Water Reuse Is Not Enough — We Need Full Watershed Stewardship – Opinion Article

by True Elements | June 2, 2025

Water Reuse Is Not Enough — We Need Full Watershed Stewardship

As climate change accelerates, water scarcity and freshwater degradation have become undeniable challenges. The rising visibility of water reuse and “water positive” commitments in corporate strategies reflects a growing awareness of these challenges. However, as Alexis Morgan from WWF insightfully argues in his recent piece “Why Water Reuse Won’t Save Us,” we must acknowledge a critical truth: water reuse is necessary but not sufficient.

Water reuse—whether through efficient in-facility systems, circular irrigation, or recycled wastewater—offers tangible benefits. It helps reduce operational dependency, boosts efficiency, and aligns with sustainability goals. But if companies stop there, we’re merely recycling old habits and failing to recognize our blind spots.

Think of water reuse as one tool in the toolbox of watershed solutions. It’s useful, even essential, but a wrench alone can’t build a house.

Water reuse is a tool of water management, not water stewardship. And that difference matters.

While water management focuses inward—on operational control—stewardship looks outward, addressing external dependencies, upstream ecosystem health, stakeholder engagement, and governance. Unfortunately,  many water reuse efforts focus only on internal operations, overlooking broader watershed vulnerabilities, which are where most corporate water risks exist.

This is where platforms like True Elements become essential. We are not just another tool—we’re the guidebook. True stewardship starts with seeing the entire system. Our platform brings together science, data, and AI to illuminate the full watershed picture—so organizations can act smarter, faster, and more collaboratively. Our water intelligence platform enables organizations to gain a comprehensive understanding of their watershed, identify the most effective tools, and implement them with targeted precision.

Watershed resilience can only be achieved by:

Engaging all stakeholders (NGOs, government, community voices),

Understanding ecosystem dependencies, and

Applying advanced tools like spatial mapping and predictive modeling to identify and act on risks upstream, not just within facility walls.

According to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 6.5.1, only 57% of countries globally are implementing integrated water resources management. That number is more than a statistic—it’s a wake-up call. It reveals a critical gap in how we manage one of our most essential and vulnerable resources. True water stewardship requires more than internal efficiency; it calls for integrated thinking, cross-sector collaboration, and a shared sense of responsibility.

**Figure 1**. *Global implementation levels of SDG Indicator 6.5.1: Degree of Integrated Water Resources Management (0–100), as of 2023.* **Source:** UN SDG 6 Data Portal

As a member of Cahaba Riverkeeper, I’ve seen firsthand how local efforts can lead to meaningful change when grounded in science and shared purpose. A compelling example is the agreement between Cahaba Riverkeeper, Cahaba River Society, the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Birmingham Water Works Board, and the Alabama Attorney General to protect over 7,000 acres of forest surrounding Lake Purdy and the Cahaba River. These lands serve as natural buffers, filtering stormwater and supporting aquifer recharge. By safeguarding them, we’re ensuring cleaner drinking water, reducing treatment costs, and building long-term watershed resilience. This success reflects what happens when community organizations, legal advocates, and public agencies work together toward a common water future.

On a larger scale, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed shows just how complex and interconnected watershed management really is. Spanning six states and the District of Columbia, it’s influenced by everything from agricultural runoff in Pennsylvania to urban stormwater in Maryland. While coordinated efforts have led to measurable improvements—16.9% nitrogen, 17.3% phosphorus, and 5.8% sediment reductions since 2009—the region remains off course for its 2025 goals. States like Delaware, New York, and Pennsylvania continue to lag in nutrient reductions. As a result, harmful algal blooms—fueled by excess nutrients—have increased, affecting aquatic ecosystems, local fisheries, and even human health through contaminated water and recreational closures.

**Figure 2.** *Outflows and water flow directionality across HUC12 sub-watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay region, visualized using vector data.* **Source:** USGS / True Elements, HUC12 Outflow Vectors’

These examples underscore why understanding ecosystem dependencies matters. What happens upstream doesn’t stay upstream—it impacts entire communities. That’s where platforms like TrueQI make a difference. Its geospatial tools and Outflow data layer allow users to visualize how water and pollutants move across watershed boundaries, helping identify risks before they become crises. For anyone serious about resilience and stewardship, seeing these connections is essential—not just for compliance, but for lasting environmental impact.

We must go further than reusing water within closed systems—we must restore, protect, and collaborate across the entire watershed. Technologies like True Elements’ platform help visualize watershed health holistically, spotlighting threats, pollution sources, and long-term sustainability metrics.

If we’re serious about building a water-resilient future, corporate water strategy must evolve from water reuse and isolated efficiencies to full-spectrum watershed stewardship. In the end, it’s not just about saving water—it’s about saving ecosystems, economies, and communities.

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By Dania Quintero Franco, Customer Success Account Manager