FEMSA Improves Water Access in Tabasco’s Schools

As part of the national Escuelas con Agua (Schools with Water) program, Fundación Coca-Cola Mexico, Coca-Cola FEMSA, and the Industria Mexicana de Coca-Cola (IMCC), in partnership with Rotoplas and Isla Urbana, inaugurated the installation of rainwater harvesting systems in three public schools in Teapa, Tabasco. The initiative aims to reduce the water access gap for students across Mexico.

The launch event was attended by state officials, including Miguel Ángel Contreras, municipal president of Teapa, representatives from participating organizations, and members of the beneficiary school communities. Attendees emphasized the importance of guaranteeing the right to water in school environments and improving hygiene conditions for students.

One of the schools benefiting from the program is Primaria “Prof. Alberto Correa Zapata,” located in an area that relies on a spring and a pumping system. The installed system in this school has a rainwater collection capacity of up to 331,560L, serving 153 students and teachers.

Primaria “27 de septiembre” was equipped with a system capable of harvesting 157,080L of rainwater, benefiting 143 members of the school community. Previously, these students had to suspend classes or bring water from home to meet basic needs. The third school, Primaria “Profra. Rosaura Pedrero Medina,” received a system with a capacity of 128,806L, directly aiding 120 students.

“With these actions, we reaffirm our dedication to Mexican children and the communities where we operate. In a country where over 17,000 public schools lack potable water, affecting more than 3.4 million students, ensuring safe water access is essential for quality education and the health of future generations,” says Claudia Fernández, Corporate and Government Affairs Manager Tabasco, Coca-Cola FEMSA.

Ana Paula Mejorada, Director of Schools, Isla Urbana, stressed the role of education and community participation in driving sustainable water access. “Through Escuelas con Agua, school communities promote water care and autonomy via environmental education and rainwater harvesting, improving life quality and education for thousands of children and youth across Mexico.”

The Escuelas con Agua initiative, launched in 2021, seeks to provide nature-based clean and disinfected water access to mitigate supply issues in Mexican schools. To date, over 700 rainwater harvesting systems have been installed in basic and upper-secondary public schools nationwide. Each system can collect between 500,000L and 1 million L annually, offering continuous supply during rainy seasons and storage options during droughts.