Chile's private sector awaiting regulatory clarity for water reuse

Chile’s private sector is interested in water reuse, but it wants to see greater regulatory clarity on the issue before taking the plunge.

“As long as [the private sector] doesn't see the State as willing to make [water reuse] something that they can actually do, they will stay out of it,” Claudia Papic, head of content at the Expo Agua Santiago convention, told BNamericas.

She cited the example of a graywater reuse bill passed by congress in 2018, which has still not been fully implemented due to pending regulation that has yet to be issued by the health ministry.

However, a bill has been passed to allow agriculture to use recycled water. 

“I've seen great interest [in water reuse] from the private sector for a couple of years, but I've noticed that the regulatory issue was a big complication,” she said during the presentation of the 2024 edition of the expo, which will be held on October 10.

Papic said that she expects water reuse to be a central theme at this year’s event. 

Despite recent heavy rains, large swathes of Chile continue to suffer from water shortages, which is pushing both the public and private sector to search for new sources.

So far desalination has taken the lead over water reuse, with 28 plants in operation as of December 2023, according to investment promotion agency Invest Chile. 

Water reuse is still very incipient, with only 6% of treated wastewater currently being reused, according to the infrastructure policy council (CPI).

“Since there’s a water crisis in Chile, and there’s a problem coming in the future for all sectors of human life, especially agriculture, all sectors have to make water usage more efficient,” Margarita Ducci, executive director of the UN-linked Pacto Global Chile initiative, told BNamericas during the presentation event. 

She highlighted that the private sector is well aware that water plays an important role in its operations, regardless of where it operates.  

“Reuse is a very effective possibility nowadays because of the technologies developed in this regard, and there are mining companies that are using reused water as well,” Ducci said.