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Table 1. The importance of wastewater recycling in fighting water shortage
Table 1. The importance of wastewater recycling in fighting water shortage
Background
Rising global temperatures and shifting weather patterns are intensifying droughts and reducing the reliability of freshwater sources. A new reality that requires smart anticipation and mitigation. Wastewater recycling offers a powerful solution, allowing us to reclaim water that would otherwise be wasted, ensuring a more sustainable and resilient supply of drinking water, or industrial and agricultural water.
Key take aways
• Water scarcity and droughts are increasingly frequent and cause water availability issues in many regions across the globe, also in the Northern Hemisphere and The Netherlands.
• The impacts of water scarcity extend beyond just environmental concerns—they are deeply intertwined with human health, welfare, and economic stability.
• The safe and regulated reuse of wastewater for purposes like irrigation, industrial use, or even drinking water is not only feasible but already practiced in several parts of the world, such as Singapore, California, Mexico, Spain and Belgium.
• Smarter geographical planning of wastewater treatment infrastructure and water-consuming industries can significantly enhance water efficiency and sustainability.
• To mitigate risks, having a backup water source, such as treated wastewater, would be extremely beneficial.
Full story
Water scarcity is rapidly becoming one of the most critical global challenges, with significant implications for the environment, public health, welfare, and economic stability. As freshwater sources such as groundwater, rivers and lakes continue to decline, ecosystems face severe disruptions, threatening biodiversity and food production. For businesses and communities, the lack of reliable water access directly impacts productivity, public health, and economic growth. Industries that depend on water—agriculture, manufacturing, and energy—are particularly vulnerable, facing operational risks, increased costs, and supply chain disruptions.
As water stress increases, societies and economies are weakened, with businesses and industries at risk of shutdowns and supply interruptions.
But, as NX Filtrations founder Erik Roesink stated during the opening ceremony: ”There is good news, there is always enough water in the world. As a matter of fact, there is always the exact same amount of water on earth. It is just not always there where we need it, or in the quality for us to use”
Wastewater is such a resource that is widely available, especially in densely populated areas, but it first needs to be treated thoroughly to improve its quality so it can be used for purposes such as human consumption and industrial- or agricultural applications. In some cases it is the only feasible solution for securing drinking water In extreme cases, where seawater, rainfall, or groundwater are unavailable, or too energy intensive (e.g. seawater desalination). This emphasizes the importance of innovative water management strategies, such as advanced wastewater treatment technologies, in maintaining business continuity and ensuring long-term sustainability. Investing in these solutions is essential for building resilience in water-stressed regions and safeguarding both economic and environmental stability.
Becoming more agile by adding new water sources would be beneficial and recommended as disruptions might appear like droughts and contamination. In these cases, wastewater reuse offers a crucial backup solution for water companies and industries, providing a reliable, sustainable alternative that mitigates the dependency on limited freshwater sources. By diversifying water sources through wastewater recycling, industries and utilities can build resilience, reduce operational risks, and ensure continuity in an increasingly uncertain water landscape.
The safe and regulated reuse of wastewater for purposes such as irrigation, industrial processes, and even drinking water is already a reality in countries like Mexico, Spain, Singapore, Namibia, Israel, and parts of the United States such as California and Texas. Singapore has set a global benchmark by turning treated wastewater into high-quality drinking water, while Israel recycles over 85% of its wastewater for agricultural use, helping to sustain its vital food production industry.
Countries like The Netherlands, can learn from these examples by further integrating wastewater reuse into its water management strategies, especially as climate change increases the pressure on freshwater availability. With more frequent droughts and unpredictable rainfall, water reuse is becoming increasingly relevant for safeguarding the country’s long-term water security and ensuring a healthy society. By adopting advanced wastewater treatment and reuse practices, the Netherlands can build a more resilient and sustainable water supply for the future.
