A/68/264 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted to the General Assembly by the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque, in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 16/2. The Special Rapporteur devotes the report to the issue of managing wastewater and curbing water pollution. 2. In the country missions conducted by the Special Rapporteur, the impact of water pollution is a recurring theme, involving untreated sewage and faecal sludge from septic tanks leaking into ground and surface water, through the content of pits dumped into the environment or overflowing networks, through small businesses and large industries discharging contaminated water, through agricultural run-offs contaminated with pesticides and fertilizers, as well as uncontrolled urban run-off. Moreover, a range of cases detailing the impacts of extractive industries, in particular on water quality, have been brought to her attention. The lack of adequate wastewater management and pollution control can have significant impact on public health and the environment. The Special Rapporteur finds that disadvantaged communities are the worst affected, with negative impacts on the lives, livelihoods, health and the realization of the human rights of their members. 3. The present report seeks to consider those issues in a comprehensive manner by introducing the human rights framework into broader considerations of wastewater management and ensuring water quality. Despite declared intentions to integrate wastewater management into overall water management frameworks, water management has been given priority by policymakers, with neglect for wastewater. Compared to water availability, scarcity and allocation, water quality has received relatively limited attention in the context of water management. Wastewater policies lag far behind, implementation and monitoring of which often fail. 4. Human rights provide practical guidance in managing wastewater and controlling water pollution. They offer a flexible framework that demands that States prioritize addressing the most urgent and serious impacts on human rights, whether they stem from domestic, industrial or agricultural water contamination. They call for a phased approach to progressive improvements in managing wastewater and controlling pollution, as illustrated by the concept of a wastewater ladder. Human rights call for a shift in priorities that would require States to focus on improving the lives and livelihoods of the most disadvantaged, those who are usually worst affected by contamination. Such a shift requires that greater attention be paid to the safe disposal and management of faecal sludge and septage, issues which are currently largely neglected in policy and practice. It also requires placing higher priority on finding solutions in informal settlements that are faced with the cumulative challenges of population density, lack of formal land tenure, contaminated environments and lack of infrastructure and services. 5. One of the reasons why the Special Rapporteur considers the present report very timely is the ongoing process to elaborate the post-2015 development agenda, including sustainable development goals. The Special Rapporteur considers it mandatory to integrate human rights holistically into the future development agenda. 6. To inform her views on the issue, the Special Rapporteur has engaged in a broad consultative process, including an expert consultation held in April 2013. The Special Rapporteur also received close to 40 written submissions (available from 13-41825 3/23