PREFACE
The wastewater challenge is not only a threat, but a challenge where we can find opportunities for green employment, social well-being and ecological health
The United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UN- SGAB) is committed to accelerating progress on the Millennium Development Goal targets for water and sanitation.
UNSGAB collaborates with others to galvanize action and fos- ter new initiatives. One of our initiatives for improving basic sanitation coverage was the UN-backed International Year on Sanitation (IYS) in 2008. By all accounts, the IYS was a suc- cess. It triggered an honest, concrete and productive public discussion about expanding access to sanitary toilets and im- proving hygiene while fostering political commitments to act.
UNSGAB now is working to ensuring that these IYS com- mitments are fulfilled. We also are building on this positive momentum to widen the discussion to include the collection, treatment and reuse of human, household, agricultural, storm and industrial wastewater and run-off. More than 80 percent of wastewater is discharged untreated into water bodies. This un- treated wastewater is the missing link to meeting the sanitation challenge. It has a material impact on human health, social and economic development and ecosystem sustainability.
The 2009 Istanbul Ministerial Statement embodies a global commitment to “further develop and implement wastewater col- lection, treatment and reuse.” This report aims to place waste- water on the international and national agenda by pointing out that wastewater management provides opportunities not only challenges. Now, more than ever, we must promote strategic fi-
6
nancial planning at the country level to maximize efficiency to improve coverage in the water and sanitation sectors.
UNSGAB has gained valuable experience and understanding that we will now bring to bear on improving wastewater man- agement. Meeting this challenge will require new alliances and we are happy to have collaborated with UNEP, UN-HABITAT and UN Water in the development of this report. We are ready to work with the global community to promote a new wastewa- ter paradigm encompassing modular design, appropriate tech- nology, and sustainable financing. For as the report “Sick wa- ter? The central role of wastewater management in sustainable development” points out, the wastewater challenge is not only a threat, but is a challenge where we can find opportunities for green employment, social well-being and ecological health.
HRH, Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands Chair, UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88