As population growth has become more rapid after the agricultural and industrial revolutions, the amount of wastewater discharge to water bodies (stream, river, reservoir, and ocean) has been increased. Although advanced wastewater treatment technologies are introduced, we are still confronting with lots of unsolved problems such as limited numbers of treatment plant in many regions. In addition, improperly treated discharge with residuals of organic compounds and toxic materials threatens public sanitation services and aquatic ecosystem severely. Increasing volumes of storm water and combined sewer overflow very likely due to the impacts of climate change, may significantly fail the efficiency of treatment processes. Therefore, it is important that stakeholders should identify fate of wastewater treatment discharge and improve incomprehensive monitoring system and its management plan.

In part of efforts to reduce the untreated wastewater release, a Priority For Action (PFA), “By 2025, regular comprehensive monitoring of appropriate wastewater treatment at national and global levels” is adapted in 6th World Water Forum. A comprehensive monitoring system of wastewater treatment can provide numerous information and benefits such as discharged concentration at the target permit, locations of malfunctioned wastewater treatment facilities, source of the waterborne diseases, and environmental impacts to reclaimed water, gray water supply, and in-stream flow. Due to the advancement of technology, regular comprehensive monitoring system can consist in the integration of new convergence technology (e.g., Information Technology, IT) and conventional system (e.g., eco-toxicology test). This monitors quality and quantity of each treatment process automatically and regularly. Portable monitoring station with remote communication system, which is less expensive than stationary monitoring station, is also used in the remote sites.

In order to achieve the goal of this target, we need to review existing and innovative information of monitoring systems, share various stakeholder’s ideas from all around the world, and come up with the direction to develop the global monitoring information system. The global monitoring information system includes a wide-spectrum of information (e.g., monitoring data, public documents, comprehensive national plans, and technologies) from the local level and end up to national and global levels. One of the great challenges is to build basic wastewater treatment plants and monitoring systems in the regions where people desperately need proper drinking water but cannot afford it. To attack this challenge, cross-functional cooperation from stakeholders, local or national governments, non-government organizations, and research institutes is required. As a first step to success target mission, we are collecting your ideas or solutions for finance, education, management, cooperation, and technology which are associated with the comprehensive monitoring. Please feel free to provide us anything you want to share, and let us together complete this mission.

TARGET 1.2.7 ACTION PLAN 131011