According to UNRIC, the United Nations National Assembly in 2010 brought up the topic of water and sanitation and how it should be declared a human right. This source states that water being considered a human right is more-so focused on the quality; making sure that each person who has it is able to have clean, safe drinking water and isn't able to get sick from it is the biggest issue rather than the quantity. Having the right to water is not specifically stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but without this access, other acts stated in the Declaration would not be fulfilled. These acts include "the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being" and taken into account for "Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance". The General Assembly in 2010 declared access to water as a human right by Ms. De Albuquerque stating "Everyone has the right to water, no matter where he/she lives". Having the UN recognize that water is a human right, having safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is a current pressure that local and national authorities are facing to ensure that they are able to provide a better quality infrastructure for drainage systems. These factors will increase significantly over the years due to the rise in the population growth and rising incomes that lead to an increase in water consumption, as well as waste production. According to the UN World Water Development Report, by 2050, at least one in four people will be likely affected in their country by chronic or reoccurring shortages of freshwater.
Right to Water states that having the human right to water entitles everyone without discrimination to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic use. Having the right to human sanitation entitles everyone without discrimination to physical and affordable access to sanitation, in all spheres of life, which is safe, hygienic, secure, socially and culturally acceptable, which provides for privacy and ensures dignity. Sanitation is defined as a system for the collection, transport, disposal or reuse of human excreta and associated hygiene.
The World Health Organization states that the content of the right to water may be defined as a right to access water of sufficient cleanliness and in sufficient quantities to meet individuals needs. As a minimum, the quantity must suffice to meet basic human needs in terms of drinking, bathing, cleaning, cooking, and sanitation. These correspond to those defined under a right to adequate housing. The minimum quantity of household water is dependent on its specific use; drinking water must be safe for consumption, whereas lower standards may be set for water sanitation. Having the right to water as a part of a right to food is more complex. The right to water as part of the right to food is more complex. While drinking and cooking water would be protected, water for food production would probably not be covered under the minimum needs in arid areas, as agriculture production requires such high amounts of water that individual household needs must first be ensured. The same goes for water for industrial use: although industry and electricity are important for ensuring an adequate standard of living, these uses must not infringe the right to household water.
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