Final answer:
The majority of sewage in coastal areas of Latin America is typically dumped untreated into the ocean due to inadequate wastewater treatment infrastructure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The vast majority of sewage in coastal areas of Latin America is not treated adequately. Often, it is dumped, untreated, into the ocean. This is due to a lack of adequate sewage treatment infrastructure. Wastewater, if properly treated at a wastewater treatment plant, entails a process including primary, secondary, and sometimes tertiary treatments. The primary treatment focuses on solid removal; the secondary treatment undertakes bacterial decomposition; whilst the tertiary treatment includes extra filtration, which is less common in underdeveloped regions. Unfortunately, in many parts of Latin America, existing systems either do not provide full coverage or the sewage undergoes partial treatment at best before being discharged, resulting in significant environmental pollution. Globally, various strategies are required to tackle the water pollution crisis, with proper wastewater treatment being one of the most important.