Water scarcity represents one of the most critical challenges facing humanity today. The water utilized for daily consumption, sanitation, and agricultural production could increasingly originate from treated wastewater, a resource already being harnessed in numerous regions worldwide. This practice holds significant potential to address the escalating global water crisis.

But here’s the catch: only 8% of the world’s water is currently reused. However, scaling this figure to 80% through advanced treatment and recycling methodologies could fundamentally alter the trajectory of water scarcity, transforming wastewater into a cornerstone of sustainable water resources.

Why Water Reuse Is No Longer Optional

Let’s start with the facts. Under current projections, water demand will exceed supply by 40 per cent in 2030. This isn’t just a problem for arid regions; even major cities like Cape Town, São Paulo, and Chennai have experienced “Day Zero” scenarios where taps nearly ran dry. Notably, 16 large cities—including megacities like Delhi and Lahore—are projected to face severe water scarcity with no viable solutions due to geographic and economic constraints.

The economic ramifications of inaction are equally pressing. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), insufficient investment in water management could result in annual global losses of up to $200 billion by 2030. Hence, industries that rely on water, such as agriculture, manufacturing, digital and energy, are particularly vulnerable.

Consider this: the global water recycling and reuse market was valued at $16.13 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.7% through 2030, according to Grand View Research. Leading the way is the industrial sector, where water reuse is not just a sustainability strategy, it’s smart economics. For every dollar invested in reuse systems, the return can be up to $7 — from reduced water procurement and treatment costs to avoiding penalties linked to environmental overextraction.

Strategic Pathways to 80% Water Reuse

Achieving an 80% water reuse rate necessitates a multifaceted approach:

1. Regulatory Frameworks: Establishing Supportive Policies

Supportive policies and regulations are essential for adopting water reuse practices. Governments can set clear targets for water reuse, provide financial incentives for investment in treatment technologies, and remove barriers that hinder implementation.

For example:

• Set national or regional targets (e.g., requiring at least 50% reuse).
• Offer tax breaks or subsidies for investments in advanced treatment technologies.

Supportive policies are vital for scaling water reuse. Singapore’s NEWater program now meets up to 40% of the city-state’s water needs through advanced wastewater recycling. In California, Orange County recycles 100% of its reclaimable wastewater, the first in the world to do so, while new statewide regulations permit direct potable reuse. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi reuses over 80% of treated wastewater. These examples show how clear targets, regulatory backing, and investment incentives can turn wastewater into a strategic water source.

2. Public Awareness and Education

Public perception plays a crucial role in the acceptance of reused water. Many individuals still associate recycled wastewater with contamination or health risks. Therefore, comprehensive public education campaigns are necessary to inform communities about the safety and benefits of water reuse. We can build consumer trust and encourage greater acceptance of reused water by fostering understanding and transparency.

3. Driving Technological Innovation

Water treatment technologies are pivotal for enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of water reuse systems. Key solutions include:

• Membrane Filtration Technologies: Microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO) are integral to modern water reuse systems. These technologies effectively remove suspended solids, pathogens, dissolved salts, and trace organic contaminants, ensuring high-quality effluent suitable for various applications, including potable reuse. 
• Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs): AOPs utilize powerful oxidants like ozone, hydrogen peroxide, or ultraviolet (UV) light to degrade persistent organic pollutants and pathogens. These processes are particularly effective in treating micropollutants and enhancing the safety of recycled water .
• Energy-Efficient Treatment Systems: Innovations such as low-pressure membrane systems and energy recovery devices reduce the energy consumption of water treatment processes. For instance, integrating energy recovery devices in RO systems can significantly lower operational costs by capturing and reusing energy within the system.
• Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring: Advanced sensors and monitoring systems enable continuous assessment of water quality parameters, including turbidity, pH, temperature, and concentrations of specific contaminants. These systems provide immediate feedback, allowing for prompt adjustments to treatment processes and ensuring compliance with safety standards.
• Automation and Smart Control Systems: The integration of automation technologies, such as digital twins and smart water networks, facilitates real-time decision-making and process optimization. These systems enhance operational efficiency, reduce human error, and improve the overall reliability of water reuse facilities. 

