A/HRC/41/44/Add.2 C. Water management 69. The Independent Expert commends the Netherlands for its innovative approach to living in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way, and the measures to ensure a more sustainable society at home and abroad. The management of water through independent non-politicized boards is, in the view of the Independent Expert, a creative example of innovation that could be replicated in other countries facing similar environmental issues and could develop into a positive contribution to international solidarity in this area. 70. The Independent Expert was informed that the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (RWS) and the water boards are charged with water management in the Netherlands. Among other tasks, they are responsible for ensuring a sufficient supply of water and protecting the country against flooding. Provinces and municipalities are also involved in water management. 71. RWS is responsible for the management of major waterways, such as the sea and the rivers. RWS ensures that the government authorities responsible are alerted in good time to floods or stormy seas. In addition, RWS maintains dykes, dams, weirs and storm surge barriers. Furthermore, RWS protects the coast and gives more room to rivers, for example by deepening floodplains and constructing secondary channels. District water boards are responsible for regional waters, such as canals and polder waterways. These boards ensure that the water is clean in order to keep fish stocks up to par. The district water boards also protect the country from flooding and ensure that farmers have sufficient water for their crops. Furthermore, they are responsible for wastewater purification. 72. The Water Act sets out the responsibilities of the various government authorities involved in water management. The central Government is responsible for national policy and national measures and bears responsibility for the flood protection standards pertaining to the primary flood defence systems, such as the dykes and dunes that protect the country against water from the sea and the major rivers. The provinces are responsible for translating national water policy into local measures and have operational duties with respect to some water management issues, such as the removal of groundwater from the soil. The Soil Protection Act stipulates that the management of groundwater quality is a task vested with the provinces. 73. The district water boards draw up management plans regarding the water quality of the waters within their district. In addition, they are responsible for the regional flood defence systems that protect the country against water from the canals. Groundwater in urban areas is the responsibility of the municipalities. In addition, the municipalities are responsible for the drainage of wastewater and excess rainwater through the sewer systems, as dictated by the Water Act and the Environmental Management Act. 74. The Netherlands has adopted a National Water Plan for the period 2016–2021 which sets out the Dutch flood risk management and freshwater supply policies. The National Water Plan specifies the strategies to be pursued with respect to areas particularly abounding in water, such as the Rhine-Meuse delta and the coastal area. It also examines optimum ways to accommodate water in the spatial planning of the Netherlands and the costs involved. 75. In addition, the Independent Expert was pleased to learn that the Netherlands wishes to help other countries around the globe in the prevention of flood disasters. Together with other countries possessing water expertise, the Dutch Government is keen to provide specialists to help countries that lack such knowledge. D. Shelter City Amsterdam 76. The Independent Expert was impressed by the significant work undertaken by the municipal authorities of Amsterdam to promote and protect human rights, in particular their extensive work on diversity, inclusion of migrants and refugees, and the promotion of human rights internationally. He was equally impressed by the Shelter City Project which 13