Sick water?

PART II REALISING THE OPPORTUNITIES OF WASTEWATER

Reducing unregulated discharge of wastewater and securing safe water are among the most important interventions for improving global public health and achieving sustain- able development. Part I demonstrated the enormous impacts and high cost to the en-

vironment, society and thus to economies, that wastewater can have when inadequate- ly or inappropriately managed. Part II pro- vides another perspective. Where are the opportunities for using wastewater? How can wise investment and appropriate man- agement of wastewater reveal a resource, a tool that can help tackle the global water crisis, urgent health issues, food security and economic productivity, and maintain or improve environmental integrity?

It is critically important how investment is made. Inappropriate financing that does not produce results can have serious knock-on effects, leading to diminished public and po- litical confidence and a lost opportunity to simultaneously tackle a problem and generate capital. The UNGA declared 1981–90 the International drinking water supply and sani- tation decade. Approximately US$700 billion was spent, yet absolute numbers of people without safe drinking water stayed static (Elimelech, 2006; Mintz et al , 2001). The task in hand is not a small one, but the technology and know how exist. It can be done.

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