Recognizing the Right to Drinking Water, Sanitation

Whereas lack of sufficient drinkable water has been a contributing factor in the death of several City of San Diego disabled residents in the past year, and is the cause of easily-preventable human suffering and medical problems stemming from chronic thirst and dehydration, and

Whereas the City of San Diego’s insufficient drinking water, publicly-accessible toilet and hand-washing facilities has resulted in an ongoing public-health crisis, a preventable burden to first responder and local health services, loss of commerce to City merchants, and moreover results in an affront to the dignity and well-being of residents and visitors alike in “America’s Finest City.” [Mayor Jerry Sanders, 2007], and

Whereas all residents of the City of San Diego have right to clean and safe water to drink, as noted by the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “The right to water clearly falls within the category of guarantees essential for securing an adequate standard of living, particularly since it is one of the most fundamental conditions for survival.” [UDHR, General Cmt. No. 15: The Right to Water.]; And

Whereas all residents of the City of San Diego have right to a clean place to use a toilet and wash one’s hands, as referenced by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UDHR, Article 25, and further, as sanitary hand-washing is the most cost-effective means of reducing preventing transmission of many human-to-human transmitted illnesses, such as the influenza A “flu” virus.

Therefore be it resolved, in recognition of the right to clean and safe drinking water, the undersigned supports a campaign to make safe drinkable water accessible to all residents and visitors in the City of San Diego, no later than June 30, 2011, and

Be it further resolved that in recognition of the right to a clean, safe place to use a toilet and wash one’s hands, a health concern for all San Diegans, the undersigned supports the solutions including creation and maintenance of a sufficient number of clean, safe bathrooms with hand-washing facilities and toilets, which are accessible to San Diego residents and visitors no later than June 30, 2011, and

Be it further resolved that: fulfillment and protection of these rights shall be shared across all City Council districts, and shall include drinking fountains, access to faucets, and/or water sharing programs, installing temporary and permanent toilet facilities, as well as or bathroom use agreements in places of commerce and public buildings, and moreover those particularly in need of safe water to drink and/or access to bathrooms and hand-washing be allowed to contribute meaningfully to the creation and maintenance of this resource.