National Water Reuse Action Plan
Completed Action
Action 11.2 Raise Global Awareness and Preparedness for Water Reuse and
the Water Reuse Action Plan
International
.Collaboration
Background
Familiarity and experience with water reuse differs greatly across
the globe. To build capacity and share water reuse technologies
and strategies with international audiences, the U.S Department
of State (DOS) leveraged its existing public diplomacy tools and
the WRAP. This action also equipped water managers and DOS
personnel with a better understanding of the technologies and
approaches available to strengthen global water security and
build resilience to climate change by integrating water reuse into
new and existing DOS programs and outreach.
Action 11.2 aimed to raise global awareness and preparedness
for water reuse and the Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP). The
first action objective, promote water reuse globally, supported
the U.S. Global Water Strategy's strategic objectives, including
increasing sustainable access to safe drinking water, sanitation,
and hygiene and encouraging the sound management and
protection of freshwater resources. Through existing public
diplomacy tools and U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide,
this action created opportunities to share key information and
best practices for water reuse and demonstrated how the WRAP
is a whole-of-government effort and a model for how societies
can strengthen water governance, financing, and institutions for
improved water security.
The second action objective aimed to build global water reuse
capacity to help countries develop policies and tools needed to
increase their water supplies. Capacity-building programs
facilitate understanding of how water supplies can meet human,
economic, and ecological needs through water reuse. Examples
include the Ambassador's Water Expert Program (AWEP), which
sends water experts abroad, and the International Visitor's
Leadership Program (IVLP), which brings influential foreigners to
the United States.
Accomplishments
Action Team
Action Leaders
• U.S. Department of State (DOS)
Allie Davis ('DavisAL3@state.aov')
Action Partners
• U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)
Peter Fricke (peter fricke@ios.doi.aov') and
Elizabeth Goffi (Elizabeth aoffi@ios.doi.gov')
• U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID)
Lisa Schechtman dschechtman@usaid.aov')
• U.S. Department of Commerce
Amy Kreps, (amv.kreps@trade.gov')
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)
Ashley Harper ('harper.ashlev@epa.gov') and
Rick Ziegler (zieoler.rick@epa .gov')
• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation)
Angela Medina ('amedina@usbr.gov')
• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Melissa Klembara
('Melissa.klembara@ee.doe.gov')
• U.S. Water Partnership (USWP)
Chris Rich ('chris.rich@getf.org')
• Water Environment Federation (WEF)
Claudio Ternieden ('cternieden@wef.org')
• WateReuse Association (WateReuse)
Aliza Furneaux, ('AFurneaux@watereuse.org')
and Heather Strathearn
('hstrathearn@watereuse.org')
During action implementation, the action team achieved several intended outcomes, including promoting water
reuse globally and institutionalizing water reuse in DOS programs.
Launched a webinar series that shared U.S. water reuse technologies and approaches for stakeholder
engagement, messaging, and regulations with a global audience reaching over 42,000 people from 78
countries.
Integrated water reuse into State Department-led water foreign assistance programs including AWEP,
which sends U.S. experts abroad to consult on key water issues; the Water Smart Engagements Program,
which pairs leading U.S. water utilities with water and wastewater utilities in Association of Southeast
National Water Reuse Action Plan
Completed Action
Action 11.2
1
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Asian Nations (ASEAN) Smart Cities; and the Integrated Urban Services program, which is piloting
integrated water, food, and energy systems and business plans in ASEAN Smart Cities.
Communicated the importance of water reuse and shared the example of the WRAP at international
meetings including Stockholm World Water Week, Singapore International Water Week, the Water
Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC), and in multilateral fora.
Developed and launched an international social media campaign to highlight the release of the WRAP, its
one-year anniversary, and key messages on the importance of water reuse. The social media campaign
included widespread interagency support and uptake, and more than 100 U.S. embassies and consulates
around the world participated.
Engaged with the IVLP and presented U.S. approaches to water reuse, water policy, and the WRAP to at
least eight groups including representatives from Turkmenistan, Thailand, and the Palestinian Territories.
Through courses at the Foreign Service Institute, quarterly calls with Environment, Science, Technology,
and Health officers, and webinars, this action built the State Department's capacity to understand and
promote water reuse globally, and institutionalized water reuse in Department water policy as a key
pathway to water security.
Action Impact
Improved awareness globally of the role of water reuse in strengthening global water security and
building climate resilience.
Institutionalized water reuse as a key component of the State Department's policy on water security
challenges.
Created an ongoing webinar and outreach effort that shares U.S. best practices and experiences with
water reuse with a global audience.
Action Implementation Process
Incorporate water reuse into
Department of State
Environment, Science,
L Technology, and Health
m officer quarterly calls and
m annual trainings.
9,
Develop an
international social
media messaging
campaiqn to
highlight the
release of the
WRAP.
i
Engage with the environment-
focused IVLP exchanges to
include meetings within existing
IVLPs on topics such as water
reuse, water policy, and
implementation.
Host water reuse
webcast to discuss
water reuse challenges
and opportunities in
the Near East and
North Africa Region.
Continue to raise
awareness for water
reuse internationally
and collaborate with
WRAP action partners
on other active actions.
National Water Reuse Action Plan
Completed Action
Action 11.2
2
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Future Activity
DOS will continue to build capacity and advance action on water reuse internationally using public
diplomacy resources and through efforts such as the Ambassadors Water Experts Program, the
Integrated Urban Services Program, and the Water Smart Engagements utility pairing program.
DOS is exploring ways to further strengthen links between U.S. and international water reuse experts.
DOS will support new and ongoing international collaboration WRAP actions including:
o Action 11.1 Facilitate U.S. - Israel Collaboration on Technology, Science, and Policy of
Water Reuse: Efforts include supporting a U.S. delegation mission to Israel to observe water
reuse science, technology, and policy.
o Action 11.3 Develop and Highlight Case Studies Relevant to the Water in Circular
Economy and Resilience (WICER) Framework: EPA and the World Bank are leading an
effort to develop case studies tailored to the needs of underserved communities, including
international communities. As an action partner, DOS plans to help share information about the
action and case studies by leveraging international connections.
Additional Resources
World Water Day webinar highlighting U.S. approaches to water reuse in Virginia, Florida, and California
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx-zeFRdGzU&feature=youtu.be
Webinar on drought and salinity in the Mekong Delta, including how water reuse can help address these
water management issues: https://www.mekonqwater.org/lst-mvs
Stockholm World Water Week at Home panel discussion, M^ter Reuse: An Integrated Approach to
Building Water Resilience-, https://www.worldwaterweek.org/event/9039-water-reuse-an-inteqrated-
approach-to-buildinq-water-resilience
Webinar on Water Security through Transboundary Cooperation: Examples from the United States,
Canada, and Mexico: https://vimeo.com/466651287
National Water Reuse Action Plan
Completed Action 3
Action 11.2
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