A/HRC/42/47/Add.6 an assessment carried out by the World Bank has also revealed that chlorine concentrations in drinking water are dangerously low and do not comply with national or global health guidelines for households and schools. In 2016, 81.44 per cent of households surveyed boiled water as a method of treatment. 15 41. Whilst the Government notes that water quality in Tajikistan is monitored pursuant to legislative provision, the Special Rapporteur is concerned that the water quality remains poor. In the context of the lack of progress that has been made towards the improvement of water quality, and the monitoring thereof, and in light of the serious health implications this can and does have on the population of Tajikistan, the Special Rapporteur wishes to reiterate this recommendation that the Government should urgently strengthen the capacity of water quality monitoring and surveillance to ensure safe water. Quality is a central facet of the normative content of the human right to water and as such must be ensured to all using all means available. PROGRESS NOT STARTED: The Special Rapporteur recommends that the Government urgently strengthen the capacity of water quality monitoring and surveillance. C. Recommendations on the tariff system and on safeguard mechanisms RECOMMENDATION 9: “Review the tariff system comprehensively and increase the rate for those sectors which are capable of paying more, taking into consideration the sustainability of water and sanitation services and affordability for all.” (A/HRC/33/49/Add.2, para. 59(f)) RECOMMENDATION 10: “Adopt safeguard mechanisms to protect access to essential water and sanitation for those who live in poverty and those who have special needs, including health conditions.” (A/HRC/33/49/Add.2, para. 59(g)) 42. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur identified that the system of water and sanitation tariffs present in Tajikistan was unbalanced as it operates as a flat tariff, and therefore fails to take into account the needs of the poorest people in Tajikistan, whilst subsidising the costs of those who are able to pay, such as businesses. Additionally, sludge collection services have experienced as much as a 100 per cent inflation in price thereby greatly reducing their affordability for people who require these services. Furthermore, the very low tariffs imposed on those who can afford to pay more, as well as a substandard collection process meaning many entities simply do not pay for their water and sanitation services, is reducing the potential for investment into essential infrastructure, thereby inhibiting maintenance and expansion activities which could benefit the enjoyment of the rights to water and sanitation (A/HRC/33/49/Add.2, paras. 27-35). 43. In response to the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur to review the tariff system, the Government notes that as part of the implementation of paragraph 16 of the Action Plan for the implementation of the “Program for the reform of the water sector in Tajikistan for the period 2016 – 2025,” it planned to develop a new methodology for determining the tariffs for drinking water supply services that will allow full coverage of costs. To develop a new methodology for the development of tariffs for drinking water, OXFAM UK, with funding from the Finnish Water Consortium Program, began work in this direction. 44. In relation to the Special Rapporteur’s call for the Government to adopt safeguard mechanisms for water and sanitation charges, it was noted that the Government has included, within its draft law on “Drinking Water and Drinking Water Supply”, provisions to allow for preferential taxes and credit for those producers who support the provision of water and sanitation. However, no information has been provided regarding how the 15 World Bank, Glass Half Full: Poverty Diagnostic of Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene Conditions in Tajikistan, August 2017. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/27830. 11