Today (8th March) is International Women’s Day. The theme of this year’s upcoming World Water Day (22nd March) is ‘Water & Gender’, so today we think about all the women and girls in the world who carry water for their families, missing education and opportunities. Where water flows, equality grows.
This year, we spoke to the Chair of the Socio-Hydrogeology Network (SHN), Viviana Re:
“Groundwater is a vital freshwater source, sustaining drinking water supplies, agriculture, and livelihoods worldwide. Yet when we look at groundwater from the perspective of employment and opportunity, a clear gender gap emerges. While women are central to water provision, use, management, and household water security, they remain underrepresented in formal groundwater careers, including hydrogeology, irrigation services, and water governance.
Bridging groundwater and gender through equitable water employment is essential for building sustainable and inclusive water systems. Expanding women’s access to technical training, listening to their voices and promoting their leadership within groundwater institutions not only advances equality but also strengthens innovation and the integration of vital local water knowledge. Transforming unpaid and informal water responsibilities into safe, skilled, and fairly compensated jobs is a crucial step toward sustainable development.
World Water Day 2026 is a call for actions to all: invest in groundwater, create equitable water jobs, and empower women as leaders in water security. A resilient future depends on what we protect below ground and who we empower above it.”
