Asia faces huge environmental clean-up due to inadequate sanitation

MANILA, The Philippines, Aug. 7, 2007 -- Many Asian countries face huge financial costs to clean up the environment because of a lack of investment in sanitation -- which is leading to massive pollution of both surface and groundwater, a senior official of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said ahead of a global conference on the issue.

The financial cost of cleaning a river once it is already polluted with industrial waste or sewage is far higher than the cost of building the infrastructure needed to dispose of the pollutants properly.

In Shanghai, for example, Chinese authorities had to spend $1 billion to clean Suzhou Creek, which runs through the metropolis and used to be a health risk to residents. Officials acknowledge clean up costs were many times what would have been needed to prevent it in the first place.

"Failure to act on sanitation and wastewater eventually comes home to roost when the problem results in a smelly, foul, turgid river that despoils a city and surrounding areas," said Ms. Amy Leung, ADB Principal Urban Development Specialist. "But the real horror is the outbreak of typhoid and cholera caused by inadequate sanitation."

Such adverse health consequences not only hit the impoverished the hardest, but damage entire economies with increased strain on health systems, decline in tourism income, and loss of productivity. India, for example, is estimated to lose more than $230 million each year in tourism revenue because of perceptions of poor sanitation.

The People's Republic of China last year announced plans to invest $125 billion in sanitation and wastewater treatment, a major step forward but still not enough to meet its people's needs. This indicates the magnitude of investment needed in Asia for sanitation and wastewater infrastructure between now and 2015. If PRC sustains its sanitation investments, it could substantially accelerate achievement of Millennium Development Goal targets across the region.

Some 2 billion Asians -- roughly 66% of the population in Asia -- lack access to adequate sanitation, such as toilets, pit latrines, septic tanks, and sewerage systems. This accounts for nearly three-quarters of all those in the world without such facilities.

ADB has about $1.6 billion in the pipeline for investments in sanitation between now and 2010 and is looking for ways to double or triple that figure. It has also dedicated an extra $20 million as grant money to help governments and utilities improve their sanitation programs.

The call to action by ADB comes ahead of the World Water Week, a global conference on sanitation and other water issues that will be held in Stockholm from Aug. 12-18. Experts from ADB will present the challenges facing Asia at the meeting and is keen to team up with other organizations to combat the problem.

"Sanitation must get top priority from the political leadership everywhere. They need to see sanitation as paying its way and not as being either unaffordable or a luxury." said Arjun Thapan, Chair of ADB's Water Committee. "Politicians must also understand that postponing action is not an option. To do so, will cost a great deal more. This is the key message that ADB wants to convey at the Stockholm World Water Week."

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members -- 48 from the region. In 2006, it approved loans and grants for projects totaling $8.5 billion, and technical assistance amounting to almost $242 million.

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Also see:
-- "Experts to Discuss Asian Water and Development Outlook Draft: Report focus of intensive consultation involving government officials, water champions, and representatives from institutions involved in the Asia-Pacific Water Forum"
-- "Maldives: Life After 100% Urban Sanitation"
-- "Philippines: Manila Water's Neo-Way with Sanitation"

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