Sick water?

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.

PART II

REALISING THE

OPPORTUNITIES OF

WASTEWATER