Table 2.2 Summary of the range of wastewater effects on receiving environments and ecosystem services

Receiving Environments
Air	Water	Land
odour, aerosol spray and vapour: spreads of pathogens a nuisance to those living and working in the surrounding area	increased nutrients, organic material encourages plant growth and micro-organism growth reduces oxygen can cause ecosystem death accumulation of metals, chemicals accumulation of hormones	wastewater systems can deplete soils of nutrients or cause an imbalance

Ecosystem Services (a)
Freshwater	Coastal	Forest
failure of food sources- fishing reduced ability to absorb wastes loss of amenity, unsafe for recreation loss of spiritual health	failure of food sources – fishing and shell-fish gathering reduced ability to absorb wastes loss of amenity, unsafe for recreation loss of spiritual health	nutrient cycle can be disrupted – long term impacts - watershed functions, soils, habitat, employment

Ecosystem Services (b)
Grassland	Urban	Agricultural
depletion of soils	public health systems can fail high infrastructure costs reduces ability to provide other social services	depletion of soils accumulation of heavy metals, hormone levels affects food health