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As water scarcity intensifies and climate impacts place increasing pressure on traditional supplies, communities around the world are rethinking how water is sourced, treated and reused. In response, more utilities are embracing water reuse practices and the principle that all water has value.
Advances in treatment technologies now allow wastewater to be cost-effectively reclaimed and repurposed as a high-quality, resilient water supply — increasingly for drinking water purposes. These solutions help communities strengthen water security while adapting to regulatory, environmental and infrastructure constraints.
Melanie Holmer is a global water reuse principal and vice president at Jacobs. An environmental engineer with almost three decades of experience, Melanie specializes in strategic planning, process selection, detailed design, program management and technical direction across drinking water, wastewater and reuse. She is a recognized leader in potable reuse and advanced treatment technologies, with extensive experience supporting major reuse programs, regulatory development and research initiatives that enable diverse and resilient water supply strategies.
Melanie’s passion for water carries outside of work into her favorite activity, scuba diving. She also enjoys traveling, hiking, golfing and loves to sing, play guitar and ukulele.
Navigating direct potable reuse regulations
As more states adopt or advance direct potable reuse (DPR) regulations, Melanie works closely with utilities to translate regulatory frameworks into practical, implementable solutions. With California’s DPR regulations now in effect, she supports clients in planning treatment technologies, monitoring strategies, operational requirements and governance approaches that align with regulatory expectations while strengthening long-term water resilience.
Her work helps communities move from uncertainty to action, enabling them to confidently integrate potable reuse into their water supply portfolios.
“As communities experience the impacts of climate change and recognize that water is a limited resource, public opinions on potable reuse are also shifting. Twenty-five years ago, there was strong opposition to potable reuse projects in Southern California — today, some of the largest potable reuse projects in the world are being built and planned there.”
Water reuse in action
Melanie is supporting high-profile potable reuse initiatives including the Donald C. Tillman Advanced Water Purification Facility in Los Angeles. The project will produce up to 45 million gallons per day of purified water to recharge local groundwater basins, supplying water for up to 500,000 residents.
Through her involvement, Melanie helps align advanced treatment, regulatory requirements and stakeholder engagement — supporting a collaborative model that brings together multiple agencies to increase regional water resiliency.
A full-circle return to Jacobs
Melanie’s leadership in water reuse reflects a full-circle career journey. She began her career at Jacobs in the late 1990s, building a foundation in water infrastructure and client service before continuing to develop her expertise across the industry.
More than 20 years later, she returned to Jacobs, drawn by the company’s culture, commitment to sustainable solutions and opportunity to help shape the future of water reuse at scale — supporting projects that deliver lasting value for communities worldwide.
