BASELINE ANALYSIS ON DOMESTIC WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN THE WIDER CARIBBEAN REGION

In the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR), improperly treated domestic wastewater can be a significantsource of marine pollution and represents a threat to human health, sustainable development andmarine resources. However, a tendency to the stagnation in the sanitation services is observedamong many municipalities in the region as population's size and the economy are increased. Also,natural resources vital to economic growth are wasted or lost through misdirected urban policies andpractices, and population overspill into areas less suitable for urban development, thus creatingfurther pressure on these resources as urban sprawl increases, turning the town concerned into onelarge drain 1.The environmental problems associated with uncontrolled urban development are particularlymarked among the poorest urban sectors those with the worst housing and the most restricted accessto public services. But the principal impact of unrestrained urban expansion is on the environmentcaused by pollution of inland and marine waters, exhaustion of water reserves, destruction ofwoodlands and fertile agricultural land, and encroachment on ecologically-productive territory (theecological footprint). The severest effects are declining drinking water reserves and deterioratinghousing quality, public health and sanitation services.