Mitigating the Health and Socioeconomic Impacts of Water Intermittency in Mexico

With climate change and aquifer depletion, water scarcity is becoming an urgent global issue. Traditional binary measures of water access, such as piped water availability, are inadequate to capture the growing issue of intermittent water supply (IWS), which affects about one billion people, primarily in low- and middle-income countries. This project aimed to document the patterns and effects of IWS on health, gender, and economic inequality in Mexico by collaborating with the Mexican National Institute of Public Health (INSP). Leveraging the Mexican National Survey of Health and Nutrition (ENSANUT), the project generated and analyzed quantitative data, complemented by qualitative insights from previous ethnographic studies. The project's primary goal was to develop a comprehensive understanding of how IWS impacts chronic diseases, domestic labor, and economic status, informing policies for equitable water distribution. This partnership aimed to place IWS on the public health agenda and provide a model for addressing this issue globally as water shortages intensify.