Sanitation and Wastewater Atlas of Africa

3.9 Conclusion

ecosystems by negatively affecting their capacity to provide ecosystem services. This underscores the need for its treatment and reuse. Wastewater is an important resource that can be used to recharge aquifers and reduce water scarcity. However, it contains components that have negative effects on ecosystems. Wastewater treatment will make a substantial difference to the health of key ecosystems, including rivers, lakes, soil, groundwater and wetlands. Substantial investment is needed to help improve the health of ecosystems on the African continent to protect the important ecosystem

services they provide. If regarded as a resource, wastewater can be treated, recycled and reused to minimize its adverse effect on the ecosystem and the health of humans. This will result in improved water quality by drastically reducing the proportion of hazardous chemicals and materials that end up in the water bodies; thus contributing to achieving SDG 6: ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The integration of wastewater into the natural water cycle should be encouraged and more resources should be invested into WWTPs and into the protection of freshwater ecosystems such as wetlands.

Ecosystems provide types of essential services that are necessary tomaintain optimal ecosystemhealth, including provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005). Although wastewater is an important source of essential nutrients for plants, many environmental, sanitary and health risks are also associated with the use of wastewater for crop irrigation due to the presence of toxic contaminants and microbes (Khalid et al. 2018). Wastewater management – or lack of it – has a direct impact on the biological diversity of aquatic ecosystems. It can disrupt the integrity of these

A healthy ecosystem can provide for both wildlife and people

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SANITATION AND WASTEWATER ATLAS OF AFRICA