Description

Globally, the practice of wastewater treatment before discharge is inconsistent. The United Nations World Water Development Report (2017) estimated that, globally, over 80% of all wastewater is discharged without treatment. The discharge of untreated or inadequately treated wastewater into the environment results in the pollution of surface water, soil and groundwater. According to the WHO, water-related diseases kill around 2.2 million people globally each year, mostly children in developing countries. We need to understand that wastewater is not merely a water management issue – it affects the environment, all living beings, and can have direct impacts on economies.