The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a G20 Water Reuse Initiative aimed at expanding the safe reuse of treated water for applications including industry, agriculture, energy production and municipal systems.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the initiative Sept. 15 during the G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial Session in Houston. All G20 members assembled at the meeting agreed to a Water Reuse Outcome Document spearheaded by EPA.

The framework centers on a technology-neutral, “fit-for-purpose” approach that would treat water to the quality required for its intended use rather than applying a single standard across reuse applications. EPA said the approach can help reduce demand on freshwater supplies, improve drought resilience and strengthen infrastructure reliability.

The initiative calls for streamlined permitting and administrative processes while maintaining human health and environmental safeguards. It also supports water reclamation and recycling for energy, manufacturing, agriculture, municipal systems and data centers, along with voluntary information sharing, technical exchanges, pilot projects and capacity building.

The G20 framework builds on EPA’s Water Reuse Action Plan 2.0, launched in April 2026. That plan emphasizes reuse opportunities in areas including data center cooling, semiconductor manufacturing, electricity generation, agriculture and industrial production. EPA said WRAP 2.0 is intended to support reuse through collaboration with states, Tribes and other partners rather than establishing a federal regulatory mandate.

The G20 initiative also recognizes that water reuse requirements and approaches can vary based on national, state and local conditions. For water utilities, the framework places an emphasis on matching treatment requirements to specific end uses while maintaining safeguards for public health and the environment.