Another aspect to be taken into account in setting up a sustainable water supply from wastewater reuse is the geographical mapping of facilities. Smarter geographical planning of wastewater treatment infrastructure and water-consuming industries can significantly enhance water efficiency and sustainability. By strategically locating water-intensive industries near wastewater treatment facilities, the treated water can be reused for industrial processes, reducing the demand for freshwater resources. This approach also minimizes the cost and environmental impact of transporting water over long distances. In regions facing water scarcity, such integrated planning ensures a more efficient circular water system, where water is continuously treated and reused.
To conclude, a remark on the social acceptance of reusing wastewater. The round table agreed that reusing wastewater for drinking water is no longer an obstacle for consumers, as it has gained widespread social acceptance in several countries. In places like Singapore and California, public perception has shifted positively, supported by transparent communication and high safety standards. Letting outdated misperceptions hold us back from accelerating the water transition, especially in adopting wastewater reuse, would be a missed opportunity. With proven technology it’s time to embrace water reuse as a vital solution to future-proof our water supply.
Rising global temperatures and shifting weather patterns are intensifying droughts and reducing the reliability of freshwater sources. A new reality that requires smart anticipation and mitigation. Wastewater recycling offers a powerful solution, allowing us to reclaim water that would otherwise be wasted, ensuring a more sustainable and resilient supply of drinking water, or industrial and agricultural water.
Key take aways
• Water scarcity and droughts are increasingly frequent and cause water availability issues in many regions across the globe, also in the Northern Hemisphere and The Netherlands.
• The impacts of water scarcity extend beyond just environmental concerns—they are deeply intertwined with human health, welfare, and economic stability.
• The safe and regulated reuse of wastewater for purposes like irrigation, industrial use, or even drinking water is not only feasible but already practiced in several parts of the world, such as Singapore, California, Mexico, Spain and Belgium.
• Smarter geographical planning of wastewater treatment infrastructure and water-consuming industries can significantly enhance water efficiency and sustainability.
• To mitigate risks, having a backup water source, such as treated wastewater, would be extremely beneficial.
Full story
Water scarcity is rapidly becoming one of the most critical global challenges, with significant implications for the environment, public health, welfare, and economic stability. As freshwater sources such as groundwater, rivers and lakes continue to decline, ecosystems face severe disruptions, threatening biodiversity and food production. For businesses and communities, the lack of reliable water access directly impacts productivity, public health, and economic growth. Industries that depend on water—agriculture, manufacturing, and energy—are particularly vulnerable, facing operational risks, increased costs, and supply chain disruptions.
As water stress increases, societies and economies are weakened, with businesses and industries at risk of shutdowns and supply interruptions.
But, as NX Filtrations founder Erik Roesink stated during the opening ceremony: ”There is good news, there is always enough water in the world. As a matter of fact, there is always the exact same amount of water on earth. It is just not always there where we need it, or in the quality for us to use”
Wastewater is such a resource that is widely available, especially in densely populated areas, but it first needs to be treated thoroughly to improve its quality so it can be used for purposes such as human consumption and industrial- or agricultural applications. In some cases it is the only feasible solution for securing drinking water In extreme cases, where seawater, rainfall, or groundwater are unavailable, or too energy intensive (e.g. seawater desalination). This emphasizes the importance of innovative water management strategies, such as advanced wastewater treatment technologies, in maintaining business continuity and ensuring long-term sustainability. Investing in these solutions is essential for building resilience in water-stressed regions and safeguarding both economic and environmental stability.
Becoming more agile by adding new water sources would be beneficial and recommended as disruptions might appear like droughts and contamination. In these cases, wastewater reuse offers a crucial backup solution for water companies and industries, providing a reliable, sustainable alternative that mitigates the dependency on limited freshwater sources. By diversifying water sources through wastewater recycling, industries and utilities can build resilience, reduce operational risks, and ensure continuity in an increasingly uncertain water landscape.
