2. Dilution may not be the solution: The global footprint of wastewater pollution

Where does our wastewater really go — and what is it doing to our oceans? In this episode of The Nature Conservancy’s waste(d)water podcast, host Kassie Morton speaks with Dr. Ben Halpern and Dr. Cascade Tuholske about their groundbreaking global model that maps nutrient and pathogen pollution from human waste for over 135,000 watersheds. Discover how 25 of these watersheds contribute nearly half of the world’s wastewater nitrogen, why even advanced treatment systems can harm ecosystems, and how our diets play a surprising role. This eye-opening conversation reveals the hidden scale of wastewater pollution and offers hope for data-driven solutions for healthier oceans and communities.

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