Catalyzing the widespread adoption of rainwater harvesting in Mexico City

The Isla Urbana (IU) project seeks to ‘detonate’ adoption of rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems by Mexican households as a response to the water crisis. By installing these systems in households, a sustainable water source is secured that directly benefits the families involved. When greater numbers of houses begin harvesting rainwater, their collective reduction in demand and greatly increased self-sufficiency builds resilience into the community and the city as it faces shortages from conventional sources. IU designs systems that take advantage of certain idiosyncratic characteristics of Mexico City’s houses that allows for very effective RWH at low costs. It has been based since its founding in a low income, water scarce area of the city and has developed much of its work there. Constant close contact with the systems and their users has provided a living research and development lab where ideas and