The paper examines the present trends within wastewater handling and t
reatment. The trend is towards the extremes, either local low-tech tre
atment or centralized advanced treatment plants. The composition of th
e wastewater will change and it will be regarded as a resource. There
will be more emphasis on the sustainable aspects, on green accounting
and on the health aspects. (C) 1997 IAWQ. Published by Elsevier Scienc
e Ltd.