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An Introduction to Global Water Wastage

The globe's use of water has an impact on the environment.

• By Elizabeth Long
• Aug 11, 2022

There are many aspects of daily living that have the power to impact the environment negatively. When taking into account every household, business and service, these factors then have the power to increase environmental damage on a momentous, global scale.

Water waste is just one example of a damaging environmental factor, but it's an extremely significant one. It's very important for individuals, households and businesses alike to understand the impact of water waste on the environment so that the world at large can work to a more sustainable future.

What is Water Wastage and How Does It Occur?

When talking about water waste, this can reference a few key areas. The water waste from a community of people is more commonly known as sewage. Household (or other buildings) wastewater can include the waste from toilets or from actions such as draining kitchen sinks.

Simply using too much water can very easily be done by anyone. Running a very long shower, loading your washing machine too regularly or leaving the tap running when brushing your teeth are all examples of how easy it is to waste this valuable resource.

In regard to sewage and wastewater from your pipes, damaging chemicals or cleaning products may be drained through your pipes, you may be using your sewage system too often, or it's always possible that large water treatment companies are not managing wastewater services in the best way to protect the environment.

What is the Impact of Wastewater on the Environment?

When considering the damage wastewater is capable of, the biggest threats to the environment are contamination and pollution. If sewage is not treated appropriately before being disposed of it, it can contaminate water and thereby put wildlife at great risk.

Furthermore, wastewater dispersed through flooding or leaks means that completely untreated water can enter water sources and pollute them.

The process of treating wastewater also requires fossil fuels. This means that wastewater treatment has the potential to increase carbon footprint and air quality.

Global Water Wastage Statistics

When considering the situation of water wastage and the earth's future, it's important to take into account daily water use and habits within other countries around the world. With these statistics, you can better understand how your own country (and therefore your own effort) is faring in comparison to other countries.

These statistics can show a shocking difference between water use statistics based on different countries. his is an important reminder of how all countries across the world need to work cohesively to lower water wastage and help save the environment. We're all living on the same planet, after all.

Below are the statistics of daily water used on average by individuals in liters in each country.

Japan 286.5

Australia 340

New Zealand 250-300

Mexico 5.419

Germany 121

Belgium 7.406

Italy 6,500

Portugal 6,203

Israel 100-230

Belgium is the biggest daily consumer of water on average by individuals, with 7.406 liters. Kenya is the smallest daily consumer, with 50 liters.

You might expect that the country to house the biggest water consumption on a daily basis would be the country to have the largest population: but China, which does have the world's largest population, has a smaller daily water consumption than Belgium.

It just goes to show how each individual's water usage can make a significant difference.

Countries such as Kenya are often struggling with a water crisis, which throws into sharp relief how valuable a commodity like water is. For countries on this list using a high amount of daily water, countries like Kenya, in comparison, are using very little simply because they do not have access to safe water.

It's now more important than ever to preserve the water that the world does have.

Summarizing Points for Global Wastewater Production, Collection, Treatment, and Reuse

Below are some key facts and statistics in regard to wastewater. This is to help you better understand what happens to your wastewater when it leaves your home or business, is collected, and is treated. This entire process has the potential to affect the environment in a significant way.

Approximately 63 percent of globally produced wastewater is collected. Approximately 52 percent of globally produced wastewater is treated. Approximately 84 percent of collected wastewater undergoes a treatment process. The percentage of wastewater reuse is approximately 11 percent of total wastewater. Approximately 22 percent of treated wastewater goes through intentional reuse. Approximately 84 percent is released into the environment. ( View Statistics here.)

There are significant differences in wastewater production, collection, treatment and reuse across different geographical regions. These differences can also be based on the level of economic development.

As you can see, not all wastewater is capable of being treated and reused to reap the benefits. If only 63 percent of globally produced wastewater is collected, the remaining 37 percent percent is failing to be collected, therefore putting the environment at risk.

6 Key Water and Water Waste Facts

• Only one percent of the world's water is safe for us to consume. This highlights just how precious a resource like water is and what wasting any of this one percent could do.
• It's possible for five gallons of water to be wasted simply by leaving the tap on when you're brushing your teeth.
• Twenty-seven percent of a household's water is used for showers and baths. Think how much water can then be wasted by constantly taking baths, having very long showers, or more than one shower a day.
• Around 3.5 gallons of water is used for a single toilet flush.
• Washing machines can use around 40 gallons of water per load.
• Around 9,400 gallons of water can be wasted through water leaks, based on US figures.

Predictions for the Future

When it comes to the future of the environment on a global scale, the future may appear very bleak in terms of global warming and natural pollution if individuals do not try and make a positive difference today.

