IWMI - Wastewater Issues

Untreated wastewater irrigation is not the only reason for the spread of pathogens. IWMI, therefore, also invests in more holistic multiple-hazard projects that analyze and compare risks from various sources and assess the cost-effectiveness of taking different actions. Ultimately, the aim is to advise authorities on how they can best prevent most people from dying or becoming sick at the lowest cost.

Researchers at IWMI have been working on a variety of projects over more than a decade, which are aimed at assessing and reducing the risks associated with wastewater irrigation. They also explore social marketing tools to identify appropriate incentives that will trigger the behavioral changes needed to reduce the contamination of food produced with wastewater irrigation.