Each year on March 22nd, World Water Day serves as a crucial reminder of our collective responsibility to protect and conserve freshwater. This global holiday celebrates water and raises awareness of global water issues, specifically water scarcity, a core focus of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.

First proposed at the 1992 UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the first World Water Day was declared on March 22nd, 1993. Since then, this holiday has influenced international policies, encouraged water conservation efforts, and inspired grassroots movements worldwide.

Each year, the UN assigns a theme for World Water Day to highlight specific water-related challenges. In 2023, it was Accelerating Change, in 2024 it was Leveraging Water for Peace, and this year, the theme is Glacier Preservation.

The Importance of Glacier Preservation

As we celebrate this amazing day, it is important to recognize that nearly 2 billion people worldwide rely on water from glaciers, snowmelt, and mountain run-off. Glaciers are critical to life—their meltwater is essential for drinking water, agriculture, industry, clean energy production and healthy ecosystems.

As global temperatures rise, natural glaciers are melting at an alarming rate. In Switzerland, the Swiss Academy of Sciences reported that the nation’s glaciers have lost 10% of their volume in just two years of extreme heat. This loss has devastating effects, particularly for communities in arid, high-altitude regions, like Ladakh, a dry, high-altitude mountain desert on the edge of the Himalayas.

In the Ladakh region, 80% of farmers rely on glaciers for irrigation, making them an essential resource, as agriculture is the region’s primary livelihood. As glaciers shrink and move higher up the mountains, their meltwater arrives later in the year, starting in mid-June. However, farmers need water earlier, in April and May, for planting. Since winters are long, much of the unused meltwater simply flows into rivers. But, there is a solution: Artificial Glaciers.

Artificial Glaciers: A Climate Adaptation Strategy

Artificial glaciers are human-made ice structures designed to store water for communities reliant on glacial meltwater. They are created by capturing excess water from melting glaciers or snow and allowing it to freeze into large blocks of ice. These structures store fresh water during the winter and release it gradually during warmer months, mimicking the function of natural glaciers.

Ice stupas, a more advanced version of artificial glaciers, improve upon this by providing security in areas susceptible to flash floods, landslides, erosion and sedimentation. Ice stupas divert water from streams or rivers through gravity-fed pipes into shaded areas where it freezes on contact, forming towering ice structures that preserve water longer due to reduced sun exposure.

These structures counter water shortages by providing a steady water supply for communities, preventing farmers from facing declining crop production during dry periods.

Isla Urbana’s Contribution to World Water Day

Much like artificial glaciers, rainwater harvesting is an innovative and effective solution for water conservation. By capturing and storing rainwater, our systems ensure a sustainable, clean, and reliable water supply—addressing critical needs and enhancing resilience in vulnerable communities facing water insecurity. 

At Isla Urbana, we are proud to contribute to World Water Day by providing rainwater harvesting systems that transform each rainfall into a vital resource. Each drop of rain brings a new opportunity to harness nature’s most reliable resource. Too often, rainwater goes untapped, and our systems provide a vital supply to those who need it most.  

Water is a fundamental human right, and by providing these life-changing systems, Isla Urbana is committed to building a future where clean water is accessible to all.

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“There is nothing more important than women. I say that because seriously, and I have nothing against the male sex, the truth is we are the ones who steer the ship… We organize the house, the children, the grandchildren, the school, the professional field.” 

Perpetuating Gender Inequalities 

In Mexico, water scarcity is both an environmental and social issue, disproportionately impacting marginalized communities, particularly, the women within them. Collecting water requires tremendous amounts of time and energy, limiting their ability to pursue education, paid employment, political participation, or social and recreational activities. 

This struggle reinforces cycles of poverty and gender inequality, stifling women’s personal development. Women have vast potential to contribute to their community’s socioeconomic growth, yet the relentless responsibility of water collection limits their ability to do so—sacrificing their well-being for the basic survival of their families. 

According to the Gender and Water Agenda in Iztapalapa, “It is not unreasonable to hypothesize that women, particularly the poorest and least educated, inadvertently prop up the water management system through a societal subsidy granted due to their gender status.” 

The Challenges of Water Collection  

Many women whose homes are not connected to the municipal water network or who cannot afford the high prices of water delivery trucks, spend hours finding water for their family. Some municipalities in Mexico City have women spending nearly an entire work week (4.4 days) on water-related tasks, all while juggling domestic responsibilities like washing clothes, scrubbing dishes, cleaning the home, and cooking. 

Beyond being overwhelmingly demanding of their time, water collection is physically exhausting. Many water sources are far from home, requiring women to walk long distances multiple times a day, navigating dangerously rocky terrain with steep drops—all while carrying heavy jugs on their backs or shoulders, careful not to spill a drop. Ana Lidia Aparicio Vaina, a mother of two young girls in Xochimilco, Mexico City, shares: 

“My mother in law, who was one of the first six to arrive at this place, carried around 6 5-gallon jugs on her back and all the neighbors did the same. Some might have hired a donkey to carry the water, but the truth is that most of us don’t have the means to pay for one.” 

Oftentimes, women have no choice but to hold their children at their side, compounding the strain of the heavy load. This grueling, physically demanding task can lead to serious health implications, especially over time. Day after day, year after year, carrying excessive weight wears these women down, leading to chronic pain, joint damage, and even organ damage. Ana further recounts:  

But the toll of water sourcing is not just physical, its emotional weight is just as significant. The pressure to ensure their families have enough water—especially during droughts or shortages—can create extreme stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. Water scarcity forces women to prioritize survival over their own well-being, often at the expense of their mental health and household relationships. Raquel Arias Montiel, director of the Mario Colin Sánchez Elementary School in Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico City, underscores this by recounting: 

“I have a responsibility as a public servant to guarantee the fulfillment of their [students] rights. It has been a very complicated challenge to have to attend to all these needs and above all, to know that many of my students’ homes don’t have access to water.” 

Honoring Women   

At Isla Urbana, 73.27% of the 3,359 registrations for our rainwater harvesting programs were completed by women, based on data collected between January 2023 and 2025. This isn’t just a statistic—it’s a testament to the role women play in securing water for their families and communities. Rainwater harvesting unshackles women from the daily burden of water collection, allowing them to pursue education, careers, and personal empowerment. It is a step towards a future where water is a source of strength, not struggle. 

On this International Women’s Day, we honor the incredible women who bear the weight of water scarcity with unwavering strength, resilience, and determination. These women—mothers, daughters, grandmothers, leaders—keep their families and communities afloat despite the weight of water scarcity. 

This year, Isla Urbana USA launched our “Women & Water” initiative to connect women across the world. We interviewed three women from water-scarce communities in Mexico City and shared their powerful stories with Isla Urbana USA funders, volunteers, and team members, fostering feminine solidarity across borders. These stories are a powerful reminder of the unbreakable spirit of women everywhere—the way they nurture, lead, and persevere through even the most difficult circumstances. These women take immense pride in their roles, their communities, and their ability to overcome adversity. As María Elena so beautifully told us: 

“Women anywhere in the world are important. I feel very proud to be a woman.” 

Addressing Mexico’s water crisis is not just about improving water access—it’s about restoring dignity, health, and freedom to the women who have carried this burden for far too long. It’s about creating a future where no woman has to choose between survival and self-determination. This International Women’s Day, celebrate their strength, honor their resilience, and help us create a world where water is no longer a burden women must bear alone. 

Photos and video documentation by Celsa Calderoni from Camaroni Producciones.

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