Sanitation: A continuous challenge for the European Region

Chapter of the European Document for the European Regional Process of the 5th World Water Forum

03.05.2009

While the majority of Europeans have access to sanitation and properly functioning wastewater treatment, there are still many who remain unserved by improved systems, particularly in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and South Eastern Europe.

Within the EU, more than 20 million citizens do not have access to proper sanitation systems -- most of them living in rural areas and small communities.
To address this situation European legislation needs to encourage innovation, not prescribe fixed solutions. Sustainability (economic and environmental) and resource efficiency, in particular the reuse of water and nutrients, are the future of sanitation in Europe.

This chapter is part of the European Document which was developed within the European Regional Process of the 5th World Water Forum
2009 and can be downloaded here.