Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Water and Sanitation
Human Rights Council, 51st Session
Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
As Delivered by Susan Benda
Thank you, Special Rapporteur, for your work on this issue.
Water is crucial for human life and the provision of key services such as health care, and that water must be affordable, sanitary, and accessible.
The United States government recently made its single largest investment ever in water, allocating over $50 billion to provide safe drinking water by improving water infrastructure, with the goal of replacing 100 percent of the nation’s lead pipes.
We are proud that this funding will help increase access to safe drinking water in disadvantaged communities. It will improve and build safe sanitation facilities for – and provide drinking water to – our indigenous communities, among others.
As climate change affects the landscape of our world, the United States is also investing in new domestic water conservation methods and projects that reduce water consumption in areas of the U.S. that frequently experience drought.
We seek the Special Rapporteur’s view on how we can continue to build resiliency and develop tools to respond to the impacts of climate change on water and sanitation?
We thank you.
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