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  • Agua Segura

A Personal Bet and a Bet on Water-Agua Segura

By Catalina Deluchi, VP and Business Development Director at Agua Segura

For a large part of my professional life, I was linked to the corporate and marketing world. There, I learned the importance of strategy, innovation, efficiency, and brand value. However, as time passed, I began to feel that something was missing: I needed my work to also leave a positive mark on society and the planet.

This personal process led me to look closely at the great challenges of our time, and one of them moved me profoundly: the water crisis. Water is not just a natural resource: it is the foundation of life, health, food production, energy, and communities. Yet, we are facing an alarming scenario: by 2030, water demand could exceed availability by 40%. This projection jeopardizes global water security and requires urgent solutions.

In 2019, I began my journey with Agua Segura, a triple-impact company that designs and implements projects related to water access and sanitation in vulnerable communities. In 2022, I decided to take a further step: becoming a partner. This decision marked a before and after, not only professionally but also personally. Because investing in water is not philanthropy: it is a bet on the future. It is understanding that business competitiveness, economic stability, and community well-being largely depend on how we manage this vital resource.

The companies of the future must have sustainability incorporated into their DNA, and water will be a transversal focus. Without water, there is no health, development, or innovation possible. Water conservation and the promotion of sustainable water management strategies are an urgent necessity today, involving both the public and private sectors. In fact, many community water projects—including those linked to WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)—demonstrate that generating positive impact is possible when working collaboratively.

For me, this decision is also deeply personal. It is choosing to align my values with my actions. It is trusting that from our respective places—whether as individuals, companies, or society—we can make a difference. It is also, like many women who now lead impact projects, betting on a more integrating, collaborative, and transformative vision.

One of the most powerful lessons from these years has been understanding that no project can have a real impact unless it is built from the territory, together with those who live there. At Agua Segura, we are clear about this: we work hand-in-hand with local allies, communities, and governments to identify opportunities, design adapted solutions, and ensure that the impact is lasting. This is the key to ensuring that projects are not merely interventions, but real transformations in water access and sanitation.

I also learned that challenges are not faced with prefabricated recipes, but with active listening, empathy, and co-creation. The response to water scarcity, source pollution, and lack of infrastructure requires multiple approaches: from the restoration of aquatic ecosystems and aquifer recharge, to the use of sustainable technologies and the strengthening of local capacities.

This path has not been easy. Venturing and leading in the water world involves overcoming structural barriers, cultural resistance, and, often, a lack of reliable data and information. But it also means being part of an increasingly strong network of individuals, companies, and organizations committed to change.

Today, I am proud to be part of Agua Segura and to contribute my experience to a mission I fully share: building local and sustainable solutions to one of the most pressing crises of our time. And I do so with the certainty that every effort, every alliance, and every project we implement is a seed that grows. A seed that carries not only water, but also health, dignity, equality, and opportunity.

The bet on water is, ultimately, a bet on life.

For more information check https://aguasegura.com/blog/

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Opinion note

Less than 1% of the planet’s water is fit for human consumption: why water security is one of the greatest global challenges

We live on a planet covered in water. However, that image is deeply misleading.

Of the total water on Earth, about 97% is salt water, and nearly another 2% is trapped in glaciers and polar ice caps. This leaves less than 1% of freshwater available to supply more than eight billion people, sustain food production, cities, industry, and ecosystems.

That margin was already extremely limited. Today, it is under increasing pressure due to rising demand, watershed degradation, and the increasingly visible effects of climate change. In many territories, the problem is no longer just about how much water exists, but whether it is possible to access that essential resource in a safe, continuous, and sustainable way.

This context makes water security one of the primary global challenges of the 21st century.

🌍 The water crisis: a global problem with local impacts

The water crisis does not manifest the same way in every territory. In some places, it appears as extreme scarcity; in others, as contamination, supply interruptions, or inequality in access. But in all cases, it has a common denominator: increasing pressure on already fragile water systems.

Population growth, accelerated urbanization, and the intensification of productive uses have steadily increased the demand for water. Added to this is the degradation of watersheds—deforestation, soil loss, overexploitation of aquifers—and the impacts of climate change, which alter precipitation patterns and increase the frequency of droughts and floods.

In this scenario, guaranteeing safe water cannot be limited to simply increasing supply. It requires better management of that scarce 1% available by protecting sources, reducing losses, improving water quality, and strengthening local capacities for long-term sustainable management.

💧 From global diagnosis to territorial action

While the problem is global, solutions are always built at the local level, within the watershed. This is where it is decided how water is captured, distributed, used, and protected. That is why at Agua Segura, we work with a territorial approach, developing projects that combine infrastructure, technology, education, and community work.

🇧🇷 Brazil: access to safe water in contexts of urban vulnerability

In Rio de Janeiro, alongside Microsoft, we developed a project in the Vila Beira Mar community, where access to water was not stably guaranteed. In this context, water insecurity directly impacted the health, education, and quality of life of families.

