Wastewater Management Platforms for the Wider Caribbean Region: A Situation Analysis - CEP Technical Report 89

Effective management of wastewater in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) is a significant challenge faced by the region. Currently in the Caribbean, approximately 85 per cent of untreated waste-water is discharged into seas, rivers and bays. This wastewater comes from oil refineries, sugar factories, domestic sewage, food and beverage processing and manufacturing operations. These land-based sources of pollution from municipal, industrial and agricultural sectors and their negative impacts on marine resources are a significant threat to the region’s development and the quality of life of its people. This report presents a situation analysis of elements that could constitute a wastewater management database platform for the Wider Caribbean Region. This platform should address the following:  Storage of basic data related to water, wastewater production and sanitation services;  Storage of data related to wastewater management such as: (o Effluent standards, o Wastewater treatment plants, o Operation of wastewater treatment plants, o Wastewater laws, regulations and permits)  Display and interpretation protocols;  Data collection and update protocols.