A/HRC/15/55* 66. The Government also indicated its intention to switch its supply to surface water; however, surface water is reportedly very polluted and there are very few treatment plants to make water potable. In Dhaka, there are only three water treatment plants with a combined capacity of 257 million litres per day, in a city with a water demand of 2,200 million litres per day. The independent expert notes that, in March 2010, the High Court in Dhaka ordered the city to test the water quality in eight areas of the city, after receiving a petition alleging that the water supply was unhygienic and odorous. At the time of writing, the Court was still awaiting the test results. 67. Climate change is also having a serious impact on water quality, with rising sea levels resulting in increased water salinity. The seasonal changes also affect water availability (little water is available in the dry season) and quality (flooding leads to the presence of numerous pollutants in the water). Furthermore, the network itself must be upgraded to ensure that water does not become contaminated when it travels from the water source to the tap, since old pipes are reportedly lined with asbestos. Water quality is also seriously threatened by the lack of treatment and adequate disposal of wastewater. 68. Another major challenge for the Government is the lack of a comprehensive system for testing water quality. The independent expert was informed that only six laboratories, primarily concentrated in Dhaka, test water quality for the entire country. While arsenic testing appears to be carried out at many water sources, testing for other harmful substances does not seem to be a regular practice. Furthermore, the authorities informed the independent expert that new wells are only tested once for water quality standards, then never again. Concerns were expressed that the composition of groundwater changes, especially in the context of overextraction, and that more regular testing of wells should be implemented. D. Menstrual hygiene 69. The independent expert visited several community initiatives to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene, especially among adolescent girls. Menstrual hygiene is crucial for the health of women and girls, as well as ensuring that girls stay in school and women are able to work. A UNICEF study conducted in 2007 found that one third of all girls in rural areas covering 22 districts did not engage in proper menstrual hygiene.25 Sanitation facilities that are private and appropriate for menstrual hygiene needs are a key factor in ensuring women’s and girls’ dignity. There is a taboo surrounding the topic of menstruation and, in this regard, the independent expert particularly welcomes the efforts of the communities she visited to ensure that girls are aware of proper menstrual hygiene and that they have access to appropriate facilities. She was particularly impressed by the initiative in Rupnagar slum of a group of adolescent girls, with the support of UNICEF, to produce sanitary napkins for their own income generation and to help their local community group to promote good hygiene. E. Urban slums 70. The situation of access to water and sanitation in urban slums in Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka, is of special concern. The independent expert visited slums where raw sewage ran through the streets. The people who live there have no legal access to water, which means that they pay 10 to 20 times more for it. In some cases, they have to 25 GE.10-15451 UNICEF, op. cit., p. 155. 17