The project included:

  • The installation of 15 community reservoirs.
  • The expansion of the distribution network with home connections for 70 families.
  • The delivery of 200 family water filters, as well as filters for schools and community centers.

These actions, carried out together with TETO Brasil, improved water availability and quality for more than 3,250 people while strengthening community management of the resource. In territories where every supply interruption has immediate consequences, guaranteeing safe water means reducing health risks and opening opportunities for development.

🇨🇱 Chile: safe water in a context of structural drought

In Chile, the central zone faces structural water scarcity, worsened by more than a decade of prolonged drought. In this context, access to drinking water and the reliability of existing systems become critical challenges, especially in rural communities.

Through Microsoft’s Water Positive program, we developed projects in Colina and Curacaví in collaboration with Rural Drinking Water (APR) cooperatives. The goal was to generate new water sources and improve their quality while strengthening local resource management.

The results include:

  • An estimated volumetric benefit of 4,500 m³ of water per year.
  • Direct impact on nearly 5,000 people.
  • Improvements in 14 schools.
  • WASH workshops to promote the safe and responsible use of water in drought contexts.

These projects demonstrate that water security depends not only on infrastructure but also on education, governance, and community participation.

🌎 Latin America: scalable solutions together with GRUNDFOS

A similar approach is applied to the projects we develop with GRUNDFOS in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina. Since 2020, these water access initiatives have reached more than 50,000 people through the implementation of 830 solutions, including:

  • Family filters.
  • Community dispensers.
  • Rainwater harvesting systems.
  • Improvements in storage and distribution.

In these contexts, every liter of safe water available has a direct impact on the health, education, and economic opportunities of communities. The scale of the challenge demands adaptable solutions that are always designed based on local reality.

🔄 Beyond volume: how water security is built

These projects show that the water crisis is not just a matter of global volume. Reducing losses, improving quality, bringing water closer to those who cannot access it, and strengthening local capacities are actions that make a difference when the resource is so limited.

Talking about water security implies:

  • Protecting and restoring watersheds.
  • Improving efficiency in productive uses.
  • Implementing nature-based solutions.
  • Committing to long-term investments with measurable impact.

When the available margin is less than 1%, every decision counts. The way we manage water today defines not only current access but the resilience of the water systems that future generations will depend on.

🌱 A shared challenge

Water does not belong to a single organization, sector, or territory. It is a shared, interconnected, and vulnerable resource. Therefore, building sustainable water security requires collaboration between communities, companies, governments, and civil society organizations.

At Agua Segura, we work to ensure that every project contributes to strengthening the entire system, from the watershed to the global stage. Because when it comes to water, sustainability is not an option: it is a condition for the future.

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Opinion note

A Year of Learning, Impact, and Vision: Highlights from 2025 at Agua Segura

We are closing out a 2025 that challenged us on multiple levels: environmental, economic, and social. It was a year that pushed us to adapt, to make difficult strategic decisions, to be creative in our execution, and, above all, to reaffirm our commitment to water security and the communities we support. Every project deployed, every community strengthened, and every step forward toward equitable access to safe water, water governance, and watershed health demonstrated that the path we have chosen is the right one.

Adaptation, Strategy, and Tangible Results

This year demanded more from us than ever: creativity, resilience, and operational excellence. Climate change and its consequences—ranging from extreme droughts to unpredictable weather events—driven us to rethink our approaches and prioritize solutions tailored to the local context.

We adjusted our strategies, optimized resources, and most importantly: we learned. We learned to look beyond the short term, to strengthen ties with communities, to further professionalize our processes, and to build indicators that reflect the true impact of our work. As a result, we achieved greater operational capacity, stronger teams, and a clearer vision for the future.

Projects that Left a Mark

Throughout 2025, we implemented community water projects focused on access, resource quality, and sustainability. From filtration and water treatment technologies in rural schools to watershed conservation actions, every initiative was designed alongside local partners and with the active participation of the communities.

We also expanded our work in WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), integrating education, infrastructure, and community engagement to achieve lasting changes in habits and sanitary conditions.

Innovation with Purpose

Innovation was a cross-cutting pillar of our work. In 2025, we accelerated the use of technological tools for water quality monitoring, developed more efficient aquifer recharge processes, and delved deeper into nature-based solutions as a response to the water crisis.

Additionally, we incorporated new processes for sustainable water management, traceability, and impact assessment—all of which are key to building projects that truly improve people’s lives.

Partnerships as the Engine of Change

None of this would be possible without our collaboration ecosystem. In 2025, we strengthened our alliances with local governments, foundations, companies, and social organizations. We share a common vision with them: that access to safe water is not just a necessity, but a fundamental human right and a vital tool for development.

Challenges brought us together, and thanks to that mutual trust, we were able to respond faster, implement more efficiently, and generate a greater impact.

Looking Ahead to 2026: A Clear Vision, a Renewed Commitment

We know that 2026 will bring new challenges. But it also finds us better prepared. In this upcoming year, we will:

  • Scale our impact to reach more rural and urban communities.
  • Strengthen our alliances across all sectors.
  • Accelerate innovation, especially in low-cost, high-effectiveness projects.
  • Continue building trust and transparency with those who support us.

