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==Background==
==Background==
Isla Urbana is dedicated to offering low cost rainwater catchment systems that can easily fit into the domestic piping and tank system all ready existing in most homes.  This project headquarters is located in Mexico City in the Colonia de Cultura Maya, an area that was once shanty towns on the outskirts of the city and had been burned down twice in the 80's by the police who were trying to prevent further growth in the city.  Now a network of schools and cement and brick houses forms the colonia, however they are still some of the last people to receive water from the municipal water supply when the supply is scarce.  People here often go 2 to 3 months without access to water every year.  The quality of water also changes from house to house as piping differences may cause [[grey water]] to be mixed in with clean water from the municipal supply.  Offering access to water is one part is a series of demonstration and outreach projects Isla Urbana spearheads including community [[compost]] and [[Living roofs]].   
Isla Urbana is dedicated to offering low cost [[rainwater harvesting]] systems that can easily fit into the domestic piping and tank system all ready existing in most homes.  This project headquarters is located in [[Mexico City]] in the Colonia de Cultura Maya, an area that was once shanty towns on the outskirts of the city and had been burned down twice in the 80's by the police who were trying to prevent further growth in the city.  Now a network of schools and cement and brick houses forms the colonia, however they are still some of the last people to receive [[water]] from the municipal water supply when the supply is scarce.  People here often go 2 to 3 months without access to [[water]] every year.  The [[water quality]] also changes from house to house as piping differences may cause [[grey water]] to be mixed in with clean water from the municipal supply.  Offering access to water is one part is a series of demonstration and outreach projects Isla Urbana spearheads including community [[compost]] and [[Living roofs]].   


==Approach==
==Approach==
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==Current Opportunities==
==Current Opportunities==


*Isla Urbana made it to the top ten in the '''[http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/  BBC's World Challenge]''' for projects showing enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level to help make a difference and better the world. <br />  
===Isla Urbana made it to the top ten in the '''[http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/  BBC's World Challenge]''' for projects showing enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level to help make a difference and better the world. ===<br />  
'''Vote from September 27th - Nov 12th for Isla Urbana''' <br />
'''Vote from September 27th - Nov 12th for Isla Urbana''' <br />
Winners get 25,000 for future projects and Isla Urbana plans to use this money for improving and greening community spaces on the out skirts of Mexico City, in areas that were previously shanty towns.   
Winners get 25,000 for future projects and Isla Urbana plans to use this money for improving and greening community spaces on the out skirts of Mexico City, in areas that were previously shanty towns.   


*An Internship Program with Isla Urbana is also currently being developed that might include urban gardening and community outreach and green space creation. For more info contact [http://www.facebook.com/islaurbana Isla Urbana].
===Internship===
An Internship Program with Isla Urbana is also currently being developed that might include urban gardening and community outreach and green space creation. For more info contact [http://www.facebook.com/islaurbana Isla Urbana].




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[[Category: Water]]
[[Category: Water]]
[[Category: Rainwater]]
[[Category: Rainwater]]
[[CAtegory: Rainwater harvesting]]
[[Category: Urban Agriculture]]
[[Category: Urban Agriculture]]

Revision as of 19:37, 21 September 2010

Logo-Isla-urbana-facebook-2dark.jpg


Intro

Isla Urbana is a nonprofit working in Mexico City as well as in other areas of Mexico to improve water quality and water accessibility to people who have no access to clean water. They coordinate efforts with different communities to build local capacity and local jobs for designing and building rainwater catchment systems around Mexico. They provide design assistance, training to plumbers, and provide parts for the rainwater harvesting systems. They've installed about a 100 systems so far and they are receiving funding for 1,000 more systems in Mexico. They work as a part of IRRI, who also has a for-profit part called Solucion Pluvial, which sells rainwater harvesting systems to those who can afford it and the extra profits from Solucion Pluvial goes towards the non-profit, Isla Urbana's, projects.

Background

Isla Urbana is dedicated to offering low cost rainwater harvesting systems that can easily fit into the domestic piping and tank system all ready existing in most homes. This project headquarters is located in Mexico City in the Colonia de Cultura Maya, an area that was once shanty towns on the outskirts of the city and had been burned down twice in the 80's by the police who were trying to prevent further growth in the city. Now a network of schools and cement and brick houses forms the colonia, however they are still some of the last people to receive water from the municipal water supply when the supply is scarce. People here often go 2 to 3 months without access to water every year. The water quality also changes from house to house as piping differences may cause grey water to be mixed in with clean water from the municipal supply. Offering access to water is one part is a series of demonstration and outreach projects Isla Urbana spearheads including community compost and Living roofs.

Approach

  • Teaches and Trains through private courses that are open to the public
  • Actively install with resources from grants and time dedicated from Isla Urbana
  • Supervision of Installation by trained local community members

Committees formed by the communities they work in handle the money from urban municipalities and hire Isla Urbana to train plumbers and supervise. Then the committee buys components from [www.solucionpluvial.com Solucion Pluvial], the for profit sister organization, and pays the plumbers for system installation. Maintenance and aftercare are done by community members.

Projects

  • Community compost
  • Rooftop Garden

Current Opportunities

===Isla Urbana made it to the top ten in the BBC's World Challenge for projects showing enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level to help make a difference and better the world. ===
Vote from September 27th - Nov 12th for Isla Urbana
Winners get 25,000 for future projects and Isla Urbana plans to use this money for improving and greening community spaces on the out skirts of Mexico City, in areas that were previously shanty towns.

Internship

An Internship Program with Isla Urbana is also currently being developed that might include urban gardening and community outreach and green space creation. For more info contact Isla Urbana.

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