Temperature rise As the primary vector of climate change, temperature rising is a major driver in all climate-related impacts on water and sanitation. Higher temperatures lead to higher evaporation from water bodies, higher evapotranspiration from vegetation, and greater water needs, both for drinking water supplies and especially for irrigation . This has consequences: lower flows in rivers and less infiltration into aquifers, as well as increasing urban and irrigation demands. Additionally, higher temperatures associated with climate change can degrade vegetation cover and increase the risks of forest fires and consequent increased soil erosion. All this implies an increase in runoff when there is heavy rains, which accelerates the processes of erosion and clogging of the reservoirs by sediments, in addition to less infiltration into the aquifers and, ultimately, a lower water storage capacity. Impacts on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation The serious loss in the capacity for storage and flow regulation in river headwaters due to the melting of glacial masses, is coupled with the already explained reduction of river flows, due to increased evapotranspiration and the lesser storage of water in the aquifers and reservoirs, due to less infiltration and accelerated soil erosion and clogging of reservoirs. This may cause an aggravation of water stress problems, with consequences on the availability of drinking water, rising water tariffs and problems of drinking water affordability, especially for the most impoverished Rising temperatures may have important impacts on the quality of drinking water: for every 1° C increase in temperature there is an 8% rise in E. coli-related diarrhea. Eutrophication of water bodies and the appearance of cyanobacteria that produce toxic contamination reducing the potability of water are aggravated. Sea-level rise Sea-level rise predicted because of climate change will threaten access to water and sanitation on low-lying coastal areas for two main reasons. First, it will increase the vulnerability of infrastructure in low-lying coastal areas to flooding. Compounded with higher sea levels and more intense storms, storm surges may reach further inland at faster speeds. In addition, rising sea levels could cause the intrusion of saltwater into the coastal aquifers. Impacts on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation Increased flooding can threaten water quality due to the contamination of water sources, and the overwhelming of sanitation infrastructure. The accessibility and safety of water and sanitation services can be threatened where flooding and heavy storms become frequent. The salinization of groundwater reduces the quality of drinking water and can have important health implications. 6