Is Water Reuse Going Mainstream?

In this episode, host Reese Tisdale is joined by Bluefield analyst Megan Bondar to unpack the pressures and opportunities shaping water reuse—a cornerstone of resilient water supply planning that’s gaining momentum across the U.S. Bluefield's latest analysis projects US$47.1 billion in CAPEX for municipal reuse infrastructure through 2035, highlighting a shift in how utilities and cities are thinking about long-term water resilience. From California's drought-driven projects to saltwater intrusion along the East Coast, water reuse is expanding. In this conversation, Reese and Megan explore what’s driving this growth—and what it means for utilities, communities, and the industries that depend on them. In this episode: What’s behind the surge in water reuse investment—and how it reflects a new mindset around resilience. How utilities and policymakers are addressing challenges like cost, permitting, and public perception. Why potable reuse is emerging as a larger share of new capacity additions by 2035. How regional factors—from groundwater depletion in the West to saltwater intrusion in the East—are shaping different approaches. The role of industrial demand, especially from data centers, in accelerating public-private partnerships for reuse. What separates the leaders from the laggards in planning, financing, and executing reuse projects. If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven’t already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen. If you’d like to be informed of water market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: U.S. Municipal Water Reuse: Market Trends and Forecasts, 2025–2035