A/HRC/6/3 page 11 a tiny fraction of the total use of water, usually less than 5 per cent.29 Other domestic water uses, such as water for swimming pools or gardening are therefore not addressed in the study. Access to water for other purposes, notably for agriculture or industry, also falls outside the remit of the study. 14. Similarly, the study does not examine human rights obligations related to access to water for livelihood or as a natural resource, notably in relation to indigenous territories or small-scale farming, nor does it consider issues related to water management and the protection of ecosystems. UNDP’s 2006 Human Development Report made a comparable distinction between water for life in the household on the one hand and water to sustain ecological systems and for livelihoods on the other. Declarations and plans of action recognizing access to safe drinking water as a human right also highlight the right of individuals to access water in quantities equal to their basic needs.30 Other documents, while not recognizing access to safe drinking water as a human right, present it as a basic need or requirement, highlighting the fact that the access of individuals to a sufficient quantity of water should be enhanced. 15. The direct corollary of this approach is that the term “safe drinking water” does not refer to an unlimited amount of water. While it is up to each country to determine the minimum reasonable amount of water needed to cover personal and domestic uses, the figures provided in World Health Organization (WHO) publications can provide useful guidance. Accordingly, between 50 and 100 litres of water per person per day are needed to ensure that all health concerns are met.31 The threshold of 25 litres per person per day represents the lowest level to maintain life, but this amount raises health concerns because it is insufficient to meet basic hygiene and consumption requirements.32 In cases of emergencies - such as natural disasters, conflict or post-conflict situations - the Sphere Handbook suggests a basic provision of 7.5 to 15 litres minimum per person and per day, as there may not be sufficient water available to cover all personal and domestic uses.33 These different amounts are indicative, as they might change depending on a particular context, and might differ for some groups due to health status, work, climate conditions, cultural requirements or other factors. 29 Beyond scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water crisis, UNDP Human Development Report 2006, p. 2. 30 Mar del Plata Action Plan, 1977, preamble; Agenda 21, 1992, chap. 18, para. 47. 31 G. Howard and J. Bartram, Domestic Water Quantity, Service Level and Health, World Health Organization 2003, p. 22. 32 Guy Hutton and Lawrence Haller, Evaluation of the costs and benefits of water and sanitation improvements at the global level, World Health Organization 2004. 33 See http://www.sphereproject.org.

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