Water and Gender

The global water crisis affects everyone, but not equally. Women and girls are disproportionately impacted. Globally, more than 1 billion women lack access to safely managed drinking water services. This disturbing fact speaks to the structural framework of patriarchal inequality that persists in accessing safe and potable water. The ideology of patriarchy has numerous manifestations. As a result, women are often absent from those decisions where water access and management are discussed. The United Nations (UN) states that in 53 countries with available data, women and girls spend 250 million hours per day on water collection over three times more than men and boys. Access to water is a basic human right. Yet, the world continues to turn a blind eye. There is a critical relationship between access to water, gender equality and sustainable development. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene are responsible for the deaths of around 1,000 children under five daily. Water can be a powerful force for gender equality but only if everyone plays their part. Individuals, schools, organizations, companies and governments all have a role to play to ensure that where water flows, equality increases. It is against this background that the international community observes World Water Day annually on March 22. World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2.1 billion people living without access to safe water. As the world pauses to commemorate one of the most basic yet increasingly scarce resources: water, World Water Day 2026 is being observed with the powerful theme "Water and Gender." This year, the focus goes beyond conservation and scarcity, putting a spotlight on how water access is deeply associated with gender inequality. The 2026 campaign highlights the critical role of water in advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls, who often disproportionately manage and collect water. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. Water and Gender. The time to tackle the global water crisis is now. Across many Caribbean households, women are responsible for managing water use, supporting family health, and sustaining food production roles that become more demanding as water scarcity increases. Yet despite being a practical gender need and right issue, and the central role they play in productive and community management, women have historically been underrepresented in water governance, technical planning, and decision-making spaces. Water is a vital source of employment both directly and indirectly. Yet, women remain an untapped source for the water industry. A report from the World Bank states that only 1 in 5 utility employees are female. Unfortunately, some employers still view the employment of women as unproductive and bad for business. It is obvious that more discourse is needed concerning the impact of gender on access to safe and potable water services. A more consultative approach is desirable which should include utility companies and trade unions to analyze women’s labor force participation in the water sector with the aim to close data gaps on female representation in water jobs. The increasing challenges associated with climate change will unquestionably impact how we view gender and water. In order to ensure all voices are heard, women must be equitably represented at all levels of water leadership. Additionally, a transformative and gender responsive approach is required to solve the global water crisis. Water is life. Where water flows, equality grows. Undoubtedly, in situations where women and girls have equal voice in water decisions, services become more inclusive, sustainable and effective. It is time for global action where access to safe water and sanitation are recognized as human rights and essential enablers of gender equality. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo ©