As South Africa faces increasing water scarcity, ageing infrastructure and rising demand, water reuse is rapidly becoming one of the country’s most important opportunities to strengthen long-term water security.
At Water Security Africa, industry leaders, utilities, financiers and technology providers came together to explore how treated wastewater can be transformed from a disposal challenge into a strategic water resource.
Moderated by Ashton Mpofu, Director, AfriVolve Group and panellist Dr Nicholas Igwe, National Coordinator, OPS-WASH, Helen Hulett, CSO, AfriGIS, Akhona Tyhali, Water Analyst, GreenCape and Thobikile Gambu, Environmental Scientist, uMngeni-uThukela Water the discussion examined the barriers preventing widespread adoption, the role of finance and policy, and why collaboration will determine whether reuse becomes a mainstream solution.
The consensus was clear: the technology exists. The challenge is scaling implementation.
Panellists agreed that water reuse technologies have matured significantly over the past decade. Advanced treatment processes are already capable of producing high-quality water suitable for industrial applications, agriculture and even potable reuse.
Despite this progress, adoption across South Africa remains relatively limited.
Rather than questioning whether the technology works, the discussion focused on why successful pilot projects often fail to progress into full-scale implementation.
Utilities highlighted that while demonstration projects have proven the technical feasibility of reuse, expanding these solutions across larger water systems requires greater investment, stronger planning and institutional commitment.
One of the strongest themes throughout the session was the financing gap.
While many reuse projects are technically viable, securing the capital required to scale them remains difficult. Utilities continue to face funding constraints, while private developers often struggle to present projects in a way that aligns with investor expectations.
Panellists noted that financing water infrastructure requires more than technical excellence. Projects must demonstrate commercial viability, measurable risk reduction and long-term financial returns.
Without stronger business cases and more innovative financing mechanisms, many promising projects will remain at pilot stage.
The discussion also highlighted the role of policy in accelerating water reuse.
Although supportive regulations exist, panellists noted that approval processes, regulatory uncertainty and institutional bottlenecks can delay implementation and discourage investment.
The panel argued that policy should evolve alongside technological innovation, creating a more enabling environment for municipalities, industries and investors to develop reuse projects with confidence.
Clearer regulatory pathways would help accelerate project delivery while maintaining appropriate public health and environmental safeguards.
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A recurring message throughout the session was the need to fundamentally change how wastewater is perceived.
Instead of treating wastewater as a disposal problem, speakers encouraged organisations to recognise it as a reliable and renewable water source capable of strengthening resilience.
Recovering value from wastewater not only increases available water supplies but also supports circular economy principles by reducing environmental impacts and improving resource efficiency.
This shift in thinking is becoming increasingly important as conventional water sources come under growing pressure.
For commercial and industrial water users, reuse is no longer simply an environmental initiative.
Reliable access to water has become a critical business continuity issue affecting production, operational resilience and long-term investment decisions.
Panellists stressed that organisations should begin by understanding their own water risks before selecting appropriate solutions. Whether through reuse, recycling, alternative supply or efficiency improvements, investments should be driven by operational risk rather than technology trends alone.
Businesses that proactively diversify their water sources will be better positioned to manage future climate uncertainty and supply disruptions.
Throughout the discussion, collaboration emerged as one of the most important enablers of successful water reuse.
Scaling projects will require closer partnerships between:
Each stakeholder has a role to play in overcoming barriers to implementation, sharing expertise and creating projects that are both technically sound and financially viable.
The panel agreed that no single organisation can solve South Africa’s water challenges alone.
The session concluded with a clear message that water reuse must become a central pillar of South Africa’s water security strategy.
The technologies are proven, industry demand is increasing and the need for resilient water supplies has never been greater. What is now required is the ability to move beyond isolated pilot projects towards integrated, large-scale implementation supported by investment, enabling policy and cross-sector collaboration.
As South Africa works to build a more resilient water future, water reuse represents not simply another option but one of the country’s greatest untapped opportunities.
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