Water is central to both of these functions and women remain the drawers of water equally in rural areas and in the urban setting, particularly in poor urban settlements. In urban informal settlements where services are lacking, women very often fill the gap in service provision. Water provision forms a large part of this role. When men are involved in the business of providing water, it often involves the use of some kind of technology, or money. Observe Nairobi, Kenya, at the height of the drought in 2000.
Residents are busy providing or acquiring water.
Women and children, especially girls, spend long hours in long lines waiting for water. They carry the water home in plastic or metal containers which are carried by hands, on heads or on backs. Alternatively, men have large vending enterprises, using water tankers. Medical research has documented cases of permanent damage to women s health attributed to carrying water. Problems range from chronic fatigue, spinal and pelvic deformities to effects on reproductive health such as spontaneous abortions.