Of the many contemporary conveniences often taken for granted in developed countries, modern sanitation may be among the most important.
Of the many contemporary conveniences often taken for granted in developed countries, modern sanitation may be among the most important. A new study suggests that wastewater infrastructure may provide societal benefits far beyond the dramatic improvements in community hygiene.
The research highlights a technique known as Wastewater-based Epidemiology (WBE), in which samples of municipal wastewater can be used as a diagnostic tool to explore a surprisingly broad range of community-wide health indices.
In research published in the peer-reviewed, high-impact journal Environment International, Rolf Halden and Sangeet Adhikari, describe how WBE can be used to help achieve a number of ambitious objectives outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The study, the largest and most comprehensive assessment of wastewater infrastructure around the world to date, examines wastewater treatment facilities in 129 countries, serving over a third of the world’s population. It is also the first study to propose and evaluate the feasibility of using WBE to measure progress toward achieving several UN sustainability objectives.
Read more at Arizona State University
Image: Rolf Halden is the director of the Biodesign Center for Environmental Engineering at Arizona State University. He is also professor in ASU’s School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, a member of the university’s Global Futures Laboratory and professor in the School of Life Sciences. (Credit: The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University)
