Explosive growth in data centers, semiconductors, and power generation is driving unprecedented industrial water demand, pushing reuse from niche to necessity across the U.S.
In this episode, Bruno Pigott of the WateReuse Association, Courtney Tripp of Grundfos, and Jim Oliver of Black & Veatch unpack their joint report, Accelerating Industrial Reuse, spotlighting proven and sustainable strategies to meet that demand.
They highlight how existing technologies enable up to 75–90% water savings through fit-for-purpose treatment—treating water only to the quality needed for its next use while minimizing energy and costs. Landmark projects illustrate the impact, from Intel’s Arizona campus recovering nearly all water and brine to support thousands of jobs, Chevron’s California public-private partnership conserving potable supplies for tens of thousands of homes, and Koch Industries’ Oklahoma plant treating municipal effluent to preserve freshwater for community growth.
The experts point to low-hanging fruit like operational tweaks for quick gains, alongside rising water rates, bipartisan tax incentives, and progressive state frameworks that are turning reuse into a business and resilience imperative. Looking ahead, they envision widespread adoption nationwide through industrial symbiosis, better salt management, and collaborative models that transform water constraints into economic and environmental opportunities.
Access the report: https://bit.ly/IndReuseReport
YouTube Video Chapters
0:00 Welcome to waterloop + Why Industrial Water Reuse Matters
0:48 Explosive Growth: Data Centers, Power, and Water Demand
1:34 How Industrial Water Use Has Changed Over the Last Decade
4:25 Is Industrial Reuse Catching Up to Municipal Reuse?
5:11 Why Industrial Reuse Is “Low-Hanging Fruit”
6:31 Simple Operational Changes That Deliver Big Water Savings
8:00 Beyond Data Centers: Sectors Driving Industrial Reuse
8:22 Semiconductor Manufacturing and Water Resilience
9:01 Why Businesses Are Moving Toward Water Reuse
9:32 Regulations: Barrier or Catalyst for Industrial Reuse?
10:47 Rising Water Rates and the Business Case for Reuse
12:14 Onsite Reuse vs. Municipal Recycled Water
12:47 The Salt Challenge in Cooling and Power Generation
14:16 What “Fit for Purpose” Water Really Means
15:47 Technology’s Role in Fit-for-Purpose Water
16:39 Why Water Reuse Tech Is Finally Affordable
18:26 Tackling Poor-Quality Water and Produced Water
20:17 75–90% Water Savings Using Existing Technology
21:57 Building a Base Level of Reclaimed Industrial Water
23:05 Case Study: Intel’s Arizona Campus (98% Water Recovery)
25:33 Case Study: Chevron & East Bay MUD Public-Private Partnership
27:05 The Rise of Public-Private & Investor-Led Water Models
29:33 Case Study: Koch Industries & Enid, Oklahoma
30:53 The Federal Role in Accelerating Industrial Reuse
31:32 Incentives, Tax Credits, and National Reuse Frameworks
35:12 How States Are Leading (and Lagging) on Reuse
38:17 What Needs to Happen at the Local Level
40:06 Biggest Barriers Holding Industrial Reuse Back
43:56 Why Education Is Still the Biggest Missing Piece
44:50 The Future: Solving the Salt Problem
45:33 Climate, Onshoring, and the Explosion of Reuse
47:36 Industrial Symbiosis and Circular Water Systems
48:45 Final Thoughts and Where Industrial Reuse Is Headed
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability. Visit https://www.waterloop.org/
Subscribe to catch every video: https://www.youtube.com/@waterloop
Never miss an episode! Subscribe to waterloop:
🎧 Spotify:https://bit.ly/waterloopSpotify
🎧 Apple Podcasts:https://bit.ly/waterloopApple
🎧 YouTube Podcasts:https://bit.ly/waterloopYouTubePod
Follow waterloop for more stories on water sustainability:
🔹 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_waterloop/
🔹 LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/thewaterloop
#IndustrialWaterReuse #WaterReuse #WaterInnovation #WaterTechnology #IndustrialWater #DataCenters #Semiconductors #PowerGeneration #FitForPurpose #WaterEfficiency #WaterResilience #SustainableIndustry #WaterInfrastructure #CircularWater #WaterManagement #CleanWater #ClimateResilience #WaterSector #Infrastructure #WaterSolutions #Waterloop
