As with water services, wastewater treatment services, otherwise known as sanitation, is the responsibility of elected officials and local authorities.

In industrialized countries this service, essential for public health, has seen numerous developments over the last century and a half.

However it is a sector where improvements still need to be made for instance a tightening of standards in using or updating ageing facilities.

Within the European Union the directive no. 2000/60/CE states that the Member States must implement an action program with the aim of ensuring, within fifteen years, that surface waters are in a good chemical and environmental condition, and that there is sufficient groundwater in a good chemical condition.