Policy brief: Institutionalising the safe implementation of direct potable reuse (DPR) in South Africa: Lessons from a laboratory to pilot demonstration project

Water scarcity is an escalating global challenge, with the recent United Nations World Water Development Report projecting that between 1.7 and 2.4 billion of the urban population will face water scarcity by 20501. South Africa is already facing growing water stress due to being a water-scarce country, and the pressures of climate change, population growth, and urbanisation. South Africa’s current water services provision strategy relies heavily on surface water resources, which are increasingly unreliable due to climate variability and pollution. The National Water Resource Strategy II (NWRS-2)2 emphasises the importance of integrating water reclamation and reuse into the country’s water-supply system. South Africa’s National Strategy for Water Reuse3 was developed as part of the NWRS-2, and it was formulated following the first phase of comprehensive water reconciliation strategies, which concluded in 2011. Despite these efforts, the adoption of water reuse practices has been slower than anticipated. While unplanned and indirect potable reuse (IPR) practices are common, the implementation of direct potable reuse (DPR) remains contentious in South Africa. Unlike DPR, indirect potable reuse involves the treatment of wastewater and releasing it into a water resource environment, which serves as a buffer, where it can then be abstracted, treated further, and integrated into the potable water distribution network. On the other hand, DPR involves treating wastewater to a high standard and directly distributing it into the drinking water system. The South African contention on DPR is due to several challenges, including concerns for water safety considering the prevalent non-compliance of wastewater treatment works (WWTWs), public trust issues, high costs, and the technical expertise required for design and operation. For this reason, there are a few DPR plants in operation in South Africa. International DPR case studies have demonstrated that the success of such plants depends on a clear policy framework that mandates oversight from planning to operation, the implementation of a tried and tested treatment regime, continuous monitoring, as well as proactive and continuous public engagement. July 2025 The WRC operates in terms of the Water Research Act (Act 34 of 1971) and its mandate is to support water research and development as well as the building of a sustainable water research capacity in South Africa.