The present report focuses on the problems of pollution, overexploitation and mismanagement of rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers and their impacts on the human rights to drinking water and sanitation. It shows how the toxic contamination of water by heavy metals and other contaminants breaks not only the right to water but also the right to health and life of millions of people. Given the magnitude of the harm, the Special Rapporteur suggests starting a debate in the international community with a view to including these actions in the list of crimes against humanity in order to hold the perpetrators accountable.