Over 300 million people in Asia , Africa and Latin America are at risk of life - threatening diseases such as cholera and typhoid due to the increase in polluted water in lakes and rivers , warns the UN Environment Programme . Population growth , expansion of agriculture and rising amounts of raw sewage released into rivers and lakes are among the main reasons behind the increase of surface water pollution . The report adds that around a quarter of households in Latin America , 20 - 25 % in Africa and up to 50 % in Asia were affected by severe pathogen pollution , largely due to discharging untreated wastewater into rivers and lakes .
Over 300 million people in Asia, Africa and Latin America are at risk of life-threatening diseases such as cholera and typhoid due to the rise in polluted water in lakes and rivers, warns the UN Environment Programme. Population growth, expansion of agriculture and rising amounts of raw sewage released into rivers and lakes are among the main reasons behind the increase of surface water pollution. The report adds that around a quarter of rivers in Latin America, 10-25% in Africa and up to 50% in Asia were affected by severe pathogen pollution, largely due to discharging untreated wastewater into rivers and lakes.