AI and Chemistry Join Forces to Clean Up Wastewater

Unitywater and Calix fuse chemistry with AI to curb odors, emissions, and costs in a data-driven wastewater initiative.

7 Oct 2025

A collaboration between Queensland utility Unitywater and Australian technology company Calix is redefining wastewater management through the integration of advanced chemistry and digital automation.

Announced in July 2025, the partnership covers the rollout of Calix’s magnesium hydroxide liquid treatment across 55 sewer pump stations in the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, and Noosa regions. The system connects to Unitywater’s digital control network, which monitors and adjusts dosing levels based on live operational data. The companies say the approach reduces waste, emissions, and energy use while improving consistency in water quality.

Hydrogen sulfide gas, a byproduct that causes odors and corrodes pipelines, is traditionally managed with fixed chemical doses that can lead to inefficiencies. Unitywater’s new system instead relies on adaptive dosing guided by real-time analytics. “We’re using technology to protect our assets, the environment, and the communities we serve,” a Unitywater spokesperson said.

Calix, which develops materials for low-carbon industrial processes, described the partnership as part of a wider shift toward digital sustainability in water treatment. “The future of water treatment lies in uniting proven chemistry with intelligent control,” a Calix representative said. “It’s how we decarbonize essential services while keeping them reliable.”

Internal reports from Unitywater indicate early gains in odor control, operational efficiency, and reduced chemical transport. Independent verification of these results, including data on community odor complaints and financial savings, is expected later in the rollout.

Analysts say the project reflects how utilities are beginning to merge traditional infrastructure with artificial intelligence to meet stricter environmental targets. While long-term outcomes remain to be assessed, the Unitywater and Calix initiative offers a model for how chemistry, automation, and data can intersect to modernize essential public services.