npj Clean Water

Addressing novel, scalable, and energy-efficient technologies for the desalination of saltwater and brackish water

Addressing cutting-edge case studies and pilot projects on Artificial Intelligence innovations for resilient and sustainable clean water

Advancing sustainable solutions for curbing the dual challenges of water scarcity and energy demands

Advancing the efficient, equitable, and sustainable management of clean water by smart water innovations

This Comment critiques current urban sanitation financing discourse and proposes sustainable cost recovery principles as a framework for more constructive conversations. The way we talk

about financing matters, and a better conversation can lead to better outcomes. We contend that framing discussions around sustainable cost recovery principles can foster fairer, more

sustainable financing arrangements that acknowledge sanitation as a critical public good while ensuring service provider viability and user affordability.

Unsafe water reuse in the informal irrigation sector dominates in the Global South and requires more attention to protect food safety and public health. Promoting formal wastewater use in

conjunction with (usually constrained) investment in treatment capacities is not sufficient in LMIC. New approaches and indicators are needed across the formal and informal reuse sectors to

increase food safety and monitor progress on safe reuse. Current reuse guidelines need to be updated with greater attention to policy, regulations, investments, and behavior change for a

higher implementation potential.

Current wastewater management practices underutilize wastewater as a valuable source of water, energy, and essential plant nutrients. A new paradigm shift is needed, one that integrates the

water-energy-food nexus into wastewater management. Decentralized wastewater management has the power to redefine not only the urban water cycle but also reshape society towards a more

economic and environmentally sustainable future.

Field openers should be admired for leading the crowds. This comment is relevant to the bigger picture of Professor Sourirajan to highlight how a humble talent had selflessly founded a

multicontinental major, which scaled up to US$ 50 billion in the 2021 global membrane separation market to enrich the quality of worldwide life via providing clean water.