Innovation

Isla Urbana founded in 2009 by Enrique Lomnitz and David Vargas, created “Tlaloque”, their patented rainwater harvesting system. This is the first Mexican product in its type. The organization worried by the water crisis in Mexico City, has centered its efforts in three important aspects, including:

1. Urban Systems: Working in barrios and marginal towns in the south of the city, in which more and more people are required to buy water from pipas (water trucks), paying very high costs for a reduced and irregular supply. (Isla Urbana, 2018)
2. Rural Systems, by giving rural communities the opportunity to have access to water and sanitation. This population has the worst access and the worst shortage in the country. (Isla Urbana, 2018)
3. Creating better water culture, making sure that people understand the challenges of water sustainability, and is actually empowered and prepared to adopt better practices of water uses. (Isla Urbana, 2018)

In this way, Isla Urbana clearly attends the SDGs 6, 11 and 12 by ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all; making cities and human settlements more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable; and ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Inspiration

Inspired by the idea of changing the “water culture”, Isla Urbana focused “not only in the creation of the rainwater harvesting system, but also in the social, educational and cultural aspects”. They emphasized the solution for communities in socio-economical disadvantaged that are now facing water shortages. This issue, in Mexico, has greater dimensions, because millions of people lack decent and secure access to water. Just in Mexico City, more than 250 thousand people live without a connection to the mains network.

And ironically, while the city suffers from increasing scarcity, every year thousands of millions of liters of rainwater are washed down the drain or allowed to cause serious floods. This water, however, could be used, and by the systems developed by Isla Urbana be able to solve part of the crisis.

During the time in Isla Urbana, its President Enrique, has seen how different projects impact not only at the immediate level but in the long run, changing the perspectives and culture of the people. They have been able to work with community associations, schools, health clinics and thousands of households, that learn how to use the water in a more sustainable and responsible form.

Overall impact

Since 2009, Isla Urbana has achieved to install 7,684 rainwater harvesting systems, attending a direct population of 53,788 through Mexico. With this, the company reached 333 million liters of water harvested and 41,625 water delivery trucks (pipas) avoided. (Isla Urbana, 2018)

The rainwater harvesting systems, also have benefits and impact on reducing flooding, decreasing the energy cost that the government uses pumping and transporting water to homes, and releasing the pressure on rivers and aquifers, allowing them to recharge. Because in Mexico City, 70% of the water comes from aquifers directly underneath the city, the extraction has been so extreme that the city has sunk more than 10 meters in the last 100 years. In this way, by harvesting the rain it reduces the amount of water needed to be pumped out and eventually could stop the sinking of the city.

Last but not least, the innovation gives water access to many families that didn’t have this service until now, and reduces their bills by giving water independence for 5-8 months a year.

Business benefit

In the early stages of Isla Urbana, they were focused on the development of the system and in the social scheme in communities. By the support of Ashoka and “Iniciativa Mexico”, the president was able to sustain the first three years of the enterprise. During that time, the organization learned how to make the company profitable and attractive without losing the mission to offer rainwater harvesting systems that produce water of the highest quality.

As part of the strategy to grow, Isla Urbana was required to create a uniform methodology for the types of clients, develop their own patents, create strategic alliances with distributors, and generate a mass media campaign and a campaign of seeking investment. They began with a small team of 5 partners, plus employees, plumbers and researchers, 15 in total; and by now the company have more than 30 people working. They also have developed other products related to water purification systems and water saving devices.

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Social and environmental benefit

Water has become an issue of daily concern. The competent authorities have recognized the problem, but they have been unable to propose profound changes. To achieve sustainability, it is necessary a model of supply and use of water that is in accordance with availability and the natural cycle. The world requires solutions that can supply the population in a more equitable manner, without destroying the aquifers, rivers or ecosystems of which we all depend.

So, in order to achieve, rational, ecological and sustainable water use, it is essential to use the largest and most accessible water resource that is currently wasted: the rain. Hence, harvesting water systems are an interesting solution to create a more sustainable form to use the water in public and private spaces. In Mexico City they have helped to give more and better access to water, reduced the flow of stormwater to the drains, reduced the amount of energy of pumping and transporting water, and reduced the pressure on the rivers and aquifers. Also, the work with communities in water culture, have promoted ecological awareness of the water crisis in children and adults. This initiative has the potential to be used in much more cities and thus help to meet several of the objectives proposed in the SDGs. (Isla Urbana, 2018)

Interview

David Mark Vargas, President and Co-founder

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