Guide to Integrating Conservation & Sanitation

More than 40% of the global population lacks access to safe sanitation services, leading to dire consequences. Every day, over 1,000 children succumb to preventable water and sanitation-related diseases.

The economic impact is substantial, costing about $223 billion yearly due to healthcare expenses and reduced productivity. Urbanization, insufficient infrastructure, and limited resources intensify these risks, compounded by climate change, ecosystem degradation, and inequality.

The challenges associated with sanitation link to various risks, including the degradation of oceans due to poorly managed human waste disposal. Wastewater pollution stems from diverse sources within the sanitation process, such as:

• Direct release into water bodies
• Runoff from open defecation zones
• Leaching into groundwater
• Occasional bypass events from overwhelmed treatment plants.

This pollution, both untreated and treated, affects oceans worldwide, reflecting a global concern beyond human health implications.