Pollution of rivers and of the Black Sea.

Did you know that?

1. About 50 liters of water per person per day are needed to ensure that most basic needs are covered and to keep public health risks low. (WHO, 2017)
2. Currently, 71% of the global population (5.2 billion people) use a safely managed drinking water supply service; that is, one located in suitable spaces, available when needed and uncontaminated. 1 in 3 people (1.9 billion people) live in rural areas. (WHO / UNICEF 2017)
3. Around 159 million people collect their drinking water from surface waters, such as ponds and streams. (WHO / UNICEF 2017)
4. Agriculture (including irrigation, livestock and aquaculture) is the largest consumer of water, accounting for 69% of annual global water use. Industry (including energy generation) accounts for 19% and household – 12%. (FAO, AQUASTAT)
5. Typically, 3,000 – 5,000 liters of water are needed to produce 1 kg of rice, 2,000 liters for 1 kg of soybeans, 900 liters for 1 kg of wheat and 500 liters for 1 kg of potatoes. (WWF).
6. Meat production requires 8-10 times more water than cereal production. Part of the current pressure on water resources comes from increasing demand for animal feed.
7. Approximately 80% of agricultural land globally is fed by rainfall, and 60% of world food is produced on land fed by rainfall. Research in different parts of the world shows that irrigation in agricultural systems fed by rainfall doubles or even triples productivity per hectare for such crops as wheat, sorghum and corn (HLPE, 2015).

1. Globally, probably around 80% of wastewater is discharged into the environment without proper treatment (UNESCO, 2017).
2. By 2050, almost 70% of the world’s population will live in cities, compared to 50% today. At present, most cities do not have adequate infrastructure and resources to rehabilitate wastewater management in an efficient and sustainable way. (UNDESA, 2014)
3. Water availability is also affected by pollution. Most water quality problems are caused by intensive agriculture, industrial production, mining and urban runoff and untreated wastewater. (UN-Water, 2011).
4. The opportunities to exploit wastewater as a resource are enormous. Safely managed wastewater is an accessible and sustainable source of water, energy, nutrients and other recoverable materials. (UNESCO, 2017).
5. Several water-related diseases, including cholera and schistosomiasis, remain widespread in many developing countries, where only a very small fraction (in some cases less than 5%) of domestic and urban wastewater it is treated before it is discharged into the environment (UNESCO, 2017).
6. The costs of wastewater management are largely offset by the benefits of human health, economic development and environmental sustainability – providing new business opportunities and creating more ‘green’ jobs. (UN-Water, 2011).
7. The planet has lost 70 percent of the natural extent of wetlands, including a significant loss of freshwater species in the last 100 years. (United Nations, 2018)
8. Globally, the number of lakes with the development of harmful algae will increase by at least 20% by 2050. (UN DESA, 2012).

Source:

1. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg14
2. https://www.md.undp.org/content/moldova/ro/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-14-life-below-water.html
3. http://emblasproject.org/