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#potable-reuse

Issues, solutions, and case studies for potable-reuse

Found 8 nodes with this tag: 0 issues · 1 solution · 7 case studies

Solutions 1

#00185Potable reuse of treated wastewater behind multi-barrier treatment and long acceptance-building

Purify treated wastewater through an advanced multi-barrier train (ultrafiltration, RO, UV/AOP) and return it to drinking supply via aquifer recharge, reservoir blending, or direct injection. Proven since Windhoek's 1968 launch; the binding constraint is public acceptance, not en

city

Case studies 7

El Paso Water · since 2025 · City

El Paso Water broke ground on the Pure Water Center on 27 February 2025: the first US municipal direct-to-distribution potable reuse plant, sending 10 MGD of purified water straight into the distribution network with no…

Direct-to-distribution capacity10MGD
Project cost escalation$110M estimate (2012)$295M at 2025 groundbreakingUSD

$295M · El Paso Water

Arnaud Gissinger

City of San Diego Public Utilities (Pure Water San Diego) · since 1999 · City

San Diego's 1990s water repurification project was killed in 1999 by 'toilet to tap' talk-radio framing after failing to secure public acceptance. From ~2011, the city rebuilt the case using a demonstration facility, th…

Public support for potable reuse~26%>70%% support
Phase 1 capacity under construction30MGD

$1.7B · City funds plus federal WIFIA loan ($614M) within a ~$1.7bn+ Phase 1

Arnaud Gissinger

Toowoomba City Council (Water Futures proposal) · since 2006 · City

At the height of the Millennium Drought, Toowoomba City Council's Water Futures proposal would have added indirect potable reuse supplying ~25% of the city's water for ~A$68M. The council put it to a referendum on 29 Ju…

Referendum result62% No, 38% Yes% of vote
Proposed reuse share of supply~25% of supply

A$68M · 1 source

Arnaud Gissinger

Water Corporation of Western Australia · since 2017 · Region

Perth's Groundwater Replenishment Scheme at Beenyup recharges advanced-treated wastewater into deep aquifers for later drinking-water abstraction, the Southern Hemisphere's first such scheme. Capacity was doubled to 28…

Aquifer recharge capacity28 GL/yr after 2022 doublingGL/yr
Public support after trial and tours~70%% support

Water Corporation / WA state; stage 2 expansion ~A$262-320M · 2 sources

Arnaud Gissinger

Singapore

Success

PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency · since 2003 · National

NEWater, launched in 2003, is Singapore's branded high-grade reclaimed water produced through microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and UV disinfection. Five plants meet up to 40% of national demand, routed primarily to ind…

Share of national water demand met by NEWater40% of demand
NEWater plants in operation5plants

Government of Singapore / PUB · 1 source

Arnaud Gissinger

Orange County Water District and Orange County Sanitation District · since 2008 · Region

The Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) in Orange County purifies secondary-treated wastewater through a multi-barrier train (microfiltration, reverse osmosis, UV/AOP) and injects it into the local groundwater basin…

Purification capacity70 MGD at 2008 startup130 MGD (~492,000 m³/day) after 2023 expansionMGD
Total capital investment>900million USD

$900M · Layered federal and state financing plus district funds · 1 source

Arnaud Gissinger

City of Windhoek / Windhoek Goreangab Operating Company · since 1968 · City

Windhoek pioneered direct potable reuse in 1968, making it the world's first city to return purified wastewater directly to its drinking supply. The New Goreangab plant (2002) produces about 21,000 m³/day, supplying rou…

Share of city water supplied by potable reuse0% (1968)~25% normally, up to 35% in drought% of supply
New Goreangab plant capacity~21,000m3/day

City of Windhoek; DPR II expansion backed by KfW (~$43M)

Arnaud Gissinger

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