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

A long-term collaborative project between the Water Research Commission (WRC) and Umngeni-Thukela Water (UUW) has provided critical insights for advancing water utility-led implementation of direct potable reuse (DPR) schemes in South Africa. Findings from the project have underscored the importance of foundational research, technology demonstration, and technical oversight as key components of the roadmap toward full-scale DPR implementation. The successful demonstration of a two-megalitre-per-day pilot plant at UUW has highlighted both the capabilities and requirements of a water utility to be able to effectively plan, design, operate, and maintain a DPR scheme. Furthermore, findings from the pilot demonstration project have provided valuable information on the technical performance of a multi-barrier DPR process, enhancing both water quality and safety, while avoiding the energy-intensive process of reverse osmosis (RO). Based on the outcomes of this project, a structured regulatory framework is recommended to mandate the implementation of DPR schemes in the water services sector in South Africa to ensure that there is planning oversight and that the reuse technologies to be deployed are rigorously tested, optimised, and monitored before full-scale implementation.