The world has seen the highest increase in human population in recent decades, with the 7 billionth person said to have been born not so long ago. Such increase consequently puts a burden on available resources: Countries world over suddenly have more mouths to feed and are strained for more clean water and other resources. Waste production has also escalated with industries mass producing to cater for the ever increasing demand. This calls for a shift in mindset and overall approaches to a more balanced way of life. Even more so with the population still expected to continue increasing at an exponential rate. Old technologies and way of thinking simply cannot cope anymore.

While the discharge of wastewater (industrial effluents and sewage) to rivers was a sufficient means of dealing with the problem in medieval times, the current population does not allow for such practices anymore. Sadly, this is still a reality in most developing countries. Contamination of groundwater, rivers, lakes, etc limits the possibility of using these stores as future drinking water sources. The availability and access to clean water is slowly becoming a luxury for the affluent. Affording countries have resorted to desalinating sea water for drinking purposes and others are treating wastewater (sewage) back to the tap water quality.