In terms of water consumption and supply, key predictions for the future can include:

• A growing world population will significantly increase the demand for water supply.
• Areas of the world that are already seeing difficulty in freshwater supply may have this situation worsen.
• An estimated 1.8 billion people will suffer from water shortage in their area by 2025.
• By 2025, that means two-thirds of the global population will be living in regions of high water stress.
• The global agriculture market will require another one trillion cubic meters of water annually if the increase in population continues to the estimated one billion more mouths to feed by 2025.
• The number of nations expected to be water scarce has increased; this is now projected to be 30 nations by 2025, increased by ten since 1990.
• Global warming will only worsen the water supply situation.
• If current trends don't see any drastic change, the world will only have 60 percent of its necessary water supply in 2030.

Conservation and Sustainability Efforts

Being more conservative and sustainable with water usage is the key to making a positive difference to the current water situation that is facing the world. While plenty of people are already taking action, word must be spread about the importance of not wasting water to ensure people start taking action.

There are three main types of sustainability efforts. They come in the form of:

• Rules and regulations set by countries
• Campaigns to Conserve the Use of Water
• Government Initiatives and Schemes

Each sustainability effort will approach this in its own way, but knowing the different efforts out there that you could support is crucial.

Wastewater Rules and Regulations Across the World

Counties worldwide are already putting in place effective water solutions. Take a look at the facts below to give you a better idea of who has had the most success so far and what regulations countries must follow.

• Based on performance ranking , the top five countries in the world which have the most effective wastewater treatment programs are Malta (100 score), Netherlands (99.9 score), Luxembourg (99.76 score), Spain (99.71 score), and Switzerland (99.67 score).
• Namibia is the only country that uses recycled water for direct potable use.
• The Council Directive 91/271/EEC, set out in 1991, states the official regulations for all members of the European Union in regard to wastewater management. This directive's aim is to protect the environment, and outlines rules such as monitoring the performance of treatment plants, required secondary water treatment, and the collection of water in populations less than 2000, to name a few.

What You Can Do to Waste Less Water

Protecting the environment starts at home. It's extremely important to make active efforts to change your water waste habits. It may seem like an impossible task or a big responsibility when you're viewing the state of the world, but always remember that even the simplest changes you make at home can make a positive difference — and that's just for one person living alone. A family of 4 which develops the same water improvement habits, for example, can make even more of a difference within the same household. It's also important to support other household members, or people you know, in water-saving habits. Always share any information or tips you have, including the ones listed here.

Some ways you can waste less water include:

Install low-flow systems, such as showerheads

Many people opt for a bathroom overhaul or renovation project, so why not make it one which benefits your water consumption, too? Make your home as eco-friendly as possible when it comes to your plumbing.

Not only do low-flow systems help you to preserve water, but they also mean you can save money on your energy bills.

What low flow means is reduced water pressure in order to save as much water as possible. Low flow is particularly beneficial for busy households which see a lot of bathroom traffic.

Take shorter showers and half-full baths

Be more mindful about why you're taking a long shower. It's easily done, especially during winter months, to take a longer, hotter shower. Some people may even decide to multi-task and try brushing their teeth in the shower! Others may put the shower on to get the water running whilst sorting laundry or attending to other bathroom tasks.

Eliminate this excess water waste by turning the shower on when you're ready to get in and limiting your shower to a few minutes.

In regard to baths, if you're taking a quick bath for basic hygiene, you can avoid a completely full bath. If for relaxation, think about limiting your water level by even just an inch or two.

Avoid laundry loads if they are only half full

Laundry can be very difficult to separate and keep on top of, especially within busy households. There may be certain clothing items you desperately need but for which you haven't got enough corresponding clothes or colors to warrant a full load.

Having better organization with your clothing and laundry system will really help. Try to avoid half-full laundry loads. If there are certain clothing items you know you like to wear often, be more organized ahead of time so that you can put items in a full load rather than last-minute half-load panics!

Another tip is to think about the type of materials and colors you're buying. If you have a few delicate items which cannot be used on a normal wash, you might be risking half-full delicate cycles to wash them. Furthermore, you may have a lot more dark colors than you do light, meaning you're forced to run a half-load for your light items only. Avoid this if you can by sticking to colors and materials which can easily be washed together. Let this build up over time so that you eventually have delicate whites in with other white clothes and delicate blacks with colored clothing, which you can put on delicate washes.

Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth

There's no reason for your tap to be on when brushing your teeth, and it's a simple fix that can save a significant amount of water. It's important to let your kids know this, too, if you do have younger family members who brush their teeth without you to supervise.

Turn the tap on when you need a quick burst of water for a refresh, but, otherwise, leave the tap off.

Only fill the sink half-full for washing up

Doing the dishes is another daily chore that becomes normality, and you may not realize that you're wasting water. While you do need to fill up your sink to the optimum level for hygiene purposes and an easier clean, you can make small adjustments

to limit water waste.

