Target 6.3 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals aims to enhance global water quality by 2030. This involves reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, minimising the release of hazardous chemicals, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and significantly increasing recycling and safe reuse. The progress toward this goal is tracked through Indicator 6.3.1, which monitors the proportion of total, industrial, and household wastewater flows that are treated safely in accordance with national or local standards.

Current Status of Wastewater Treatment

The latest report from UN-Water presents a comprehensive overview of the global status of wastewater treatment and highlights the acceleration needed to meet Target 6.3 by 2030. The findings are based on data collected for 2022 from 107 countries, which account for 73% of the world’s population.

Treatment Levels Reported

Among the countries reporting wastewater statistics, the overall proportion of total wastewater that received some level of treatment was 76%. However, this figure could only be determined for 73 countries, representing 42% of the global population. More critically, the proportion of total wastewater that was treated safely-defined as receiving at least secondary treatment—was found to be 60%, but this could only be assessed for 42 countries, accounting for just 12% of the global population.

Industrial Wastewater Treatment Challenges

Data on industrial wastewater treatment remains sparse, with only 22 countries reporting relevant statistics, representing 8% of the global population. In these countries, only 38% of industrial wastewater was reported as treated, and a mere 27% was classified as safely treated. This limited reporting underscores significant gaps in understanding the global landscape of wastewater management, particularly in industrial contexts.

Household Wastewater Management

The report reveals alarming statistics regarding household wastewater. In 2022, an estimated 42% of household wastewater was not treated safely before being discharged, resulting in approximately 113 billion cubic meters of inadequately treated or untreated wastewater entering the environment. A substantial portion of this untreated wastewater can be attributed to the lack of adequate blackwater and greywater collection systems, such as sewer connections or septic tanks, affecting 45% of households.

Conclusion

The findings from the UN-Water report indicate that while some progress has been made in wastewater treatment globally, significant challenges remain. The data gaps in both total and industrial wastewater treatment hinder the establishment of comprehensive global statistics. To achieve Target 6.3 by 2030, it is essential to enhance reporting mechanisms, improve treatment facilities, and ensure that all households have access to proper wastewater management systems. The urgency of these actions cannot be overstated, as untreated wastewater poses serious risks to public health and the environment.