We present a water and environmental sustainability project in the community of Villa Nueva, in the municipality of San Juan Lalana, Mexico, benefiting 120 households. The initiative is funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and implemented by the foundation, with the aim of improving sustainable access to water and sanitation in rural communities in Oaxaca.

The initiative is positioned as one of the most relevant projects in Mexico under AECID's Ecological Transition Program (PROTEC).

The event was attended by institutional representatives and partner organizations, including Ignacio A. Nicolau Ibarra, General Coordinator of Spanish Cooperation at AECID Mexico; Ana Calvo Langdon, Project Manager at AECID Mexico; Sinai Casillas Cano, Undersecretary of Environmental Policy and Renewable Energies of the Government of Oaxaca; Cristina Ruiz Martínez, Director of the acciona.org Foundation; and Enrique Toledo Toledo, acciona.org Manager in Mexico.

During the visit, progress achieved across the different components of the project was shared. The project aims to contribute to a just climate adaptation in Villa Nueva through sustainable water management and ecosystem protection, strengthening community resilience and improving access to safe water and sanitation for 480 people.

“This project in Villa Nueva reflects our commitment to comprehensive solutions that not only address a basic need for these families, but also strengthen community development and long-term environmental resilience. To achieve this, the acciona.org Foundation works closely with the community and local authorities to ensure that access to water is a dignified and sustainable reality over time," said Cristina Ruiz Martínez, Director of the acciona.org Foundation.

For his part, Ignacio A. Nicolau Ibarra stated: “At AECID, we are convinced that international cooperation is key to driving transformative projects that combine innovation, sustainability, and community participation. The inauguration of this drinking water system is an important step toward a better quality of life for the families of San Juan Lalana."

The solution implemented combines small-scale supply networks, rainwater harvesting and filtration systems, and community storage tanks, creating a resilient model adapted to local conditions.

The project is based on a comprehensive vision of water management, beginning with the sanitation of natural water sources and complemented by innovative solutions. These include double-chamber dry toilets that, through safe composting processes, transform waste into fertilizer for household and community gardens, promoting a circular and sustainable approach.

In addition to improving access to water, complementary actions are being carried out, such as reforestation with native species in water recharge areas, the implementation of backyard gardens for organic production, the installation of household water purification filters, and the treatment of graywater through green filtration systems.

The day concluded with a participatory program in which young people, women, and the local water committee shared testimonials about the project's impact on their daily lives. A mural highlighting water conservation, created by children from the community, was also unveiled.