The widespread focus on non-potable reuse limits water reuse, increases costs and health risks

XPRIZE

Global water reuse leaders focus on non-potable water, which introduces an additional layer of safety infrastructure and limits use cases.

• Do you agree this is a major barrier to water reuse?
• Do you know of any specific innovations currently trying to address this problem?

NickOttens

@Gregn5, @rdrogers, what's your opinion on this? Do you agree this is a barrier that needs to be overcome?

rdrogers

I would agree. How does one innovate around 'legislation'?

GREENLY

Non potable usage could be focused for agronomical issues but also should follow certain standards. Legislation should establish certian limits and parameters to allow users to reuse or use non potable water for agro following strict rules to avoid toxicity in finished product. For example in Peru were we actually operate the regulation allows it. Neverthelles is very important your comment. There should be not only legislaation but a supervisor of parameters because this could turn to dangerous usage if not well supervised by government.

NickOttens

Policy-change is probably not something we can accomplish through an XPRIZE, but we can catalyze innovations and markets, which could then in turn push for policy change.

Our classic example is private spaceflight, which, before the Ansari XPRIZE (our first), was basically impossible because governments had a monopoly on spaceflight. That XPRIZE prompted changes in regulation.

Eti

@rdrogers and @GREENLY thank you for your comments. Indeed regulations and political will are big challenges in this space; thinking out loud - how could we encourage a change in thinking as such a pathway will increase sustainable use of clean water? One thing we've done so far is to follow the potable water quality guidelines developed by WHO; While we don't have the capacity to directly change regulation, are there any other things we can do increase political will and capital around the subject?

GREENLY

I would focus on industrial reuse (domestic reuse is very well connected to cultural matters) and that allows governments to offer incentives for green production that could solve in amount of water many of the stress problems for water in cities.

NickOttens

@alinebennett, @pcspencer, you might also have thoughts on this from a political/regulatory perspective.

Eti

@GREENLY Thank you, so, to make sure I understand -- if systems can offer industrial quality (i.e. distilled/DI), governments will have a greater incentive to adopt systems?

Do any other community members have insights on this subject?

GREENLY

Completely. The quality of reuse will not only be an incentive but also to establish new fare levels for reuse maybe. Indirect or direct incentives would make industries to adopt systems that benefit all!