- It is estimated that less than 20 per cent of the world’s drainage basins exhibit nearly pristine water quality. (3rd UN World Water Development Report, 2009)
- Of the world’s 292 largest river systems in 2005 (accounting for 60 per cent of the world’s runoff), more than a third (105) were considered to be strongly affected by fragmentation, and 68 moderately affected. (2nd UN World Water Development Report, 2006)
- Damms play a major role in altering water regimes. They transform river systems, damage ecosystems and create barriers for migrating species. Social impacts of dams are also forced migration and population displacement of humans. (3rd UN World Water Development Report, 2009)
- On average freshwater species populations were reduced by half between 1970 and 2005, a sharper decline than for other biomes. (3rd UN World Water Development Report, 2009)
- 70 per cent of untreated industrial wastes in developing countries are disposed into water where they contaminate existing water supplies. (UN-Water: Transboundary Waters: Shared Waters, Shared Opportunities, 2009)
- More than 80 per cent of sewage in developing countries is discharged untreated, polluting rivers, lakes and coastal areas. (3rd UN World Water Development Report, 2009)
- Naturally occurring arsenic pollution in groundwater now affects nearly 140 million people in 70 countries on all continents. (3rd UN World Water Development Report, 2009)
