Why Africa needs circular water economies.
Africa’s intensifying water crisis denies millions of people access to basic drinking water. Prolonged droughts in East Africa have left urban centres grappling with major water supply deficits. Nairobi, for example, receives around 525 million litres of water daily, far short of the nearly 870 million litres required. Such mounting pressures reveal a fundamental need to rethink how water is sourced, used, and reused.
A promising solution lies in embracing circular water economies, which aim to manage water as a sustainable, regenerative resource. Unlike the conventional linear model of “use and discard,” circular water systems extend the lifespan of each drop through recycling, reuse, and efficiency. The concept encompasses reducing water usage in production and consumption, repurposing wastewater, and recovering energy and materials during treatment processes. This, in essence, redefines water as a renewable asset, not as a disposable commodity.
