Environment and climate change statistics for Latin America and the Caribbean

This subcomponent contains statistics on the generation, management and discharge of wastewater, as well as the pollutant content of wastewater (emissions of substances to water). Policymakers, analysts and civil society need statistics on wastewater to properly manage this potentially harmful by-product of the human subsystem. Without statistics on the generation, management and discharge of wastewater, it is difficult to assess and possibly intervene with regard to wastewater volume and pollution levels. Other policy relevant wastewater statistics include a disaggregation by economic activity of responsibility for its generation, whether the wastewater is being treated and what is being emitted to the country’s water bodies.

The topics included are:

• Generation and pollutant content of wastewater
• Collection and treatment of wastewater
• Discharge of wastewater to the environment