Purified wastewater: From drains to drinks

• Author:
• Author name

  Quantumrun Foresight
• April 1, 2025

Insight summary

Cities and industries are turning to purified wastewater to address water shortages, with advanced treatment systems making recycled water safe for drinking and industrial use. As this trend grows, it could lower water costs, change how homes and businesses manage water, and push governments to rethink policies on resource management. While public perception remains a challenge, expanding water reuse may become essential for sustainability, economic stability, and long-term water security.

Purified wastewater context

Purified wastewater is gaining traction as an essential solution to address global water shortages, with cities and researchers investing in advanced treatment technologies. Some facilities are already processing up to five million gallons of wastewater daily into potable water using filtration, reverse osmosis, and advanced oxidation. This approach helps cities reduce dependence on imported water sources, which are costly and energy-intensive, while also providing a reliable local water supply. Countries like Singapore, which already recycles 40 percent of its wastewater, are demonstrating that large-scale water reuse is both feasible and necessary to meet growing demand.

The purification process ensures that recycled wastewater meets or exceeds drinking water standards, eliminating contaminants like bacteria, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics. In California, regulatory approval is still pending for direct potable reuse, so facilities like Pure Water Oceanside currently inject purified water into underground aquifers before it is drawn for drinking. Public perception remains a challenge, though efforts such as San Francisco’s mandate for commercial buildings to recycle wastewater and Epic Cleantec’s beer brewed from purified gray water seek to normalize the concept. Meanwhile, companies like Hydraloop and Greyter are introducing residential water recycling systems that could significantly reduce household water consumption.

Purified wastewater is also being explored as a sustainable resource for industrial applications. In 2024, Rice University researchers developed a reactor that converts nitrate-contaminated wastewater into ammonia and clean water, tackling both pollution and fertilizer production challenges. This method bypasses traditional energy-intensive ammonia synthesis processes while simultaneously purifying water, offering a potential breakthrough for industries reliant on large-scale chemical production. 

Disruptive impact

As more cities integrate recycled water into their supply, residents may experience lower water bills due to reduced dependence on costly imported sources. Additionally, household water recycling systems could become a standard feature in new homes, much like solar panels are today. People may also need to adjust their perceptions of drinking water, as purified wastewater becomes a more common source in urban areas. Education campaigns and transparency about water quality will play a key role in ensuring public acceptance.

Companies may invest in on-site water recycling to lower costs and meet sustainability goals, reducing reliance on municipal water supplies. Additionally, water-intensive sectors like semiconductor manufacturing, which require ultrapure water for production, could benefit from advances in purification technology. Startups specializing in wastewater treatment could see rising demand for systems that process industrial wastewater into usable water. As regulations tighten on water use and pollution, businesses that adopt recycling systems early may gain a competitive advantage by securing stable water access.

Cities could expand incentives for water reuse projects, similar to tax breaks offered for renewable energy installations. Additionally, national policies may encourage stricter efficiency standards for industries, requiring them to recycle a portion of their wastewater. Globally, access to advanced purification technology could become a strategic resource, with countries investing in wastewater treatment as a solution for water-scarce regions. As more governments set long-term sustainability targets, water recycling could become a key part of climate resilience planning.

Implications of purified wastewater

Wider implications of purified wastewater may include: 

• More cities adopting wastewater recycling systems, reducing reliance on long-distance water imports and lowering infrastructure costs.
• Water reuse becoming a requirement in new building codes, increasing demand for developers to install on-site treatment systems.
• Public attitudes toward recycled water shifting as younger generations grow up with it as a standard part of municipal supplies.
• Countries investing in wastewater purification technologies as a geopolitical strategy to secure water independence and reduce reliance on shared water sources.
• Lower-income communities gaining better access to clean drinking water as purification systems scale and costs decline.
• High water-use industries like textiles and food processing redesigning production methods to incorporate closed-loop water recycling systems.
• Insurance companies adjusting policies to reflect lower water scarcity risks in areas with established wastewater recycling infrastructure.
• Cities expanding workforce training programs for water treatment technicians, creating new jobs in facility maintenance and system monitoring.
• Businesses developing subscription-based water recycling services for households and offices, creating a new sector in utility management.
• International water treaties evolving to account for wastewater recycling, reshaping agreements on water rights and resource sharing.

Questions to consider

• How could purified wastewater change how your city manages water resources and infrastructure in the future?
• How can households reduce water waste and integrate water recycling into daily life?