Print Email Facebook Twitter Organic pollution of rivers Title Organic pollution of rivers: Combined threats of urbanization, livestock farming and global climate change Author Wen, Y. (TU Delft Water Resources) Schoups, G.H.W. (TU Delft Water Resources) van de Giesen, N.C. (TU Delft Water Resources) Date 2017-02-23 Abstract Organic pollution of rivers by wastewater discharge from human activities negatively impacts people and ecosystems. Without treatment, pollution control relies on a combination of natural degradation and dilution by natural runoff to reduce downstream effects. We quantify here for the first time the global sanitation crisis through its impact on organic river pollution from the threats of (1) increasing wastewater discharge due to urbanization and intensification of livestock farming, and (2) reductions in river dilution capacity due to climate change and water extractions. Using in-stream Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) as an overall indicator of organic river pollution, we calculate historical (2000) and future (2050) BOD concentrations in global river networks. Despite significant self-cleaning capacities of rivers, the number of people affected by organic pollution (BOD >5 mg/l) is projected to increase from 1.1 billion in 2000 to 2.5 billion in 2050. With developing countries disproportionately affected, our results point to a growing need for affordable wastewater solutions. To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:9d418409-8c17-4491-a906-406dead5542c DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/srep43289 ISSN 2045-2322 Source Scientific Reports, 7 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2017 Y. Wen, G.H.W. Schoups, N.C. van de Giesen Files PDF srep43289.pdf 1.71 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:9d418409-8c17-4491-a906-406dead5542c/datastream/OBJ/view