As the world marks World Water Day on 22 March, Zutari is calling for water reuse to shift from being viewed as an emergency drought intervention to becoming a mainstream, long-term component of South Africa’s water mix.
World Water Day, established by the United Nations in 1993, focuses global attention on freshwater challenges and the importance of sustainable water management. In South Africa, where climate volatility, ageing infrastructure, and financial strain are placing increasing pressure on water infrastructure, the day serves as a timely reminder that business as usual is no longer sufficient.
Mpho Ramphao (PrEng, MSc Eng), Managing Director: Water at Zutari, says the country must fundamentally rethink how it manages wastewater. “Water reuse is moving beyond crisis response because climate volatility is persistent.”
Droughts, floods and variable rainfall will keep disrupting traditional surface and groundwater supplies, while water infrastructure is ageing faster than it is being upgraded and replaced,” he explains. “Reuse transforms wastewater from an undesirable waste into a dependable, locally controlled resource factory if wastewater treatment plants are run to the required effluent discharge standard,” says Ramphao.
Institutional barriers, not technology, are the primary constraint
According to Ramphao, the greatest obstacles to scaling reuse in South Africa are not technological. “The main barriers to water reuse stem from poorly maintained wastewater treatment plants rather than technology,” he says. “Ageing infrastructure, inconsistent plant operations and governance gaps at municipal level make regulators cautious about approving reuse schemes.”
He notes that responsibilities remain fragmented between national government, which sets policy and regulation, and local government, which is responsible for basic service delivery. This fragmentation slows decision-making and blurs accountability.
Chronic under-collection of water revenue further limits maintenance and upgrades, while regulatory guidance for risk-based potable reuse, including emerging contaminants, remains insufficiently clear. “Without stronger institutional capacity and predictable rules, reuse struggles to move from pilots to scale,” Ramphao cautions.
Perception versus scientific reality
Public resistance to reuse remains a factor, but Ramphao stresses that it is largely perception-driven. “Much of the resistance to water reuse is driven by perception rather than science,” he says. “Public concern is shaped by visible failures at wastewater treatment plants and low trust in local service delivery, leading to the assumption that reuse means ‘drinking sewage’.”
In reality, potable reuse requires treatment standards that are often higher than those applied to conventional surface or borehole water sources. “There are multiple safety barriers, continuous online monitoring and verification steps to intercept failures before water reaches consumers,” he explains. “The real risk lies not in the technology itself, but in implementing reuse without strong governance, transparent performance data and early, meaningful public engagement where trust is already fragile.”
Industry and agriculture: critical partners in scaling reuse
Industrial water reuse, including zero-liquid-discharge approaches where viable, is increasingly important in relieving pressure on municipal systems. “By investing in reuse, industries can secure climate-resilient supplies while reducing demand on potable water networks,” says Ramphao.
However, he warns that this shift must be carefully governed. “Without tariff reform and strong oversight, reduced industrial offtake can worsen municipal finances. Reuse must therefore be integrated into broader infrastructure planning that anticipates climate shocks and protects basic service delivery.”
Municipal effluent reuse also presents a major opportunity to support industry and agriculture, strengthening food security through a non-rainfall-dependent supply. Ramphao emphasises that fundamentals must first be addressed such as upgrading ageing wastewater treatment works, improving operational skills, ensuring stable energy supply, and securing sustainable revenue collection.
With water and sanitation infrastructure backlogs estimated at around R400 billion, underperformance continues to limit construction of reuse plants at scale. “Once reliability is restored, reuse can be expanded through dedicated distribution systems that serve multiple users and communities, ensuring equitable access and building confidence in the safety and value of reclaimed water,” explains Ramphao.
From acknowledgement to delivery
While existing national strategies recognise the need for adaptation and resilience, Ramphao believes stronger integration is required. “South Africa still lacks a unified National Water Resilience Strategy that embeds reuse in long-term planning within a single, delivery-focused framework,” he says.
For Zutari, success would mean reuse becoming routine rather than reactive. “Success would mean water reuse functioning as a trusted part of South Africa’s water mix rather than a crisis intervention,” concludes Ramphao. “Wastewater treatment plants would be upgraded, climate-resilient and consistently compliant with discharge standards, supported by stable financing and improved revenue collection that is ring-fenced for operation and maintenance.”
He adds that both potable and non-potable reuse schemes must operate with rigorous safety checks and transparent reporting. “Because the stakes are higher than conventional treatment, openness and visible performance are critical. Potable reuse water should be distributed equitably across communities, reducing fear and misinformation while delivering tangible benefits to water security.”
As World Water Day places water security firmly in the global spotlight, Zutari is urging South Africa to seize the opportunity to embed water reuse at the heart of a future-fit, climate-resilient water strategy.
