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The project contributes to water autonomy and promotes socio-environmental justicewhich makes the community very happy, and raises awareness about the responsible use of this vital liquid.
“It generates a lot for us because, here, as it is a canal area, we did not have (drinking) water. It's going to be for the soccer field. It will help us water them and for the water that the children will also drink. It's going to help us a lot,” says Karen Castillo, sports coach at Club Acalli.
“We must take care of the water, since we are running out and I think more about my son or his children,” said Ariana Mendoza, mother of a child who attends soccer classes at the same club.
Xochimilco is an emblematic place recognized for its canals and chinampas, ancient artificial farming islands built by the Aztecs. Its importance lies in being a living vestige of pre-Hispanic agricultural techniques and preserving unique cultural traditionssuch as the use of trajineras (traditional boats) and the production of flowers and vegetables.
Xochimilco was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1987, in recognition of its cultural and historical value, as well as the need to preserve this unique and vital ecosystem for Mexico City.
Girls and boys from the town of Xochimilco training soccer at the Acalli Club, in Xochimilco, Mexico City.
Uneven water distribution
Every year, the problem of water scarcity worsens in Mexico. Despite being the fifth country with the highest water consumption per inhabitant in the world, according to UN Habitatunequal distribution and Lack of efficient water resource management poses significant challenges.
Only 14% of the water available in Mexico is intended for human consumption, while 76% is used in agriculture, 5% in thermoelectric plants, and 5% in industry, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).
This imbalance has caused inequality and social protests. The crisis is seen worsened by climate change, which has reduced the availability of water and intensified phenomena such as droughts. Furthermore, the overexploitation of aquifers and the lack of effective measures for their management worsen the situation.
In 2022, the state of Nuevo León experienced daily water outages due to shortages, affecting its residents and industry. And in Mexico City, significant rationing is expected for the year 2028 if urgent measures are not taken, an even more discouraging outlook for areas like Xochimilco.
Panoramic of the Acalli Club, in Xochimilco, Mexico City.
Water for peace: a call for all people
The Isla Urbana project is aligned with the motto of the World Water Day 2024 (March 22): “Water for Peace”.
“With this system, we are not only providing clean water for girls and boys' sports activities, but we are also promoting peace and equity. Access to water is a fundamental human right, and by providing it in a sustainable way we are setting the standards foundations for a more stable and prosperous future,” said Vera.
“Water can create peace or trigger conflict,” says the UN's key message for this year. Cooperating on water is essential to promote harmony, generate prosperity and build resilience in the face of common challenges.
More than three billion people around the world depend on water resources that cross national borders, underscoring the need for cooperation agreements to ensure equitable access to water.
Rainwater collection in Xochimilco promotes socio-environmental justice
