Together for a Future with Water

At Aguas Firmes we believe in a possible future, a future with water. That is why we reaffirm our commitment to meeting our objectives: saving water and naturally infiltrating it into our aquifers in Calera, Zacatecas, and Apan, Hidalgo.

We still have time to make changes that lead us to achieve the shared goals of farmers, industry, governments, and the community at large. We all need water.

We are aware of the problem facing our aquifers: resources are being used indiscriminately, and the rate at which aquifers recharge is slower. We are in a race in which, if we do not act now, the accelerated use of resources will win and aquifer recharge will be left behind.

We also know that most of the water from our aquifers goes to the agricultural sector [76% of water is used for agriculture]. That is why at Aguas Firmes we get to work, putting science at the service of the field by adopting sustainable agricultural practices, modernized irrigation systems, and nature-based conservation works that allow greater infiltration of water into our aquifers and considerable savings in the water used for agricultural irrigation.

Learn about the actions for water that we are implementing at Aguas Firmes (results as of December 2021)

Conservation agriculture

This sustainable farming practice seeks to conserve soils, save water, and reduce farmers' production costs. In the Aguas Firmes project, we have more than 959 hectares under conservation agriculture (600 in Calera, Zacatecas, and 359 in Apan, Hidalgo), with visible results and 79 farmers who have benefited from and are satisfied with these sustainable practices.

Want to learn more about conservation agriculture? Visit our blog

Modernized irrigation system

There are several ways of bringing water to the fields, such as furrow irrigation, in which water is released along furrows and reaches each plant by gravity, or sprinkler irrigation, which imitates rainfall. However, these irrigation methods have drawbacks such as soil erosion and water evaporation, which make these systems unsustainable.

In the Aguas Firmes project, through our implementing partners, we have modernized the irrigation systems of 604.5 hectares by installing drip irrigation, which delivers water to the plants' roots through a system of pipes and drippers, achieving savings of between 40 and 50%. This system also makes it possible to apply fertilizer directly, without wasting product or time.

Do you know what nature-based solutions are?

They are conservation works used to rehabilitate the soil and to capture, store, and infiltrate water into the aquifers. Below, we tell you about the works we are carrying out in the Aguas Firmes project:

Stone barriers

These are small stone barriers or walls placed along the contour of sloping land so that the intensity of rainfall does not exceed infiltration. In other words, they reduce the force of water runoff, allowing it to be absorbed into the subsoil.

At Aguas Firmes we have built 5,924 and 18,836 meters of stone barriers in Calera, Zacatecas, and Apan, Hidalgo, respectively.

Reforestation

Reforestation helps water infiltrate into the subsoil, prevents land erosion, regulates the climate, and strengthens the area's biodiversity. Through reforestation works we are able to rehabilitate degraded soil.

In 2021 we planted 170,924 native plants in Calera and Apan (20,924 and 150,000, respectively).

Gabion dam

Gabions are rectangular structures of galvanized wire filled with stones, forming large "boxes" that are stacked on top of one another to create a large structure that serves as a dam. This conservation work acts as a barrier that temporarily holds back the water flow; part of the water infiltrates into the subsoil and the rest filters through the gabion structure. The aim of this conservation work is to slow runoff, prevent soil displacement, and contribute to infiltration and aquifer recharge.

In 2021, 39 gabion dams were built: 24 in Calera, Zacatecas, and 15 in Apan, Hidalgo.

Contour bunds

With this conservation practice, trenches are laid out and dug to capture water, preventing soil from being carried away by currents. They help infiltration into the aquifers and moisture retention in the land, making reforestation with native species possible.

At Aguas Firmes, we have built 14,042 meters of contour bunds or trench bunds in Calera, Zacatecas, and 500 meters in Apan, Hidalgo.

Water bodies

These are depressions in the land that are adapted to function as a catchment area for rainwater and runoff.

At Aguas Firmes we have created 9 water bodies in Calera, Zacatecas, and desilted 6,612 m3 in Apan, Hidalgo.

Gully head control

A gully is a hollow or ditch formed naturally by the action of flowing water. Gully head control consists of filling the depression with stones or dead organic material, thereby stopping its growth caused by water currents.

In the Aguas Firmes project, 5,063 cubic meters of gullies have been filled in Calera, Zacatecas.

In addition to these works, we also take action with:

• A nursery (Apan, Hidalgo) where 120,000 plants are in production

• Training for communities to share knowledge about the care and management of their territories (18 in Calera, Zacatecas, and 87 in Apan, Hidalgo)

• An environmental management crew where what is learned in the training sessions is put into practice (1 in Apan, Hidalgo)

• Cleanup and sanitation of land and water bodies (Calera, Zacatecas)

We still have a long way to go to reach our objectives, and together, as community, government, industry, and farmers, we will achieve our goal.

Together we keep working for a future with Water.

Tags: Conservation works, Water conservation, Water