By leveraging these advanced technologies, water reuse systems can achieve higher efficiency, lower costs, and improved water quality, making them more viable and sustainable solutions for addressing water scarcity challenges.

4. Collaborative Approaches through Partnerships

No single entity can solve the water challenge alone; it requires collective action such as:

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). These collaborations combine government funding and private-sector expertise to build large-scale infrastructure projects. 

For example, Nagpur, a city in India, has implemented an innovative PPP model where treated municipal wastewater is reused by thermal power plants for cooling purposes, a significant source of industrial water consumption. This approach has reduced freshwater extraction while creating a replicable model for other cities facing similar challenges to reduce their industrial water footprint.

Further, cross-sector collaboration initiatives like the CEO Water Mandate for Net Positive Water Impact unite businesses, NGOs, and governments under shared goals for sustainable water management. International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA), collaborates with the CEO Water Mandate to promote responsible water use and address global water challenges. Additionally, IDRA partners with the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) who offers a globally recognized certification that validates organizations’ commitment to responsible water stewardship. By adopting the AWS Standard, organizations can demonstrate their dedication to sustainable water practices and contribute to the collective effort of preserving water resources for future generations.

The Vision: A World Where Water Scarcity Is History

Fast-forward to 2030, but this time, imagine a scenario different from the crisis we outlined earlier. In five years:

• Cities have state-of-the-art facilities that recycle wastewater to drinking-quality standards.
• Industries operate with closed-loop systems where every drop of water is reused multiple times.
• Communities embrace reused water as part of their everyday lives, not out of necessity but because they trust its safety.
• Communities actively engage in water conservation efforts, with widespread adoption of water-saving practices such as fixing leaks, using efficient appliances, and reducing wastage.

IDRA advocates for water reuse as a sustainable solution to global water scarcity by debunking myths surrounding water reuse. Through upcoming events like the 2025 IDRA Seville Colloquium on Resilient Water Solutions (June 1–2, 2025) and the IDRA Reykjavik Summit on Water and Climate Change (October 12–14, 2025), IDRA provides a vital platform to tackle the urgent challenges of water scarcity. 

Additionally, IDRA and the WateReuse Association (WRA) are set to jointly publish a Global Dialogue on Water Reuse White Paper later this year. This white paper will synthesize insights from international water leaders, offering best practices and strategies to accelerate the adoption of water reuse globally

By fostering partnerships between public entities, private companies, and research institutions, IDRA is instrumental in driving the transition toward a more sustainable future where water reuse is widely adopted as a critical strategy for addressing global water challenges.

So, can We Scale from 8% to 80% and secure our water future?

Reference

https://india.mongabay.com/2023/06/indias-potential-to-address-water-scarcity-through-wastewater-treatment-and-reuse/

https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000247683

https://india.mongabay.com/2023/06/indias-potential-to-address-water-scarcity-through-wastewater-treatment-and-reuse/

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/half-world-face-severe-water-stress-2030-unless-water-use-decoupled#:~:text=Under%20current%20trends%2C%20demand%20for,of%20%2440%20to%20%2445%20billion.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420921004428#:~:text=Urban%20drought%20crises%2C%20such%20as,April%202018%20for%20Cape%20Town.

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/half-world-face-severe-water-stress-2030-unless-water-use-decoupled

https://idrawater.org/news/how-desalination-can-assist-to-alleviate-global-water-stress/

https://global.fi-group.com/newater-how-singapore-turned-water-scarcity-into-a-global-sustainability-triumph

https://www.governing.com/now/california-county-recycles-all-its-wastewater-a-world-first

https://www.taqa-ws.com/news/announcements/breaking-regional-record-by-hitting-80-utilisation

https://www.waterplan.com/webinars/implementing-alliance-water-stewardship-standard-a4ws-nestle-waterplan?utm_