With over 50 nations represented, the 14th International Water Association’s Water Reclamation and Reuse Conference offered a powerful global perspective on water reuse and resilience in the face of climate uncertainty. Held in South Africa, the event was packed with insights, innovations and international collaboration.
Water Research Australia’s CEO, Dr David Bergmann, attended the conference and shares his reflections on some of the key insights and emerging themes shaping the future of water reuse.
Zooming out: the global water reality
Many presentations offered a confronting global view of growing aridity and water stress. Rather than focusing on regional regulation alone, speakers shared large-scale perspectives showing how climate change is driving the need for new water strategies worldwide.
🔗 Read more on global aridity
🔗 WBGU global water report
Is the world ready for purified recycled water?
The global map of potable reuse from WSAA reveals growing acceptance—particularly across Africa, where major projects are underway. While terminology debates continue (recycled, reused, reclaimed, purified), real progress is being made.
🔗 Explore WSAA’s global PRW map
From analysis to acceptance: The human factor
While analytical rigour remains critical, several sessions highlighted the growing need to understand community attitudes, behaviours, and trust. Research from KWR Water Research Institute in the Netherlands offers a socio-technical framework for understanding public acceptance.
🔗 Legitimacy framework
🔗 Customer perspectives
Cape Town’s Day Zero: a warning and a roadmap
Cape Town’s near-miss with Day Zero—where taps nearly ran dry in 2017—was a powerful reminder of the risks of inaction. The city now targets 25% of water from alternative sources by 2040 through reuse, desalination and groundwater.
🔗 City of Cape Town 2024 Water Outlook
“It’s not waste water—just wasted water”
This sentiment echoed across multiple presentations, reflecting a broader mindset shift. From decentralised systems in San Francisco and San Diego to nature-based treatment in informal settlements in South Africa, innovation is thriving at every scale.
🔗 San Francisco’s decentralised reuse
🔗 Enviro-Loo in Africa
🔗 The Water Hub study
Water’s true value: More than $/kL
Delegates from water-stressed regions urged a broader definition of water’s value—not just by treatment cost, but by the food it grows, lives it saves, and wellbeing it enables. One memorable quote captured the sentiment:
“It doesn’t matter which water is cheaper when you simply don’t have it.”
Innovation, regulation and investment: Getting the mix right
From modular decentralised systems to cutting-edge ozonation and biochar technologies, innovation was on full display. But questions remain around enabling regulation and financing. Multiple sessions discussed the importance of ‘bankable’ public-private partnerships that balance return with affordability.
🔗 Photolytic ozonation – Project Pristine
🔗 Modified wetlands for metal removal
“We’re not just selling water – we’re selling trust”
This quote from Peter Grevatt (CEO, Water Research Foundation) captured a critical point: scientific excellence, transparency, and trust are the foundation of any successful water reuse scheme. Public perception, regulatory alignment and long-term safety must go hand in hand.
Australia on the world stage
Excitingly, the next IWA Water Reuse Conference will be held in Sydney in 2027—bringing this vital global conversation to our doorstep.
Stay tuned for further updates and opportunities to engage with this growing global movement toward safe, sustainable, and community-trusted water reuse. If this summary has sparked ideas for research, collaboration, or you’d like more information or connections in this space, we’d love to hear from you — just reach out to the WaterRA team.