Bridging the %E2%82%AC6.5 Trillion Water Infrastructure Gap A Playbook 2025

CASE STUDY 2 Veolia – Windhoek Water Reclamation Plant, Namibia Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, lies in a desert area with only 250 mm of annual rainfall and extreme evaporation, as only 1% of rainwater filters down into the groundwater. As the city grew rapidly despite strict water controls, the authorities faced the dual challenge of securing water supply and improving wastewater treatment capacity. In 2002, the government partnered with Veolia to design, build and operate the Goreangab Water Reclamation Plant, which treats and converts effluents from the older wastewater treatment plant. The advanced multi-barrier process combines physical and chemical treatments with continuous monitoring, significantly enhancing wastewater treatment and transforming effluents into safe drinking water. Producing 21,000 m3 per day, the plant meets about 30% of the needs of the city’s 400,000 residents and has strengthened the city’s overall water security.Expanding wastewater collection, treatment and reuse infrastructure is integral to closing the existing gap and achieving universal access. However, solutions must be context-specific. In urban areas, centralized systems remain the most effective strategy. Centrally managed plants unlock economies of scale, enable advanced treatment technologies and integrate energy and resource recovery – capabilities that are often unfeasible in smaller systems. In cities, capital costs per person fall from about $1,000 at 2,500 populations equivalent (PE) to less than $250 at 200,000 PE for centralized plants.9 By contrast, rural and peri-urban areas might benefit more from decentralized, modular treatment units, which are flexible, scalable and locally managed. Decentralized systems can reduce expenditures by 40-45% compared to centralized facilities by cutting pumping, conveyance and other sunk costs.10 Bridging the €6.5 Trillion Water Infrastructure Gap: A Playbook 16