The International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) has released “A Pathway to Potable Reuse: A Global Status Update and Strategic Outlook,” a comprehensive fact sheet examining the current status and future outlook of Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) worldwide. The publication was announced by IDRA secretary general Shannon McCarthy following her presentation at the Water Reuse Association (WRA) conference.
Developed in collaboration with Stantec, the fact sheet provides a region-by-region overview of DPR adoption across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and Oceania. It highlights the economic, social and environmental benefits of potable reuse, while identifying key drivers and barriers influencing global implementation.
DPR, the advanced treatment of municipal wastewater for direct integration into drinking water systems, is emerging as an important strategy for strengthening urban water security. The global water reuse market was valued at $17.6bn in 2024 and is projected to reach $30.6bn by 2030. More than 30 countries are currently planning or piloting DPR systems, with operational facilities in Namibia, the US and Singapore leading development.
“DPR has reached a pivotal moment,” said Jon Freedman, IDRA president. “Once considered a niche technology, it now sits at the centre of global water security innovation and climate resilience. The question is no longer whether DPR works, but how quickly and equitably it can be adopted.”
Key findings include:
• The US leads global DPR development, with operational facilities in Texas, advancing projects in California and Florida, and newly finalised regulations in Colorado and Arizona
• Europe is increasingly exploring DPR as part of its climate resilience strategy, supported by EU Regulation 2020/741
• Asia is home to nearly 2.8 billion urban residents by 2025, with China committing to tertiary treatment of 44,000 MLD of wastewater and Singapore continuing to lead through its NEWater programme
• Urbanisation is expected to add more than 2.5 billion people to major cities over the next 25 years, making decentralised DPR an essential component of future water supply strategies
• Namibia’s Windhoek system remains the world’s longest-running DPR facility, while South Africa is rapidly advancing water infrastructure in Cape Town
“The deployment of technologies for direct potable reuse will be critical to meeting the water infrastructure demands created by nearly three billion people living in global megacities over the next 25 years,” said John Hanula, senior vice-president of growth and innovation at Stantec and an IDRA Board officer
The publication also outlines IDRA’s position on DPR, supporting its adoption where public health is safeguarded through risk-based frameworks, multi-barrier treatment systems are validated, regulatory processes are transparent, and community engagement is central to implementation strategies.