If you don't have a lot of items to wash, does it warrant a full sink? Or, if you know you're going to need to fill up your sink with fresh water halfway through because of particularly dirty or stubborn items, can you ensure the first load

is shallow if it's going to be replaced?

Collect rainwater

What a Business Can Do to Waste Less Water

Businesses need to try even harder to lower their environmental impact, alongside household habits. Businesses are capable of wasting a significant amount of water, especially those with extremely large premises and lots of employees.

If you're a business manager or owner, here are some things you can do to preserve water:

Have regular water audits conducted

This is essential for preserving water. Being a business leader or owner doesn't mean you'll always know what's best in regard to preserving water. You may not even know the ways in which your business or premises is easily wasting water.

Water audits by professionals can help you to always keep on track and learn about new ways to save on water. This could also help with your business utility bills.

Install water-efficient equipment

This might vary depending on what your business is and what is installed within the premises. Nevertheless, even for the simplest features such as bathroom taps, you can make sure your plumbing and equipment are eco-friendly with water-saving in mind.

This is particularly true of any cafeteria or kitchen equipment you have in the workplace.

Educate employees on water-saving practices

No matter how well-versed the people in charge are in regard to water-saving practices, it can be a large team of employees who have the most negative impact — without knowing it. If you have employees using your premises every day, there is a high amount of potential for water wastage.

It's, therefore, crucial to educate your employees on the importance of an eco-friendly workplace and how they can work to save water on a daily basis. They can then even take these key tips home with them to conduct better practices in their personal life, too. It's much easier for people to develop better water habits when their work life and home life are working hand-in-hand.

Do your research on the best water suppliers

It's always important for businesses to get the best deal when it comes to their water supply, but this is about more than simply the cost. By doing your research on the best water supplier in your area and for your business water demand, you're ensuring you can get the most efficient service with minimal wastage.

Businesses should put a firm focus on good communication for environmental issues, so all employees know what to do within the business premises to preserve water.

If you're not a business leader, but you do work in a business setting, there are good habits you can also adopt as an employee during the working day. Keeping household tips in mind, you can apply the same logic to your work environment.

Is there any way you can collect rainwater on windowsills or outside, which you can then use to water any office plants? Can you ensure you're not overfilling the kettle when making drinks for yourself or the team? If your workplace is one that has an on-site bathroom or changing facility, can you ensure you have short showers?

About the Author

Elizabeth Long is passionate about reducing the negative impact that we have on the environment around us, and learning new ways to sustainably manage our lifestyle. Long favors data-driven articles to help illustrate the scale of the problem for a wider audience.

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Wastewater Treatment.

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WASTE WATER PRESENTATION 2

EFFECTS OF WASTE WATER TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND TREATMENT PROCESS

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Desalination: What is it and how can it help tackle water scarcity?

A natural resources crisis like water scarcity is listed in the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risks Report, as one of the top-10 threats facing the world in the next decade. Image:  Unsplash/Nathan Dumlao

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Stay up to date:, food and water.

This article was originally published on 12 March 2024 and updated on 15 April 2024

• Desalination increases access to safe, clean drinking water, but the process is energy-intensive and costly.
• Innovations are harnessing wave power and other forms of energy capture to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and curb emissions from desalination.
• A natural resources crisis is one of the leading global long-term threats, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risks Report.

Billions of people turn on a tap and expect clean drinking water to flow out, but this is not the reality for billions of others.

Rapid population growth, urbanization and increased global water consumption by agriculture, industry and energy have left a growing number of countries facing the threat of water scarcity.

One solution to meet the growing demand for freshwater is desalination, which involves removing the salt from seawater to produce drinking water. While this process alone can’t prevent a global water crisis, it can play a vital role in providing more people around the world with access to clean, safe drinking water.

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25 countries face extremely high water stress, study finds, this new desalination system is inspired by the ocean and powered by the sun, how technology and entrepreneurship can quench our parched world, a future water crisis.

Water scarcity occurs when water demand outstrips available supply during a specific period – when water infrastructure is inadequate or institutions fail to balance people’s needs.

In 2022, 2.2 billion people lacked safely managed drinking water , including more than 700 million people living without a basic water service, according to the United Nations.

By 2030, there could be a 40% global shortfall in freshwater resources, which combined with world population growth that’s set to increase from 8 billion today to 9.7 billion by 2050 , would leave the world facing an extreme water crisis.

Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to see the biggest change in water demand, with a projected 163% increase by mid-century, World Resources Institute data shows. This is four times the expected rate of change in Latin America, the second-highest region.

Almost two-thirds of the planet’s surface is covered with water, and our oceans hold 96.5% of all water on Earth . However, its salt content makes this water unsuitable for humans to drink. This is where desalination comes in.

