‘Staggering’ economic losses generated from poor sewage and wastewater treatment

A new report by Back to Blue and the Ocean Sewage Alliance has claimed that a ‘staggering’ amount of economic losses are being generated each year as a result of poor sewage and wastewater treatment across Brazil, India, Kenya, the Philippines, and the UK.

The study, which was launched at the World Ocean Summit in Japan, examined the financial impact of inadequate wastewater management across agriculture, fisheries, and healthcare, in these five markets.

“It is no new revelation that untreated wastewater has serious consequences, but it is not often thought of as an economic burden, nor as a burden on health systems, but as an environmental problem,” commented Richard Damania, chief economist of the Sustainable Development Practice Group at the World Bank. “Inadequate sewage systems are leaving populations sick and starving, all the while costing the economy billions. Clean water systems are necessary for human health, to strengthen livelihoods and fuel economies.”

Country by country

It noted that Brazil‘s agriculture sector faces the most significant impact, with around $16 billion in reduced crop yields every year, for staple crops such as soybeans and corn.

Elsewhere, India‘s fisheries industry is impacted by around $2 billion every year due to contaminated waterways, awhile also facing the highest healthcare costs linked to contaminated drinking water.

In Kenya, meanwhile, just 11% of sewage is properly treated, the report claims, affecting rivers, coastal areas and food production, as well as increasing the prevalence of water-borne diseases.

Local communities

“It is often the local communities that suffer the most from sewage pollution,” added Dr. Amelia Wenger, conservation scientist and water pollution program lead at the Wildlife Conservation Society. “Lost wages and expensive medical bills put an enormous strain on families. Yet these financial losses caused by poor infrastructure and failed policies are entirely avoidable.”

The report calls for policymakers to prioritise sewage treatment and explore decentralised wastewater systems in regions lacking large-scale infrastructure. It also suggests repurposing wastewater for agricultural use, biogas production, and renewable energy. Read more here.