26 August 2015: The Global Wastewater Initiative launched a compilation of best practices in wastewater treatment around the world, introducing innovations such as the development of artificial wetlands that have become a birdwatchers’ haven, in combination with wastewater treatment ponds.

The compilation, titled ‘Good Practices for Regulating Wastewater Treatment: Legislation, Policies and Standards,’ was launched at an event during World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden.

Other benefits of wastewater treatment outlined in the publication include water for irrigation, biogas for electricity and fertilizer for agriculture and gardens. The authors warn that freshwater quality is declining around the world, due to large releases of untreated wastewater into watercourses, as well as failure to reuse treated wastewater. In a press release, UNEP noted that low-income countries may treat as little as 8% of wastewater, while in North America, 75% of wastewater is treated, but only 3.8% is reused.

The book provides an overview of wastewater legislation adopted by developed and developing countries, provides suggestions for wastewater management reform, and outlines standards for the operation and maintenance of wastewater facilities. The authors highlight examples from Argentina, Australia, Finland, Jordan, Singapore and South Africa. Among the examples are the Western Treatment Plant in Melbourne, Australia, where treatment ponds have become such a successful bird habitat that they are listed as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention; and the As-Samra plant in Jordan, which provides water for agriculture and is 95% self-sufficient in energy, powered by the digestion of biogas and hydraulic turbines.

The Global Wastewater Initiative is a multi-stakeholder platform for UN agencies, international organizations, governments, scientists, private enterprise and civil society to support wastewater programmes around the world. The Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (GPA), which is hosted by the joint UN Environment Programme (UNEP), provides the secretariat for the Global Wastewater Initiative.

UNEP published the good practice compilation as an e-book jointly with WaterLex, a Swiss-based association for the improvement of water governance worldwide. [Publication: Good Practices for Regulating Wastewater Treatment: Legislation, Policies and Standards] [UNEP Press Release] [Global Wastewater Initiative Website] [WaterLex Website] [GPA Website]