Since 2002, the international community has realized that sanitation is a priority and has set itself the goal of halving by 2015 the number of people who do not have access to sanitation. The United States have declared 2008 as the International Year of Sanitation.

The collection and treatment of wastewater is a priority for Veolia Water, as it is a major step forward in guaranteeing the health of local communities and conserving water resources in developed countries as it is in developing countries. Without it, wastewater is released directly back into the environment and exacerbates existing pollution. Consequently, sanitation lies at the heart of the global water issue. It is both a major public health issue and a sustainable development issue.

In order to achieve the 2015 target, it is essential to provide wastewater solutions (for public or non public wastewater systems or for wastewater generated by rainfall) as well as be able to work with local stakeholders at every stage in the management of their wastewater. The technical solutions used every day to collect dirty water and to return purified water back to the natural environment thus help to conserve the environment and assist in the sustainable development of local communities. This is also true in the countries of the north when it comes to managing wastewater when it has been raining. This is because rainfall (particularly heavy rainfall) generates pollution which goes on to deteriorate the quality of surface water, thereby sometimes counteracting the work that has been carried out beforehand on the treated wastewater.

Sanitation helps to improve the environmental, health and financial aspects of community life which in itself makes it a key element in sustainable development policy.

On the environmental side, treating wastewater maintains the environmental quality in water courses, aquifers and seas etc.

The quality of drinking water is dependant on the existence of wastewater treatment systems. If wastewater is treated properly upstream of a river, it will then be possible to produce drinking water under better conditions downstream. Moreover, sanitation can significantly reduce exposure to certain illnesses such as diarrohea.

Finally, sanitation has a not insignificant financial impact, primarily in costal areas, where rigorous monitoring of effluent quality makes it possible to restore or preserve the quality of bathing water. This is of paramount importance for the tourist industry, a primary income source for certain costal areas and countries.

It should also be noted that technology now makes it possible to recycle treated wastewater for a variety of new uses. This new resource also alleviates conflicts over use and more effectively reconciles the requirements for water for use in agricultural irrigation, the watering of green spaces, sport facilities and industrial processes. By using treated and recycled wastewater for other such uses, recycling is thus a way of reducing pressure on available resources, as they can then be earmarked for drinking water production. Lastly, wastewater is the only water resource which increases along with a growth in the population.