Water. desalination + reuse

October 2017 Water Reuse: Drivers, Innovations and Public Perceptions Executive summary Survey fi ndings suggest a market with the technical expertise, innova- tive ideas, and will to service customers' water needs, while a lack of money, reluctance to take chances on new technology, and instances of poor governance present challenges Water reuse: a growing market of opportunity and challenge money, reluctance to take chances on new technology, and instances of poor governance present challenges Our survey was conducted to gauge perceptions among global desalination and water reuse professionals about the factors that are in uencing the development of water reuse markets globally. The results from 347 respondents from a wide range of industry roles across the Americas, Asia Paci• c, Europe, and Middle East and Africa (MEA), provide a broad set of perspectives on what is driving reuse, and how markets are shaping up. (For a full breakdown of respondent demographics and methodology, see page 24.) The • ndings reinforce the generally held view that for those working in the water industry in the Americas, Asia Paci• c and MEA, the challenges around reuse are more immediate compared to those in Europe. Drivers Water scarcity and cost emerged as the factors considered to be the strongest drivers of water reuse. Scarcity was highest, scoring 3.79 out of a possible • ve points, followed by cost at 3.52. This puts them on average between a "mid-level" and a "strong" driver. Scarcity was a concern particularly among those working in the Americas, and even more so for the sub-group of those focusing on the Americas and municipal projects. Cost was scored the highest by those working in MEA, closely followed by the Americas and Asia Paci• c, while for respondents whose professional roles cover Europe, the cost factor is markedly less of a strain. In fact, cost scored highly both as a driver and a barrier to water reuse: the cost of water is a driver because it encourages optimal use of a precious commodity; and the challenges of • nancing specialised water reuse plants — including the development costs and the price of water puri• cation technology — is seen as a barrier to developing new projects. Barriers Cost was rated as the most signi• cant barrier to reuse, scoring 3.56 out of a possible • ve points. In the write-in comments on barriers, one chief/ head of department of an industrial plant owner/ operator, based in MEA, noted that "technology cost," was a barrier. Meanwhile, "availability of capital," was a concern for the director of a European engineering • rm. Cost was rated most strongly as a barrier by respondents working in Asia Paci• c, who scored it higher than those who cover other regions. A lack of clear guidelines on potable reuse was rated second most highly as a barrier overall, scoring 3.21 out of a possible • ve, and scoring highest in the Americas and Asia Paci• c. Innovation Out of seven suggested • elds of innovation in the marketplace, water treatment technology topped the list, scoring 3.79 out of a possible • ve points. The rating is encouraging for technology companies, write-in comments from several of which suggest that introducing new technologies to the market is a challenge. With very little between them, at 3.3 points each, innovations in water quality monitoring, system design innovations, and energy saving innovations were grouped together in mid- table postions, re ecting their ratings between "mid-level" and "strong" innovation. Respondents whose professional role covers Asia Paci• c region were more likely to score higher than the averages across all • elds of innovation, apart from water quality monitoring. For energy saving innovations, renewable energy innovations, and water treatment technology innovations, those working in Asia Paci• c li— ed the overall averages. On the other hand, those in MEA scored all • elds of innovation lower than the averages, perhaps re ecting a slower uptake of water reuse in the region. The commentary on innovations covered a broad range of suggested ideas, from new technologies, "leeching and ultraviolet treatment," board director, systems integrator, all geographies, and "industrial application of anaerobic biotreatment," board director, engineering consultancy, Americas and Asia Paci• c; to multiple comments on renewable energy and energy saving, such as "use of alternative forms of energy," technical/ engineer - lead, engineering consultancy, Asia Paci• c, and "energy saving is most important," technical/ engineer - lead, EPC, MEA; to suggestions

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