9 December 2014: In an effort to explain the disparity between the apparent achievement of global goals on water and on-the-ground realities, the Global Water Forum examined a Yale University report on new indicators for wastewater treatment. The new indicator framework seeks to address the lack of reliable data on water conditions, water quality and the links to human health.

The proposed indicator framework recognizes the link between wastewater treatment and human and ecosystem health, noting that untreated wastewater can increase exposure to disease organisms, increase shellfish poisoning and cause endocrine disruption. Despite such risks, the report notes that 90% of wastewater in developing countries is untreated – a misalignment with the stated achievement of global goals of improving access to drinking water.

In order to link wastewater treatment indictors to water conditions and quality, the report calls for the standardization of measurement methods and reporting protocols and the establishment of a central custodian for relevant data. The report also notes the need to agree upon definitions of treatments as well as timelines for reporting. [Global Water Forum Blog]