"The reuse of treated wastewater, an imperative in the face of the global water bankruptcy" (Veolia)

"Unlocking the economic and strategic potential of the reuse of treated wastewater (RTW) in a context of global water bankruptcy, as recently described by the UN": this is the aim of a white paper and a call for action launched on 05/06/2026 by Veolia's Stakeholder Assembly, a group of 34 international players (economists, industrialists, insurers, public players), founded on 22/04/2026, and committed alongside Veolia to proposing concrete actions to respond to the emergency.

With only 8% of the world's water currently recycled, the deployment of the reuse of treated wastewater, intended primarily for irrigation and agriculture, comes up against psychological, financial and regulatory obstacles.

However, "water has become an issue of strategic governance. Demand for freshwater is expected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030. This is a real issue of industrial and environmental safety. While prevention remains essential, technology has an essential role to play.
We need to stop thinking of water in linear terms and look at it as a renewable resource, so that industrial and municipal…