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Why demonstration plants matter for UK water reuse

With water reuse now a feasible alternative supply option, pilots and demonstration plants will be vital in proving performance and building public confidence, write Xylem’s Global Product Manager Matthew Roegner and global AOP and reuse manager Thomas Franz.

Utilities in the UK are charting a new course toward secure, sustainable water supplies by actively planning indirect potable reuse (IPR) projects to address mounting scarcity challenges. Reuse is increasingly recognised as a strategic imperative - one that strengthens resilience, supports drought mitigation and provides communities with a dependable, resilient water resource.

IPR processes treat wastewater to a high standard for discharge to an environmental buffer, such as a river, reservoir or underground aquifer. Water is then abstracted and treated further to drinking water standards. 

The advanced treatment technology required for IPR is already used as part of the treatment process at several UK plants. However, delivering any IPR scheme is a complex undertaking and, while the UK sector awaits unified regulations, companies are preparing for a range of compliance scenarios. 

Beyond compliance, factors such as budgetary constraints, site footprint, influent quality and, just as critically, public perception, can influence project design. With so many site-and-circumstance-specific considerations to manage, companies must ask themselves, why fly without a pilot – or demonstration plant? 

While sometimes overlooked, given the additional timeline and costs, pilot projects and demonstration facilities serve as vital test flights before a fully-fledged reuse system earns its wings. They are the gateway from concept to full deployment.

The critical nature of water reuse provides limited allowance for failure. Successful site testing converts design conversations from "it should work" to "it will work" - a powerful distinction when interacting with customers and other stakeholders. 

Typically, pilots are better suited to lower flows and aim to optimise performance: testing unique conditions and using the gathered data to design the treatment train. 

Demonstration facilities are normally sized for higher flow rates with the primary goal of showcasing consistent long-term performance. In some cases, a single facility can function as both a pilot and a demonstration, if the design can represent full-scale operation but is flexible enough to test important parameters and variants. 

There is a range of benefits to pilots and demonstration plants: 

  • Confidence and trust 

Demonstration facilities build confidence and trust. They let communities see water reuse in action, often through public tours and real-time water quality monitoring. This turns technical discussions into tangible proof, helping to build trust and break down the perception barriers that can delay reuse projects. For communities, this visibility reinforces why reuse matters - it delivers a safe, reliable source of clean water while easing pressure on freshwater supplies.

Several organisations constructed permanent demonstration facilities and visitor centres that invite the public to view the technology. They include:

Pure Water San Diego, a reuse partnership that aims to provide nearly 50% of San Diego’s water supplies locally by the end of 2035. More than 20,500 people have toured the demonstration facility, with a virtual-tour video receiving more than 19,000 views. 

Nutzwasser, Schweinfurt, Germany - a demonstration project that aims to prove the feasibility of urban and agricultural reuse. Besides advanced treatment technology and an on-site greenhouse to evaluate safe reuse practice, the treatment plant has a visitor pavilion.

  • Hands-on experience  

With pilot testing, operators can get hands-on experience with equipment they may be required to operate at peak performance, as well as technology they may not be familiar with. Building their knowledge in the early stages will support the success of the full-scale system. Furthermore, feedback from operators provides a unique perspective that can improve overall facility design, ease of operation and efficiency. 

  • Financial analysis 

Pilots help identify ongoing operating costs of treatment trains which can be significant. Such testing can determine costs associated with chemical consumption, energy use, oxygen consumption and more. This insight is critical to making reuse more affordable and ensuring schemes can scale over time.

Lessons for UK

Xylem’s technologies are designed to make reuse easier to implement, more cost-effective to operate and scalable as community needs evolve. With IPR featuring in UK drought mitigation plans for the first time, several demonstration schemes are already underway, with Xylem supporting utilities in their development. 

Xylem UK’s Head of Wastewater Sales, Barry Hopton expects the 2025-2030 investment period (AMP8) to focus heavily on demonstration plants, data gathering and cost analysis. These findings will be vital in securing public acceptance, refining final designs and proving the capability of advanced IPR technologies.

Hopton said: “As proven globally, UK demonstration plants will be central to a broader ‘hearts and minds’ strategy aimed at improving public understanding of water reuse. 

“If made accessible, these facilities can show first-hand the level of treatment involved and build confidence in the safety and reliability of reuse solutions. That transparency is essential for moving projects forward - particularly in markets where trust in water providers can be fragile.”
Barry Hopton, Xylem UK’s Head of Wastewater Sales

Xylem’s global experience positions the company as a key enabler of this transition. Having supported reuse schemes worldwide, the company recognises that success depends not only on process performance but also on effective communication and engagement. 

Hopton added: “While research suggests the public is broadly open to water reuse, understanding in the UK remains limited. Bridging that gap will require sustained, industry-wide investment in public education. 

“This should include showcasing established international schemes and credible case studies, alongside giving customers the opportunity to see - through pilots and demonstrations - what a similar scheme in their own catchment could look like.”