Globally, over 80 % of wastewater generated by society flows back into the ecosystem without being treated or reused. In addition, around 40 % of the world’s population doesn’t have enough water to sustain its needs.

ISO has many standards for water management, spanning a variety of areas from wastewater and sewerage networks, to water reuse, efficient irrigation, water footprint monitoring, and service activities relating to drinking water supply systems. We also develop standards – such as ISO 24518 – to help communities manage their drinking water and wastewater services in the event of a crisis of water utilities.

The recently published ISO 24521 gives practical guidance on the management and maintenance of basic on-site domestic wastewater services. It offers advice on training users and operators, evaluating risks and designing and building basic on-site domestic wastewater systems, making use of alternative technologies that can be set up using local resources.

ISO is also expanding into new areas such as technology for next-generation toilets that can operate off-grid, outside the sewer network, in regions where there is no access to reliable water and wastewater systems. Standards in this field include the upcoming ISO 30500, Non-sewered sanitation systems – Prefabricated integration treatment units – General safety and performance requirements for design and testing.