1. Marco A. Bruni, seecon international gmbh
Water Pollution
Marco A. Bruni, seecon international gmbh

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Copy it, adapt it, use it – but acknowledge the source!
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3. Contents
Introduction
What is Water Pollution
Wastewater’s Impact on Water Pollution
Reducing Water Pollution through Wastewater Recycling and through efficient Wastewater Management
Further Causes of global Water Pollution
Responses to Water Pollution
References

4. Water – Essential for Life
1. Introduction
Water – Essential for Life
Water is essential for all aspects of life and the defining feature of our planet.
Pollution from agricultural, industrial and domestic wastewater is making water resources, both surface water and groundwater, increasingly scarce and decreasingly poor in quality. (DOPP n.y.)
In some regions of the world, rivers and seas have become polluted in a way that the ecosystems and the health of plants, animals, and humans are heavily threatened.
 The Global Water Crisis
Source: [Accessed: ]

5. The Global Water Crisis
1. Introduction
The Global Water Crisis
Drivers
Population growth
Urbanisation
Industrialisation
Increasing and expanding food production }
Pressure on water resources
Increase of the unregulated or illegal discharge of contaminated water within and beyond national borders
(CORCORAN et al. 2010)

6. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there
1. Introduction
Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there
Source: [Accessed: ]

7. Definition and Sources
2. What is Water Pollution?
Definition and Sources
Water pollution occurs when materials like
Nutrients (Phosphorus, Nitrogen, etc.)
Organic matter (Carbon)
Acids, Toxics, Oil
Plastics
Etc.
are released in to the natural environment, degrading the quality of the water for other users. Water pollution includes all of the waste materials that cannot be naturally broken down by water.
Pollution can be caused by nature itself, such as when water flows through soils with high acidities. But much more often, human actions are responsible for the pollutants that enter the water.
Main source of water pollution: Wastewater!

8. Facts about Wastewater and Wastewater Treatment
3. Wastewater’s Impact on Water Pollution
Facts about Wastewater and Wastewater Treatment
Every day, 2 million tons of sewage, industrial and agricultural waste are released into the world’s water system. (PACIFIC INSTITUTE 2010)
Up to 90% of the world’s wastewater (domestic, industrial and agricultural) in coastal zones is released untreated (CORCORAN et al. 2010)
Source: CORCORAN et al. (2010)

9. Consequences of Water Pollution due to Wastewater
3. Wastewater’s Impact on Water Pollution
Consequences of Water Pollution due to Wastewater
Decrease of biodiversity, natural resilience and the capacity of the planet to provide ecosystem services.
Severe health issues for local population
Threat of access to safe drinking water
Pollution of coastal ecosystems and hence diminishing yields of fisheries

10. 3. Wastewater’s Impact on Water Pollution
Further Implications
Contaminated water due to inadequate wastewater management
is one of the main restrictions to development.
increases poverty due to high resulting costs for health care
Source: CORCORAN et al. (2010)

11. Through efficient Wastewater Management
4. Reducing Water Pollution
Through efficient Wastewater Management
Today, most infrastructure regarding sanitation lacks of adequate maintenance and is, hence, in a poor condition.
Instead of the construction of conventional wastewater treatment facilities, a smart and innovative wastewater management can improve the livelihood of people in developing countries substantially and in a sustainable way.
Thinking in cycles rather than in linear processes
 ‘Cradle to Cradle’
Source: [Accessed: ]

12. An Example of a Wastewater Management Intrument: Recycling
4. Reducing Water Pollution
An Example of a Wastewater Management Intrument: Recycling
For many purposes, water can be reused rather than ‘disposed’
Example: Wastewater reuse in agricultural production
The use of contaminated water in agriculture for irrigation and fertilising purposes can be managed through the implementation of various barriers which reduce the risk to both crop viability and human health.
Particularly in arid and semiarid regions and urban areas where unpolluted water is a scarce resource, irrigation using wastewater is rather common: 10% of the world’s population relies on food grown with contaminated waste water. (CORCORAN et al. 2010)
Advantages:
Alternative fertiliser for food production. Improvement of livelihood.
Reduction of water pollution

13. Water Pollution is mainly but not only about Wastewater
5. Further Causes of global Water Pollution
Water Pollution is mainly but not only about Wastewater
Besides wastewater, many other factors contribute to the global water pollution:
Industrial waste
Marine dumping
Oil pollution
Radioactive waste
Underground storage leakages
Global Warming
Atmospheric deposition
Eutrophication

14. 5. Further Causes of global Water Pollution
Industrial waste
Marine dumping
Source: [Accessed: ]
Source: [Accessed: ]
Oil spill
Eutrophication
Source:  [Accessed: ]
Source:  [Accessed: ]

15. 6. Responses to Water Pollution
Strategies
Effective wastewater management can include:
Technical measures, Legal instruments, Economic instruments and Co-operation among stakeholders from different sectors and levels
Paradigm shift
Single sector approaches such as wastewater treatment or river basin management are limited in their actions. To save and recycle water, regain resources and to protect aquatic ecosystems, the whole water cycle needs to be taken into account in an integrated, holistic way.
Successful and sustainable management of wastewater requires a cocktail of innovative approaches that engage the public and private sector at local, national and transboundary scales.
Planning processes should provide an enabling environment for innovation, particularly at the community level.

16. Integrated, holistic Approach
6. Responses to Water Pollution
Integrated, holistic Approach
Consider wastewater as a resource!

17. 7. References
CORCORAN, E. (Editor); NELLEMANN, C. (Editor); BAKER, E. (Editor); BOS, R. (Editor); OSBORN, D. (Editor); SAVELLI, H. (Editor) (2010): Sick Water? The central role of wastewater management in sustainable development. A Rapid Response Assessment. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UN-HABITAT, GRID-Arendal. [Accessed: ].
DOPP (Editor) (n.y.): TED Analysis Cases. Sea Water Pollution - Cases Analysis. Washington: American University. [Accessed: ].
PACIFIC INSTITUTE (Editor) (2010): World Water Quality Facts And Statistics. Oakland: Pacific Institute. [Accessed: ].

18. “Linking up Sustainable Sanitation, Water Management & Agriculture”
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