Wastewater The Untapped Resource – The United Nations World Water Development Report 2017
The 2017 edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR) explores the issue of wastewater and its potential as a sustainable resource. Wastewater is not merely a water management issue – it affects the environment and all livingbeings, and can have direct impacts on economies, both mature and emerging. Furthermorwastewater flows contain a number of useful materials, such as nutrients, metals and organicmaterial that, much like the water itself, can be extracted and used to for other productive purposes. As such, wastewater constitutes a valuable resource that, if sustainably managed, is setto become a central pillar of the circular economy. The upside to improving the way we managewastewater is huge, with potential co-benefits to societies and the environment.