Wastewater - Turning Problem to Solution

Long-term strategy 2010 Recommendations

Progress since 2010 Examples of

Planning should account for future global change scenarios (including climate change and population growth).

Climate change, urbanisation, population growth and economic development are all processes that impact the demands on water with consequences for wastewater production and treatment. Whilst some progress has been made in understanding the implications of climate change in water suppl and management, as well as the contribution of the high energy demands for wastewater treatment to carbon emissions, there is much that needs to be done.

Solutions must be sustainable, i.e. socially and culturally suitable, economically viable and ecologically appropriate.

There are a wide range of solutions available for wastewater reduction, collection, treatment and reuse, suitable for di erent social, environmental and ecologycal contexts. transparency and trust are recognised as critical to the success of such solutions.

Education and awareness are important to reduce overall volume and harmful content of wastewater.

There are examples emerging to show that increasing awareness through education and information sharing can help change behaviour in water use at the individual and business level.

Figure 1.2-b: Key areas of progress against the long-term actions recommended in the 2010 report ‘Sick Water?’

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