MSCR Girls Inc of Greater Madison & the Madison Metropolitan Sewage District are working together on Water Equity
MADISON, WI – This week, more than 315 young leaders from MSCR Girls Inc. of Greater Madison are diving deep into the intersection of environmental stewardship and social justice. In a unique collaboration with the Madison Metropolitan Sewage District, participants are celebrating United Nations World Water Day and Earth Day by exploring the 2026 global theme: “Water & Gender.”
The global water crisis affects everyone, but not equally. In communities lacking safe water and sanitation, women and girls often bear the heaviest burden. To help connect students to this global issue, Madison Metropolitan Sewage District scientists are visiting 21 different MSCR Girls Inc. afterschool clubs this week. These experts are working directly with students to emphasize that when women’s voices, leadership and agency are recognized, water services become more inclusive, sustainable and effective.
“The UN’s phrase for this global day of awareness is, ‘where water flows, equality grows’,” said Catherine Harris, Pollution Prevention Specialist. “By ensuring women and girls have an equal seat at the table in water governance, we aren’t just building better infrastructure; we’re fueling a healthier, more prosperous and gender-equal future that empowers our entire community.”
Leslie Smith, MSCR Girls Inc. Coordinator describes, “To bring these complex global issues to life, participants are creating water collages using recycled materials. These artistic works serve as a visual representation of what water and water equality mean to them, highlighting the need for a transformative, rights-based approach to the water crisis.”
Supported by Girls Inc. of Southeast Wisconsin, this initiative challenges the next generation of leaders to see themselves as the future architects of water solutions. By centering women and girls in the conversation, MSCR and the Madison Metropolitan Sewage District are ensuring that the future of Madison’s water infrastructure is resilient, climate-ready and equitable for all.
About MSCR Girls Inc.
MSCR Girls Inc. of Greater Madison inspires all girls to be strong, smart and bold and takes place at 21 different MSCR Afterschool sites. Through afterschool clubs and intentional programming, Girls Inc. provides life-changing experiences and solutions to the unique challenges girls face. MSCR is Madison’s public recreation department and part of the Madison Metropolitan School District.
About Madison Metropolitan Sewage District
As a regional clean water utility, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District collects, conveys and treats wastewater for 24 Madison-area municipalities and utility districts, recovering valuable resources in the process. Established in 1930 as a municipal corporation to protect the lakes and streams of the upper Yahara watershed, the District’s mission is to protect public health and the environment for about 435,000 residents and businesses it serves. The District treats about 37 million gallons of wastewater daily at the Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant.
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