The water problems in Asia’s cities are similar. These include sources and uses of raw water, the large propor-tion of water loss in distribution networks, intermittent supply, and the quality of tap water. In some cities, the excessive use of groundwater resources has caused serious environmental problems, including rapid deple-tion of groundwater, deterioration of water quality, and land subsidence. Many cities suffer from inadequate sewerage networks and wastewater treatment systems while a large majority still depends on septic tanks and other on-site sanitation facilities. As a result, pollution loads in freshwater bodies and groundwater sources have increased substantially.
