A/HRC/33/49/Add.3 three dollars would be enjoyed. The benefits of investing in water, sanitation and hygiene are particularly evident in improved health, prevention of diseases such as diarrhoea and reduction in child mortality. Improved health will increase adults’ productivity and children’s attendance at school. In addition to monetary benefits, water, sanitation and hygiene have positive impacts on economic, social and sustainable development in the form of dignity gained, progress towards realizing gender equality and the avoidance of environmental degradation. VI. People of special concern 54. Although Botswana has achieved impressive progress in overall development, the situation regarding access to water and sanitation still varies depending on location and economic and social status. Some segments of the population with whom the Special Rapporteur met during his visit have particular difficulties in accessing water and sanitation. A. Persons living in rural areas 55. Although Botswana has expanded its piped water networks significantly, in rural areas, the proportion of households with access to improved water sources is still low. The lack of access to water on the premises means that people have to go to collect it from a water standpoint, a borehole, a river or other source. In rural areas without networks, the Special Rapporteur observed that water consumption per person seemed very low at 15 to 20 litres per person per day. This is far below the basic necessary water level in emergency situations, which is 50 litres per person per day. A WHO study revealed that with access to 20 litres of water per person per day, the health concern level is considered high as hygiene practices are difficult to carry out with this amount. 17 The residents of a village that the Special Rapporteur visited were fetching brown water from the river and drinking it directly because they could not afford or did not have access to fuel to boil water. 56. Regarding sanitation, a significant proportion of people in rural areas uses pit latrines. The Water Utilities Corporation charges for emptying pit latrines based on the distance between the town centre and the house. This could be an unfair charge for households living in remote areas. The Special Rapporteur recommends that the Corporation explore a cross-subsidy system for charging for this service and even a fiscal subsidy in view of reducing the price to a reasonable level for all. Some households use non-regulated private companies which provide cheaper services. This also implies affordability concerns, but also raises public health concerns as the wastewater may not be managed properly. In addition, a large proportion of the population still practise open defecation in the bush. The Ministry of Health conducts some awareness-raising activities and raising awareness of health risks among the population is a human right obligation of the State. The Special Rapporteur reminds the Government that it should provide the support necessary for infrastructure alternatives and to change current practices. 57. This disparity between urban and rural areas can be explained partly by the Government’s particular development policy for villages and settlements. The revised National Settlement Policy (2004) divides settlements by population size, economic potential and other factors, aimed at guiding national planning and providing a framework to guide the distribution of investment. Remote-area dweller settlements with a population of 250 to 499 are entitled to a set of basic services, including water. If the population is 17 GE.16-12031 WHO, Domestic Water Quantity, Service Level and Health (Geneva, 2003). 15