There’s roughly 32 billion gallons of municipal wastewater produced every day in the U.S., but according to a 2012 water reuse report by the U.S. EPA, less than 10 percent of that water is recycled. While drought and population growth is pushing water resources to their natural limits, cities around the world are seeking out sustainable alternatives to meet their future water needs.
As global fears of water scarcity escalate, IBISWorld expects a rise in the development of water recycling programs. As a result, demand for water treatment-related goods and services will increase and push their corresponding prices up, which could raise budgetary concerns later on.
Singapore is a world-class leader in water recycling and total water management, having spent the better part of four decades developing its total water management system, including turning wastewater into drinking water. Additionally, San Diego approved an innovative $3.5 billion plan to develop a sewage purification system in 2014, catapulting the city onto the global stage as a wastewater recycling leader. While Singapore and San Diego face similar water scarcity issues, their solutions vary and serve as great models for other countries and cities around the world looking to meet their drinking water needs through a recycling program.