you turn around there’s a new, shiny AI tool promising to solve all of your biggest challenges,” said Tacoma Zach, co-founder and CEO of MentorAPM.
Zach said utilities need what MentorAPM calls “asset data credibility” before AI tools can deliver useful results.
“Without what we call ‘asset data credibility,’ meaning accurate, quality data at the base, those tools aren’t going to be very useful,” he said.
MentorAPM said MentorLens uses AI to help utilities build complete, current and reliable asset information. The tool is designed to reduce the time and cost of asset inventory and condition assessments while improving the quality of the data collected.
According to the company, MentorLens has cut asset data collection time by up to 10 times and reduced costs by as much as 75 percent across deployments. MentorAPM said these results have been demonstrated with utilities including Santa Monica Water Resources, Genesee County Drain Commissioner Division of Water & Waste Services and Monterey One Water.
The data gathered through MentorLens can flow into a utility’s existing computerised maintenance management system or enterprise asset management system, creating a more reliable asset record to support condition, risk and reliability decisions.
MentorAPM said this asset context also supports Nelson, which is being developed to help users ask questions about asset data in plain language. The company said Nelson is designed to understand how physical assets operate, deteriorate and affect service, connecting operational, condition, risk and reliability context to help users understand what is happening and what matters next.
The launch comes as utilities increasingly explore AI to support infrastructure planning, maintenance and resilience. MentorAPM’s message at WEFTEC 2026 is that AI adoption should start with credible data rather than disconnected tools.
MentorAPM will exhibit at booth #1211 at WEFTEC 2026.
FAQs
What is MentorAPM showcasing at WEFTEC 2026?
MentorAPM will showcase AI-powered asset intelligence tools for water and wastewater utilities, including MentorLens and an early preview of Nelson.
What is MentorLens?
MentorLens is MentorAPM’s AI-supported tool for rapid asset inventory and Level 2 condition assessments.
What is Nelson?
Nelson is MentorAPM’s asset-aware AI coworker, currently in beta, designed to help users query and interpret asset data in plain language.
Why does asset data credibility matter for water utilities?
Accurate and reliable asset data gives utilities a stronger foundation for condition, risk, reliability and investment decisions, particularly when using AI tools.
When is WEFTEC 2026?
WEFTEC 2026 takes place in New Orleans from September 26-30, 2026, with the exhibition running from September 28-30.
