Is Purified Recycled Water (PRW) the next step in our circular economy and how do we get there?

Australia’s increasing water stress, driven by climate variability, population growth and a reliance on rainfall-dependent supply, is accelerating the need for circular, climate-independent solutions. 

Purified Recycled Water (PRW), already proven internationally, offers a resilient, environmentally aligned, and technically viable option. Yet despite significant global precedent, uptake in Australia has been slow.

This paper explores the barriers that have held PRW back, from public discomfort and trust deficits to communication failures and policy fragmentation, and sets out the conditions required to build social licence.