Erick Burgueño Salas
Research expert covering climate change and the water industry
Get in touch with us nowWastewater treatment
Wastewater treatment is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater (sewage) before returning the remaining water safely back into the environment. Wastewater treatment had the largest share of the water market in 2021, followed by industrial water treatment.Despite the importance of wastewater treatment, just 57.8 percent of the world’s domestic wastewater flow was treated safely in 2022. In Sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Southern Asia, less than 30 percent of the population had safely treated wastewater flow. In comparison, wastewater treatment was far more common in Europe, Northern America, Australia, and New Zealand. Households in these regions were also far more likely to have access to sewer connections than on-site systems like septic tanks. Although the share of people worldwide with sewer connections and on-site systems was equal in 2020, those living in urban locations were twice as likely to have sewer connections than on-site systems. Rural areas still relied heavily on septic tanks and latrines.
Drinking water supplies
Much like wastewater treatment, access to safe drinking water is considerably higher in developed regions. Again, access to safely managed drinking water is lowest in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa. However, clean drinking water can often be taken for granted in developed countries. While those living in wealthy countries typically get clean and safe drinking water at the turn of a tap at home, it is not always free from contaminants. In the United States, for instance, high concentrations of PFAs (forever chemicals) have been found in water supplies in several major metropolitan areas. This has exposed millions of people to harmful chemicals, raising concerns about the country’s aging and underfunded water infrastructure.Water companies
Water supply networks are typically operated by public water utility companies. These utilities are responsible for providing clean and safe drinking water and sewerage services to the general public. Some of the world’s leading water companies include American Water Works, Veolia, and United Utilities. There is growing pressure on water and wastewater utilities worldwide, especially due to climate change. Thus, innovation and technological advances are vital within the sector. For example, companies are producing water solutions like improved monitoring equipment to detect leakages and reduce water consumption. Technologies like this will be vital in a world facing dire water scarcity.
