Water reuse has become one of the fastest-growing strategies for strengthening water supplies, but successful projects require much more than advanced treatment technologies. As communities look to build resilient water systems, long-term success depends on planning, collaboration, and public trust.
In a recent episode of the Talking Under Water podcast, Carollo’s Southeast Water Reuse Lead, Pranjali Kumar, discusses how the conversation around potable reuse is evolving. She explains why utilities should think beyond treatment processes and consider the broader organizational, regulatory, and community factors that drive reuse projects’ success.
Water Reuse is Becoming a Long-Term Water Supply Strategy
According to Pranjali, water reuse is no longer simply a response to drought.
“Water reuse is now becoming a core water supply strategy and not just a drought response strategy,” she said.
Across the country, utilities are adopting reuse for different reasons, from addressing groundwater depletion and saltwater intrusion to supporting industrial growth and improving water supply resilience. While regional challenges vary, Pranjali explains that reuse offers multiple benefits, including environmental restoration, water supply sustainability, and greater community resilience.
Successful Water Reuse Projects Require More Than Technology
While treatment remains fundamental, Pranjali believes the industry often places too much emphasis on technology alone.
“Treatment has a solid track record,” she said. “What is underestimated, though, is systems thinking and human capital.”
She explains that potable reuse requires departments that have traditionally operated independently—including drinking water, wastewater, compliance, and operations—to work together as one integrated system. Equally important are the people responsible for delivering safe water every day, from utility leadership to operators responding to maintenance alerts in the middle of the night.
Collaboration and Leadership Move Water Reuse Projects Forward
Potable reuse projects often take a decade or more to move from concept to operation. Throughout that process, Pranjali emphasizes the importance of engaging regulators early and identifying a strong project champion.
“Bringing your regulators along for the journey” and having “a project champion that owns this project and takes it across the finish line” are two of the biggest factors separating successful projects from those that stall, she said.
Building Confidence in the Future of Potable Reuse
For communities still uncertain about potable reuse, Pranjali stresses that today’s projects are built around multiple layers of protection.
“There are so many safeguards along the way that range from technical to operational to managerial to regulatory,” she explained.
She also noted that potable reuse has long been monitoring contaminants such as PFAS, positioning the industry to continue adapting as regulations evolve. Looking ahead, advances in artificial intelligence and real-time monitoring will help utilities move from reacting to water quality issues toward proactively managing them.
To hear more of Pranjali Kumar’s insights on potable reuse, resilience, and the future of water management, listen to the full episode of the Talking Under Water podcast.
