A/HRC/45/10/Add.3
Law on Water includes that the State Water Agency will be responsible for allocating water
resources for different uses (Article 161.4.3). However, it does not include mention of
priorities for water use. The Special Rapporteur reminds the Government of the importance
of prioritizing water for personal and domestic use. He also highlights the need to implement
mechanisms guaranteeing that industrial operation does not deplete or pollute water sources
and that sufficient water, of adequate quality is provided on an ongoing basis (A/74/197,
paras. 20 and 29).
PROGRESS LIMITED: The Special Rapporteur congratulates the Government on its
efforts to map water resources in the country, but strongly urges the Government to
supplement this activity with strong safeguards for the prioritized use of water for
domestic purposes. He recommends that the Government not only ensure the availability
of water, but also take steps to ensure that other elements of the normative content of the
human rights to water and sanitation, namely, quality, accessibility affordability and
acceptability are not impacted by economic activities.
C.
1.
Recommendation on quality
Recommendation on water quality control
RECOMMENDATION 14: On drinking water quality: Increase the number of annual
samples in order to have a more comprehensive overview of drinking water quality and
meet the international guidance on water quality control (A/HRC/39/55/Add.2, para.
82(i)(i)).
48.
In line with the water safety plan, the General Agency for Specialized Inspection
conducts water quality examinations in coordination with the Ministry of Health. In doing
so, it collects 1,000 samples per year. The Special Rapporteur noted that a more substantial
number of annual samples would help to provide a more comprehensive overview of the
quality of drinking water in the country and would meet the international guidance on water
quality control. Another issue that the Special Rapporteur highlighted is the lack of efficient
resources to ensure timely reparation of situations where the quality of water does not meet
the standards (A/HRC/39/55/Add. 2, para. 71).
49.
The Special Rapporteur received no information regarding the number of annual
samples taking to monitor water quality.
NO ASSESSMENT CAN BE MADE DUE TO LACK OF INFORMATION: The
Special Rapporteur recommends that the Government give close attention to surveillance
and control of drinking water quality. He reminds the Government that water quality is a
key part of the human rights to water and sanitation, and that without monitoring, this
cannot be ensured.
2.
Recommendation on drinking water quality control
RECOMMENDATION 15: On drinking water quality: […] Continue to take measures to
improve drinking water quality and to identify alternative safe water sources for soums
with drinking water services that do not meet the drinking water standard
(A/HRC/39/55/Add.2, para. 82(i)(ii)).
50.
The Special Rapporteur noted in his country visit report that the 2013 inspection of
the quality and safety of drinking water showed that 22.8 per cent of samples had levels of
bacteria above the allowed level and 5.2 per cent were contaminated by the intestinal bacillus
group (A/HRC/39/55/Add.2, para. 65). Subsequently, in 2018, according to the
Government’s Social Indicator Sample Survey, 16 per cent of the population had moderate
16
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