Islands face many challenges:  Managing wastewater from residences, municipalities and businesses is one of the biggest challenges as many island communities have limited infrastructure and minimal on-island wastewater treatment systems.  Many islands view wastewater as a problem but do not have the financial resources to build costly centralized treatment systems.

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Facts about the Caribbean and the need for Wastewater Reuse technology

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• It is estimated that by 2025 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity and two thirds of the world population could be under conditions of water stress

• Wastewater Reuse can meet up to 38% of the total needs of Islands in the Caribbean 

• Tourism accounts for a large part of the water consumption in Islands, especially in the Caribbean, up to 2.5 times the per night consumption rate of the domestic population

• In the Caribbean the average water usage per guest night in hotels is 825 liters 

• Demand for water by hotels, ships and golf courses is approximately one-third of the domestic demand

• The importance of wastewater reuse in islands is influenced by the availability, type, and cost of existing water supplies​

• As Potable water prices on islands continue to increase, wastewater reuse becomes the only real economic option to alleviate the growing demand for usable water

• The cost of full wastewater treatment for islands in the Caribbean ranges from 25% to 119% of annual GDP

• Low-Cost, low-maintenance wastewater treatment technologies at the household level could provide a sustainable resource for irrigation of lawns and gardens

• Wastewater reuse is a growing solution on islands, but cost effective, easy-to-operate solutions are missing in the market place 

• 85% of untreated wastewater is discharged into seas, rivers and bays

• Discharge of improperly treated wastewater effluent is one of the main contributors to coastal zone degradation on islands

 

IMET views sewage and wastewater as an opportunity.  IMET "drop in" technology is designed to treat wastewater at the source, in existing infrastructure like septic tanks, grease interceptors, lift stations, collection ponds, holding tanks, as well as strained or failing wastewater treatment plants.    ​

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