Mauritius is facing a severe water crisis, prompting the government to explore new sources of water. One potential solution lies in the reuse of treated wastewater. The Wastewater Management Authority (WMA) treats approximately 48 million cubic meters (m³) of wastewater annually through its network of nine treatment plants. This significant volume of treated water could help alleviate the island nation's water shortages.
Despite the substantial amount of treated wastewater available, only a small fraction is being reused. According to the National Audit Office's report on Sustainable Water Resources Management, published in December 2025, a mere 920,000 m³ of treated wastewater is reused annually for irrigation purposes. This reused water primarily comes from the Grand-Baie treatment plant and is used for the Mont Choisy golf course. Daily, around 3,000 m³ of treated wastewater is utilized for irrigating the golf course.
The WMA and various stakeholders, including the Mauritius Export Association (MEXA) and the Chamber of Agriculture, are in discussions to explore ways to increase the reuse of treated wastewater. The focus is on finding suitable applications, such as irrigation for sugar cane fields, and determining a fair price for the treated water. Navin Jawaheer, General Manager of the WMA, emphasizes that a policy decision is necessary to strike a balance that benefits all parties involved.
One of the challenges in reusing treated wastewater is the cost of treatment, which averages around Rs 30 per m³. The WMA is engaged in talks with potential clients, including the Chamber of Agriculture, Ferme Magenta Planters Association, and Medine Agriculture, to assess their interest in using treated wastewater for irrigation. The goal is to find a mutually beneficial solution that encourages the reuse of this valuable resource.
The St-Martin treatment plant, which processes between 45,000 and 50,000 m³ of wastewater daily, presents another opportunity for water reuse. A portion of the treated water at this plant could be utilized for industrial purposes. The WMA is in discussions with MEXA to explore the feasibility of conveying treated water to industrial users, although the distance and associated costs pose significant challenges.
The WMA believes that there are no insurmountable technical obstacles to reusing treated wastewater. However, the organization must carefully evaluate the technical and financial aspects of each potential reuse application. Different types of treated wastewater are suited for various uses, such as irrigation of sugar cane or golf courses, while more stringent treatment is required for vegetable cultivation.
With 55,000 m³ of untreated wastewater being discharged into the sea daily, Mauritius must find effective ways to recover and reuse this resource. The key questions are how much of this water can be recovered, at what cost, and for what purposes. As the water crisis deepens, finding innovative solutions to manage and reuse treated wastewater will be crucial for the island nation's sustainable development.
Key points
- Only 920,000 m³ of the 48 million m³ of treated wastewater is reused annually in Mauritius.
