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 . increasing amount of wastewater being dumped into our surface waters is deeply troubling," said UNEP chief scientist Jacqueline McGlade. 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 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 .