Lack of reliable data hindering SGD's progress on wastewater treatment

While the 2024 SDG6 update report on wastewater treatment makes for concerned and thought-provoking reading. Below, we summarise the discussion of the report and offer comments for why gaps still remain and the role data analytics companies can have now and in the future.

Main findings

Wastewater treatment is critical to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which seeks to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030. Accurate data reporting is at the core of this effort, yet the 2024 UN report has highlighted a concerning trend: a noticeable decline in wastewater data reporting globally.

While some progress has been made, a consistent and reliable foundation of wastewater data is still missing, hindering our ability to monitor, analyse, and act on treatment processes effectively.

The report indicates that while the frequency of wastewater data reported by countries to OECD/Eurostat/UNSD questionnaires has been generally stable, there has been a noticeable drop in recent years.

For instance, in 2022, 107 countries reported some wastewater statistics, representing 73% of the world’s population. However, the proportion of total wastewater receiving some level of treatment (76%) could only be calculated for 73 countries (42% of the global population), and the proportion of total wastewater “safely” treated (60%) could only be calculated for 42 countries (12% of the population)

This noticeable decline over recent years presents a significant challenge to global efforts aimed at improving wastewater management.

What could be the reason?

Several factors contribute to the lack of reliable wastewater data, including:

1. Inconsistent methodologies: Different countries and regions often use varying methodologies for data collection and reporting. This inconsistency can lead to difficulties in comparing data across different areas. For example, the UN report highlights that only 38% of industrial wastewater was reported as treated, and just 27% was safely treated in the 22 countries that provided data.
2. Lack of standardisation: Without standardised protocols, the data collected can vary widely in terms of accuracy and reliability. Standardisation is essential to ensure that data from different sources can be compared and aggregated meaningfully.
3. Human error: Manual data entry and processing is prone to errors, which can significantly affect the overall quality of the data. Human errors can occur at various stages, from data collection to reporting, leading to inaccuracies and gaps.
4. Aging infrastructure: Older wastewater treatment facilities may lack modern monitoring and data collection systems. This can result in outdated or incomplete data, as these facilities may not be equipped to capture all relevant information accurately.

AI-Powered solutions for wastewater data gaps

Challenges in data collection require long-term planning and regional/global collaboration. In the meantime, AI can bridge these gaps through anomaly detection, data standardisation, and predictive analytics, improving overall data accuracy and reliability.

This situation underlines the critical role that data analytics companies like InfoTiles can play in the wastewater sector, offering advanced tools to fill data gaps, improve monitoring, and provide real-time insights.

#PipeFusion: With over 99% data accuracy, PipeFusion empowers utilities to make better, more informed decisions. Correct and validated data is essential for improving network efficiency and ensuring reliability in wastewater management. By providing precise data, PipeFusion enables utilities to optimize their systems and minimise risks.

#SewerIntelligence: A specialised solution designed to reduce Inflow & Infiltration (I&I), SewerIntelligence helps utilities de-risk the chances of spills and overflows while simultaneously lowering operational costs. Through the simplification and automation of data consolidation, combined with real-time analytics, InfoTiles equips utilities and governments with actionable insights to enhance their wastewater systems and improve decision-making processes.

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