“Many of these diseases are due to the presence of human waste in water,” it said in a statement. In some countries, up to 90 percent of the population relies on rivers and lakes for drinking water, said the report. Freshwater fisheries, which employ some 21 million fishermen and create some 38.5 million related jobs, are also at risk, while salinity pollution from dumped wastewater threatens irrigated crops. “There is still time to tackle water pollution,” said the UNEP. Polluted water must be treated before entering rivers or lakes, wastewater recycled for irrigation, and wetlands restored to remove pollution from runoff water.

Source: Sunday Times August 30, 2016 13:18 UTC