KWR at the 14th IWA Water Reuse and Reclamation Conference in Cape Town

A highlight of the event was the well-attended workshop hosted by KWR and our Watershare partner, the Water Research Commission of South Africa on ‘Transformative Water Practices in the Circular Economy.’ This workshop provided valuable insights into how circular economy principles can be applied to water systems to enhance sustainability, resilience, and resource efficiency. KWR shared its extensive experience in water reuse and fostering urban-industrial symbiosis, particularly within the European context. The discussions emphasized that enabling the transition to a circular economy requires safely harnessing the value of water by developing systemic solutions, promoting symbiotic relationships between sectors, and strengthening value chains. This transformation calls for the adoption of advanced, innovative technologies to evaluate various intervention strategies across technical, economic, social, and ecological dimensions. Furthermore, achieving long-term sustainable water and sanitation services demands a paradigm shift at multiple levels, supported by cross-sectoral collaboration and policy innovation.

The workshop featured engaging talks from Eustina Musvoto, Kees Roest, Thomas Honer and Sandra Sikkema, who addressed key topics such as opportunities for scaling circular water solutions, strategies for public acceptance, and frameworks for supporting circular water initiatives. A lively panel discussion, led by Johann Poinapen, further explored the integration of circular principles and partnership-building to address both current and future water security challenges, drawing inspiration from successful examples like Namibia’s Goreangab Water Reclamation Plant. His concluding remarks underscored our societal responsibility towards water, the need for collective problem-solving in water management for the well-being of humanity, and his guiding motto, “One Planet, One People, One Water,” which uplifted the participants’ sense of responsible and wise stewardship.

Image 1. KWR representatives with the Minister of Water and Sanitation of South Africa, the honourable Pemmy Majodina

Driving Global Conversations and Solutions

Beyond the workshop, KWR representatives actively contributed to the conference’s broader discussions. Sandra Sikkema’s presentation on legitimation strategies and public acceptance of water reuse drew significant interest, highlighting how proactive engagement, clear communication, and supportive policies can build trust and encourage the widespread adoption of water innovations. Kees Roest’s presentation on the Water Roundabout Eerbeek project offered practical insights into developing circular water systems for the paper and cardboard industry—an approach highly relevant to South Africa’s industrial landscape. Meanwhile, Mariëlle van der Zouwen gave a keynote and was a panellist at the “Strong Women, Stronger Organisations” workshop, a joint initiative of the World Water Academy and Blue Deal South Africa. She was also engaged as a jury member of the Wetskills Water Challenge. The winning team ‘Aqua San’, consisting of Felicia, Ashley, Nikita and Sihlangule, developed a plan for self-sufficient communities producing and managing their own energy, water and food. Furthermore, she participated for KWR and as vice chair in a two-day board meeting of the Global Water Research Coalition. The meeting was hosted by the Water Research Commission, the coalition’s South African member. Moreover, we led several bilateral meetings with water boards, government bodies, research organisations, and private sector stakeholders to explore opportunities for future collaboration.

Overall, the conference proved to be a productive platform for advancing KWR’s mission to creating a water-wise world. Our representatives engaged in fruitful discussions on cutting-edge technologies, policy development, and societal engagement, while building relationships with professionals committed to enhancing global water security. The enthusiastic response to Water Research Commission & KWR’s workshop and presentations demonstrated the growing interest in circular water solutions, and the potential for meaningful partnerships and impactful contributions to sustainable water management in Africa and beyond. The feedback and expressions of interest received through the follow-up conversations further highlight how the workshop has stimulated opportunities for collaboration, with KWR actively exploring ways to build on this momentum and translate discussions into long-term partnerships and joint initiatives.