Sick water?

WASTEWATER AND URBAN LIFE

Global populations are growing rapidly, particularly so in urban areas where the rate of urbanization far outstrips planning and wastewater infrastructure development. Existing wastewater infrastructure of most cities is decaying or no longer appropriate and in slum areas there is no planning and few facilities. Management of wastewater in the urban context must be adapted according, not only to the size, but also to the economic develop- ment and governance capacity of the urban area. By working together, and cooperating across municipalities the challenges of addressing wastewater management can be met and potential benefits realized.

Urban areas are both consumers and producers of large amounts of wastewater. Providing good quality water and sanitation ser- vices to densely populated areas involves significant planning and infrastructure. Over the next 25 years the annual growth rate

in urban areas is predicted to be twice as high as that projected for the total population (1.8 per cent versus almost 1 per cent). As soon as 2030, 4.9 billion people, roughly 60 per cent of the world’s population, will be urban dwellers (UNDESA 2006).

Access to sanitation facilities Access to sanitation facilities

Commonwealth of Independent States Commonwealth of Independent States

East Asia

West Asia

East Asia

West Asia

Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean

North Africa North Africa

South Eastern Asia South Eastern Asia

South Asia

Type of sanitation facility Shared Type of sanitation facility

South Asia

Unimproved

Indian Ocean Indian Ocean

Improved

Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean

Open defecation Open defecation

Shared

Latin America and Caribbean Latin America and Caribbean

Unimproved

Sub- Saharan Africa Sub- Saharan Africa

Improved

Oceania

Oceania

Million people 0 500 1 000 1 500 0 500 1 000 1 500

Source: JMP, Progress in drinking water and sanitation , 2008.

Million people

Source: JMP, Progress in drinking water and sanitation , 2008.

Improved : facilities that ensure hygienic separation of human excreta from human contact. Includes connection to a piped sewer system, septic tank, or pit latrines. Improv : facilities that ensure hygienic sep ration of human excreta from human contact. Includes connection to a piped sewer system, septic tank, or pit latrines.

Shared : sanitation facilities of an otherwise acceptable type shared between two or more households. Shared : anitation facilities of an otherwise acceptable type shared between two or more households.

Unimproved : facilities that do not ensure hygienic separation of human excreta from human contact Unimproved : facilities th t do ot ensure hygienic separation of human excreta from human contact

Open defecation: in fields, forests, bushes, bodies of water or other open spaces, or disposal of human faeces with solid waste. Open defecatio : in fields, forests, bu h s, bodies of water or other open spaces, or disposal of human faeces with solid waste.

Figure 6: Access to improved sanitation remains a pressing issue in many regions.

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