Why Waste Water When We Can Reuse It

Water is a limited resource for which global demand is growing. We need to reduce and reuse wastewater. By exploiting this valuable resource, we will make the water cycle work better for every living thing. Over 80% of the wastewater generated by society flows back into the ecosystem without being treated or reused; there are many treatment processes and operational systems that will allow us to use wastewater to meet the growing water demand in growing cities, support sustainable agriculture, and enhance energy production and industrial development.

World Water Day is an international observance and an opportunity to learn more about water-related issues, be inspired to tell others and take action to make a difference. Each year, UN-Water - the entity that coordinates the UN's work on water and sanitation - sets a theme for World Water Day corresponding to a current or future challenge.

In 2017, the theme is "Why waste water?" which is about reducing and reusing wastewater. Wastewater is a valuable resource to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goal. One of the target aims is to halve the proportion of untreated wastewater and thereby increase water recycling and safe reuse.

Over 80 per cent of the wastewater generated by society flows back into the ecosystem without being treated or reused; the vast majority of all the wastewater from our homes, cities, industry and agriculture flows back to nature without being treated or reused - polluting the environment and losing valuable nutrients and other recoverable materials.

Instead of wasting wastewater, we need to reduce and reuse it. In our homes, we can reuse greywater on our gardens and plots. In our cities, we can treat and reuse wastewater for green spaces. In industry and agriculture, we can treat and recycle discharge for things like cooling systems and irrigation.

By exploiting this valuable resource, we will make the water cycle work better for every living thing. And we will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goal target to halve the proportion of untreated wastewater and increase water recycling and safe reuse.

Due to population growth, accelerated urbanisation and economic development, the quantity of wastewater generated and its overall pollution load are increasing globally. However, wastewater management is being seriously neglected, and wastewater is grossly undervalued as a potentially affordable and sustainable source of water, energy, nutrients and other recoverable materials. It, therefore, needs to be seen as a resource, rather than a burden to be disposed of.