Types of desalination

There are a number of different methods of desalination, but most work either by a process of reverse osmosis or multistage flash to remove the salt from seawater .

Reverse osmosis is the more efficient of these two methods. The process uses a special membrane acting as a filter, which blocks and removes salt from seawater as it passes through. Here, powerful pumps generate enough pressure to ensure pure water is extracted.

Multistage flash desalination doesn't use a filter. Instead, saltwater is exposed to steam heat and pressure variations, which causes a portion of the water to evaporate – or "flash" – into water vapour or freshwater, leaving behind salty brine as a by-product.

Water security – both sustainable supply and clean quality – is a critical aspect in ensuring healthy communities. Yet, our world’s water resources are being compromised.

Today, 80% of our wastewater flows untreated back into the environment, while 780 million people still do not have access to an improved water source. By 2030, we may face a 40% global gap between water supply and demand.

The World Economic Forum’s Water Possible Platform is supporting innovative ideas to address the global water challenge.

The Forum supports innovative multi-stakeholder partnerships including the 2030 Water Resources Group , which helps close the gap between global water demand and supply by 2030 and has since helped facilitate $1Billion of investments into water.

Other emerging partnerships include the 50L Home Coalition , which aims to solve the urban water crisis , tackling both water security and climate change; and the Mobilizing Hand Hygiene for All Initiative , formed in response to close the 40% gap of the global population not having access to handwashing services during COVID-19.

Want to join our mission to address the global water challenge? Read more in our impact story .

Both desalination processes create brine containing high salt levels, which can pose a threat to marine ecosystems when released back into natural bodies of water. The output of both methods is clean drinking water. But, in addition to removing salt, the desalination process also removes organic or biological chemical compounds so the water produced doesn’t transmit diarrhoea or other diseases.

Wave-powered innovation

While reverse osmosis plants are more efficient than multistage flash plants, large-scale desalination plants require a lot of energy and maintenance, and are expensive to build and operate.

A number of innovative desalination systems are being developed to try and reduce the energy required to operate them and related emissions.

Oneka, a wave-powered desalination technology, is one such innovation . Floating buoys tethered to the ocean floor use wave power to drive a pump that forces seawater through filters and reverse osmosis membranes. The fresh water is then piped ashore again powered solely by the natural motion of waves, explains Canadian desalination company Oneka Technologies.

The system has several advantages over large-scale shore-based desalination plants that are mostly powered by combusting fossil fuels, but it does require high waves to work.

The small floating units require 90% less coastal land compared with a typical desalination plant, for example, the company says. Relying on emissions-free wave power rather than electricity demands less energy and generates fewer emissions than traditional desalination plants.

" Desalination facilities are conventionally powered by fossil fuels ," Susan Hunt, Chief Innovation Officer at Oneka Technologies, told the BBC. "But the world has certainly reached a pivot point. We want to move away from fossil fuel-powered desalination."

Dragan Tutic, Founder and CEO of Oneka Technologies, added that "our mission is to make the oceans an affordable and sustainable source of water."

Solar – low-cost water purification

Solar power has been used to convert saltwater into fresh drinking water , by researchers from King's College in London in collaboration with MIT and the Helmholtz Institute of Renewable Energy Systems.

A set of specialized membranes channel salt ions into a stream of brine, leaving fresh drinkable water. The system adjusts to variable sunlight without compromising the volume of drinking water produced. The process is 20% cheaper than traditional desalination methods, which could boost efforts to provide drinking water in developing countries, the researchers say.

Dutch start-up Desolenator – supported by Uplink, the innovation platform of the World Economic Forum – is also using solar power for its low-cost water-as-a-service model for communities and businesses .

The technology avoids the use of membranes or harmful chemicals, the company says, and customers can choose specific water types to meet their needs: ultra-pure water, pure potable water or customized re-mineralized water.

Each modular plant can produce up to 250,000 litres of freshwater daily, helping boost water security in water-scarce regions.

" We operate with 100% solar power, no harmful chemicals, and now we're building zero liquid discharge, which will make us the first fully circular solar desalination technology in the world," said Desolenator co-founder Alexei Levene.

"We take our waste brine and turn it into salt, so nothing goes back into the environment. It's a distributed technology that we can deploy and it's going to be the most sustainable desalination approach that there is," he said.

Averting a natural resources crisis

A natural resources crisis like water scarcity is listed in the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024 , as one of the top 10 threats facing the world in the next decade.

Currently, desalination plants are used in regions like the Middle East, which has a hot climate alongside a buoyant and technologically able economy. But the energy-intensive nature and high costs of conventional desalination plants act as barriers to widespread take-up, the report says.

However, innovations that reduce the energy needed to operate desalination plants and reduce greenhouse emissions from their operations could change the situation and increase access to fresh drinking water for communities facing water challenges.

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