Disposal of Waste from Land Maintained by UNEP  
Disposal of wastewater from land sources
 
Improperly treated sewage from land activities is a major source of coastal pollution resulting in decreased quality of bathing waters and nutrient enrichment leading to eutrophication. Untreated sewage still enters coastal waters through direct discharge into rivers, streams and sea as well as through soak away pits. Investigations taken in Asia reveal that 30 domestic sewage treatment plants, 65 tributaries and 155 main sections on Huihe River often illegally release excessive wastes into the river. For more information, click here for a report from Peoples Daily Online.
 
Sewage dumping poses widespread threat to coastal watersBoth air and water pollution have been identified as major problems in Mumbai, by both local authorities such as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), and by the World Bank. The World Bank describes Mumbai's air pollution as “severe” and with regard to Mumbai's water pollution states that “about 75 percent of all sewage is untreated and discharged to local waterways and coastal waters, causing extensive environmental hazard” (World Bank 1996 - The Vulnerability of Global Cities to climate Hazards )
Photo title: Sewage dumping poses widespread threat to coastal waters
 
Sewage dumping also poses a widespread threat to coastal waters. More than 2,600 beaches in the United States were closed in 1992 due to sewage pollution. Athens, the capital city of Greece, with a population of 3,693,000 (1995) people, is just one of many cities worldwide that dumps untreated municipal sewage into the sea. (Marine Pollution and Overfishing) Water resources in Lagos for domestic, industries and commercial is becoming scarce as a result of pollution of water bodies by wastewater, which contains heavy metals, bacteria (pathogenic) etc. For more information, using Lagos as an example, click here.
 
Africa's rich coastal and marine areas are under threat from pollution, an estimated 38 per cent of coastal ecosystems, such as mangrove swamps and coral reefs, are under threat from developments like ports and the growth of coastal settlements and their sewage discharges. (UN Chronicle: Global warming challenges African Development)
 
printed on 2013/05/25 17:20:36