e-ReWater
Using Earth Observation and AI to Unlock Water Reuse in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region
Water scarcity is no longer a future risk in the Middle East and North Africa - it is a present constraint. Yet vast volumes of treated wastewater remain unused, not because they are unavailable, but because they are not visible in planning systems.
e-ReWater turns wastewater into a planned, prioritized, and usable water resource.
Why water reuse matters?
Severe water scarcity across the MENA region
Home to 6% of the world's population, but just 1% of freshwater resources
60% of people are affected by water scarcity
Arid and semi-arid climate
Much of the region receives very low rainfall and experiences high evaporation rates
limiting natural water recharge
Agricultural water demand
Agriculture is the largest water-consuming sector in many MENA countries
often relying heavily on irrigation
Urbanization and industrial growth
Expanding cities and industries place additional pressure on already limited water resources
What is e-ReWater?
e-ReWater is an IWMI project, funded by Google.org, that harnesses artificial intelligence and Earth observation to help governments in the MENA region systematically assess, plan, and prioritize wastewater reuse at scale.
Introducing Water-REPEAT framework:
Water-REPEAT (Water Reuse Plan using Earth-Observation and AI-based Technologies) is the integrated digital framework developed under e-ReWater that combines satellite imagery, AI/ML models, and multi-sectoral demand data to build treatment plant inventories, quantify wastewater supply, map sectoral water demand, and generate optimized reuse plans.
01
Build the knowledge base
Compile and validate a comprehensive inventory of wastewater treatment plants capturing location, capacity, and operational status to establish a reliable baseline for reuse planning.
02
Gapfil the missing data
Use AI and satellite imagery to automatically identify undocumented treatment facilities and quantify wastewater generation across urban and rural areas, closing critical data gaps.
03
Map supply against demand
Model water demand across agriculture, industry, and the environment using Earth observation and AI, then match it spatially against available treated wastewater supply.
04
Plan and prioritize investment
Rank treatment plants by their multi-sector reuse potential and generate optimized, evidence-based reuse plans that guide governments on where to act first and invest wisely.
Applications of the e-ReWater tool.
E-ReWater has been applied in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These countries serve as test cases, demonstrating how data-driven reuse planning can be embedded within national water systems and scaled across the region.
Egypt
Saudi Arabia
UAE
01
National-scale assessments linking wastewater availability with agricultural and environmental demands, providing evidence to inform reuse and sustainability strategies.
02
Supporting strategic prioritization of wastewater reuse investments and strengthening digital analytics in irrigation and reuse governance.
03
Advancing institutional readiness for AI-enabled water planning through capacity building and adoption of digital decision-support tools.
Benefits of adopting the e-ReWater tool
Policymakers
Provides clear insights on water demand and reuse potential, helping shape policies on allocation, reuse strategies, and long-term planning reducing pressure on freshwater and improving water security to make informed decisions
Planners
Access spatial data on water demand and wastewater supply to prioritize investments in treatment, reuse infrastructure, and irrigation efficiency at national and sub-national scales to plan where demand is highest.
Researchers
Access high-resolution AI-derived WWTP inventories, multi-sectoral water demand analytics , supporting data-driven research, model development, and reuse prioritization while providing a scalable foundation.
Policymakers
Provides clear insights on water demand and reuse potential, helping shape policies on allocation, reuse strategies, and long-term planning reducing pressure on freshwater and improving water security to make informed decisions
Planners
Access spatial data on water demand and wastewater supply to prioritize investments in treatment, reuse infrastructure, and irrigation efficiency at national and sub-national scales to plan where demand is highest.
Researchers
Access high-resolution AI-derived WWTP inventories, multi-sectoral water demand analytics , supporting data-driven research, model development, and reuse prioritization while providing a scalable foundation.
Explore how Earth observation and AI can transform wastewater reuse planning in the MENA region.
Access the e-ReWater Tool