We are driven by the conviction that we build comprehensive water solutions with high social, environmental, and economic value—solutions that adapt to the context and can be sustained over time.

To Those Who Walk Alongside Us

To our team, our partners, the communities we work with, and every person who believes in our purpose: thank you for being a part of this journey.

Impact is built together, with vision, commitment, and action.

Happy New Year!

🎥 Watch our 2025 video recap

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Opinion note

Agua Segura Receives the “New Business Paradigm” Award at AmCham Argentina’s Corporate Citizenship Awards

Ensuring access to safe water in educational and rural communities is a task that requires innovation, alliances, and a deep social commitment. This sustained work has been recognized with one of the most important awards in the country: the “New Business Paradigm” Award in the 2025 edition of the Corporate Citizenship Award (Premio Ciudadanía Empresaria – PCE), organized by AmCham Argentina.

This recognition distinguishes organizations that integrate profitability, sustainability, and social impact, driving business models that contribute to a regenerative economy. For Agua Segura, receiving this award in the year we celebrate our first decade of work is a milestone that validates our mission and reaffirms our commitment to sustainable development in Latin America.

An Award that Recognizes a Model of Comprehensive Impact

The Corporate Citizenship Award (PCE) is one of AmCham’s most prestigious initiatives and a benchmark for corporate sustainability in Argentina and the region.

Since its creation in 1999, the program has received over 2,100 nominations and distinguished more than 170 companies, becoming a standard for measuring the maturity and evolution of practices related to social responsibility, environmental impact, and sustainable innovation.

The “New Business Paradigm” award celebrates those organizations that manage to integrate in a balanced way:

  • Direct and measurable social impact,
  • Sustainable economic results,
  • Responsible environmental management,
  • Scalability and innovation,
  • Business model with a regenerative vision.

For Agua Segura, this recognition confirms that it is possible to build sustainable solutions that transform realities, generate shared value, and promote equitable access to safe drinking water.

A Decade Promoting Access to Safe Water and Education

Over the last 10 years, Agua Segura has developed a comprehensive model that combines water purification technology, community education, and intersectoral articulation. Our approach is not limited to installing solutions but works on four fundamental pillars:

  1. Appropriate and Sustainable Technology: We design and install safe water access solutions adapted to schools, rural communities, and organizations. We prioritize technologies with low maintenance, high efficiency, and a long lifespan.
  2. Education and Training: We train teachers, students, and families to promote hygiene habits, water care, and responsible consumption. Education is an essential component for long-term sustainability.
  3. Public-Private Articulation: We work with companies, governments, educational institutions, and community organizations to generate scalable and replicable initiatives.
  4. Measurable Impact: Every intervention includes clear metrics linked to access, health, school attendance, reduction of waterborne diseases, and community strengthening.

This ecosystem allows us to bring concrete solutions to thousands of people every year, always guided by SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, one of the most urgent challenges on the global agenda.

What Does This Award Represent for Agua Segura?

Being recognized in the “New Business Paradigm” category means that our work is integrated within an emerging vision of regenerative business, where organizations not only seek to reduce negative impacts but also to create positive and sustainable impacts over time. For our organization, this award represents:

  • Institutional validation of the impact model.
  • Greater visibility within the ecosystem of companies, foundations, and institutions committed to sustainability.
  • Opening up new strategic alliances at a national and regional level.
  • Recognition of the work of the team, communities, and allies who make every project possible.

Celebrating our tenth anniversary with this award marks a turning point in our history. It drives us to continue developing innovative initiatives, strengthening alliances, and expanding our reach so that more schools, families, and communities can access safe water.

A Vision Towards the Future: Regenerative Economy and Sustainable Solutions:

AmCham’s recognition highlights the importance of building models based on the regenerative economy, a vision in which businesses:

  • Restore, not just preserve.
  • Generate social and environmental well-being.
  • Create sustainable and measurable value.
  • Operate in collaboration with multiple sectors.

Agua Segura will continue to promote projects that integrate technology, education, and articulation to transform the present and build a future where access to safe water is a reality for everyone.

Our Commitment Continues:

This award is not a finishing point, but a new impetus to continue building solutions that promote health, education, and sustainable development throughout the region. We deeply thank AmCham Argentina and all the people, schools, communities, companies, and partners who are part of Agua Segura’s journey. We move forward, with the conviction that access to safe water changes lives.

📸 Media Coverage Our recognition at the Corporate Citizenship Awards was highlighted in important national media outlets:ards was highlighted in important national media outlets:

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Opinion note

Less than 1% of the planet’s water is fit for human consumption: why water security is one of the greatest global challenges

Read more

Opinion note

A Year of Learning, Impact, and Vision: Highlights from 2025 at Agua Segura

Read more

Opinion note

Agua Segura Receives the “New Business Paradigm” Award at AmCham Argentina’s Corporate Citizenship Awards

Read more