What environmental issues can arise from untreated wastewater?

Untreated wastewater can lead to significant pollution of water bodies and pose serious health risks to humans. When wastewater is discharged without treatment, it often contains harmful pollutants such as pathogens, chemicals, and nutrients. These contaminants can degrade water quality, leading to the eutrophication of water bodies, which disrupts aquatic ecosystems.

Eutrophication causes excessive growth of algae, resulting in reduced oxygen levels in the water that can kill fish and other aquatic organisms, thus harming biodiversity. Additionally, the presence of pathogens in untreated wastewater can pose health risks to people who come into contact with contaminated water, whether through recreational activities, drinking water sources, or through agricultural practices involving irrigation with contaminated water.

Overall, the release of untreated wastewater creates a multitude of environmental and public health issues, making the management and treatment of wastewater critical for protecting both ecosystem health and human safety.