When we think about the most dire threats to our planet, poor sanitation rarely tops the list. Yet it’s a significant (and in some cases immediate) contributor to sickness and pollution in both rural and urban areas. So how can ISO help deliver sustainable sanitation to the 2.3 billion people who lack access to basic services?

Global mobility, intensive farming and urban developments that have spread into once uninhabitable areas have made water access, use, and reuse, critical areas for International Standards. 

Why do we need to manage global water resources? According to environmental scientist Dr Debbie Chapman, our health and well-being depend on it – and the payback is tremendous. Here, Dr Chapman explains the importance of managing water resources at the global scale.

Ageing wastewater systems are under threat from growing populations, urbanization, pollution and climate change, not to mention human behaviour. However, despite these challenges and fears for health and safety, the new ISO 24516 series is playing a key role in turning what many consider a burden into a valuable resource.