Water pollution and environmental degradation

Up to 90 % of wastewater in developing countries flows untreated into rivers, lakes and highly productive coastal zones, threatening health, food security and access to safe drinking and bathing water.
Source: WWDR, 2012

Many industries – some of them known to be heavily polluting (such as leather and chemicals) – are moving from high-income countries to emerging market economies. Despite improvements in some regions, water pollution is on the rise globally.
Source: WWAP



Every day, 2 million tons of human waste are disposed of in water courses.
Source: World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP)

In developing countries, 70 percent of industrial waste is dumped untreated into waters where they pollute the usable water supply.
Source: WWAP

Half of the world's wetlands have been lost since 1900.
Source: WWAP

Contribution of the food sector to the production of organic water pollutants:
- High-income countries: 40 percent
- Low-income countries: 54 percent

Projected increases in fertilizer use for food production and in wastewater effluents over the next three decades suggest there will be a 10-20 percent global increase in river nitrogen flows to coastal ecosystems.
Source: Global Environment Outlook: environment for development (GEO-4)