In many developed nations, significant progress has been made in reducing direct discharges of pollutants into water bodies, primarily through increased treatment of industrial wastewater before it is discharged. An OECD report found that in member countries in the past several decades, “industrial discharges of heavy metals and persistent chemicals have been reduced by 70-to-90 percent or more in most cases” (OECD 2006). In developing countries, on the other hand, more than 70 percent of industrial wastes are not treated before being discharged into water (UN- Water Statistics). Still, developed nations often discharge more industrial pollution into water bodies on a.
