Industrial use of water increases with country income, going from 10 percent for low- and middle-income countries to 59 percent for high-income countries.

The annual water volume used by industry will rise from 752 km3/year in 1995 to an estimated 1,170 km3/year in 2025.

Contribution of the food sector to the production of organic water pollutant:

• High income countries: 40%
• Low-income countries: 54%

The pulp and paper industry uses more water to produce a ton of product than any other industry.

The World Bank estimates that 17 to 20 percent of industrial water pollution comes from textile dyeing and treatment.

The acids and alkalis discharged by chemical plants make streams unsuitable for recreational uses and inhibit the growth of aquatic life. Any floating solids or liquids produced by the chemical industry are extremely toxic to aquatic ecosystems.