Insufficient Sewage Treatment Causes Water Pollution

Many cities in developing countries are able to afford a sewage treatment system for their community, but for those less unfortunate cities who can not afford one, are faced with spreading of diseases, eutrophication, increase in Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), etc.

According to Cunningham and Cunningham, the World Bank estimates that only 35% of urban residents in developing countries have satisfactory sanitation services (2010.) Even if they had little fresh water, it would go and mix with the sewage. They also state that in Latin America, only 2 percent of urban sewage receives any treatment, and in Egypt, Cairo's sewer system was built about 50 years ago to serve 2 million people. There are about 10 million people today in Egypt which is a huge problem having to deal with insufficient sewage and facing all sorts of disease or health issues

Many rivers and streams in developing countries are more like open sewers, and yet the poor people wash, bath, cook, and drink from it (Cunningham, Cunningham 2010). In most cases, they would not survive for very long before they die. It is very important that countries who have the technology, knowledge, and money should help the poor people. Even without money, knowledge could still help the poor people better themselves and their community.

Cunningham, William P., and Mary Ann Cunningham. Environmental Science. 11. New York: The McGraw-Hill, 2010.500. Print.