Water Wheel July/Sept 2025: Water Reuse

Abstract

Africa’s water future: World Bank report calls for urgent action to scale water reuse A new report from the World Bank Group has called for the scale-up of water reuse as part of a portfolio of options to stave off global water insecurity. According to the report, Scaling Water Reuse: A Tipping Point for Municipal and Industrial Use, accelerating investments into water reuse can develop the market, drive down costs, spur innovation and commercial finance, especially in water-scarce regions such as Africa. Lani van Vuuren reports. The report outlines five strategic transitions and a suite of recommendations aimed at enabling governments, utilities, and industries to unlock the full potential of water reuse. With reuse representing only 3% of freshwater withdrawals in 2024 for municipal and industrial use, the world stands at a pivotal moment to turn ‘wastewater’ into valuable ‘new water’ . Why water reuse matters for Africa Africa is already facing acute water stress, with rising urbanisation, erratic rainfall, and infrastructure deficits putting millions at risk.

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