The safe and regulated reuse of wastewater for purposes such as irrigation, industrial processes, and even drinking water is already a reality in countries like Mexico, Spain, Singapore, Namibia, Israel, and parts of the United States such as California and Texas. Singapore has set a global benchmark by turning treated wastewater into high-quality drinking water, while Israel recycles over 85% of its wastewater for agricultural use, helping to sustain its vital food production industry.
Countries like The Netherlands, can learn from these examples by further integrating wastewater reuse into its water management strategies, especially as climate change increases the pressure on freshwater availability. With more frequent droughts and unpredictable rainfall, water reuse is becoming increasingly relevant for safeguarding the country’s long-term water security and ensuring a healthy society. By adopting advanced wastewater treatment and reuse practices, the Netherlands can build a more resilient and sustainable water supply for the future.
Another aspect to be taken into account in setting up a sustainable water supply from wastewater reuse is the geographical mapping of facilities. Smarter geographical planning of wastewater treatment infrastructure and water-consuming industries can significantly enhance water efficiency and sustainability. By strategically locating water-intensive industries near wastewater treatment facilities, the treated water can be reused for industrial processes, reducing the demand for freshwater resources. This approach also minimizes the cost and environmental impact of transporting water over long distances. In regions facing water scarcity, such integrated planning ensures a more efficient circular water system, where water is continuously treated and reused.
To conclude, a remark on the social acceptance of reusing wastewater. The round table agreed that reusing wastewater for drinking water is no longer an obstacle for consumers, as it has gained widespread social acceptance in several countries. In places like Singapore and California, public perception has shifted positively, supported by transparent communication and high safety standards. Letting outdated misperceptions hold us back from accelerating the water transition, especially in adopting wastewater reuse, would be a missed opportunity. With proven technology it’s time to embrace water reuse as a vital solution to future-proof our water supply.
World’s largest hollow fiber nanofiltration water treatment plant in Mexico
Indirect potable wastewater reuse to tackle summer droughts
Water scarcity and droughts are increasingly frequent and cause water availability issues in many regions. For instance in Mexico, SAPAL is the water utility for the Mexican city of Leon, supplying drinking water to a 1.6 million population throughout 1,339 city neighbourhoods and 22 rural communities. Due to climate change there are long periods of drought especially during summer. As a result SAPAL is facing large fluctuations in rainwater availability. In order to tackle the water availability issues, an indirect potable reuse (IPR) scheme including NX Filtrations hollow fiber nanofiltration (HFNF) and advanced oxidation technologies has been established . The project will be executed in 2 phases with a capacity of 17 Million Liters per Day (MLD) each.
This marks another repeat project for NX Filtration, as SAPAL already successfully operates a smaller wastewater recovery project based on NX Filtration’s technology since 2022.
The application of NX Filtration’s hollow-fiber nanofiltration membranes will ensure efficient and cost-effective, and largely chemical free water treatment, contributing to enhanced water quality and environmental sustainability at the world’s largest scale today.
Water scarcity and droughts are increasingly frequent and cause water availability issues in many regions. For instance in Mexico, SAPAL is the water utility for the Mexican city of Leon, supplying drinking water to a 1.6 million population throughout 1,339 city neighbourhoods and 22 rural communities. Due to climate change there are long periods of drought especially during summer. As a result SAPAL is facing large fluctuations in rainwater availability. In order to tackle the water availability issues, an indirect potable reuse (IPR) scheme including NX Filtrations hollow fiber nanofiltration (HFNF) and advanced oxidation technologies has been established . The project will be executed in 2 phases with a capacity of 17 Million Liters per Day (MLD) each.
This marks another repeat project for NX Filtration, as SAPAL already successfully operates a smaller wastewater recovery project based on NX Filtration’s technology since 2022.
The application of NX Filtration’s hollow-fiber nanofiltration membranes will ensure efficient and cost-effective, and largely chemical free water treatment, contributing to enhanced water quality and environmental sustainability at the world’s largest scale today.
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