This archive report was first published on 26 August 2019.
On August 26, 2019, the World Bank highlighted the importance of clean water in economic growth, stating that a lack of it can limit a country's growth by a third.
The bank's report, "The Invisible Water Crisis", revealed that a combination of bacteria, sewage, chemicals, and plastics can contaminate water supplies, posing a significant threat to human health and ecosystems.
According to the study, the effects of the water crisis are far-reaching, with 1,000 new chemicals entering the environment every year and 80% of the world's wastewater being released without treatment.
The report also noted that synthetic fertilizers, while beneficial to agriculture, are also claiming many lives due to their impact on water quality.
"While much attention has focused on quantity — too much water in the case of floods and too little during droughts — quality has attracted significantly less consideration," the World Bank said.
David Malpass, the World Bank Group President, emphasized the need for immediate global, national, and local-level attention to the dangers of water pollution, stating that clean water is a key factor for economic growth.
"Governments must take urgent action to help tackle water pollution so that countries can grow faster in equitable and environmentally sustainable ways," Malpass said.
