Cox to Build US$304 Million Desalination Facility for CONAGUA

Cox secured a US$304 million contract with CONAGUA to build the Rosarito desalination plant in Baja California. The three-year project will supply 190 million L of drinking water daily to one million residents across Playas de Rosarito and southwestern Tijuana. In other news, Mexico lost approximately 293,000 air passengers in June 2026 compared to the same month last year, marking the largest contraction among Latin America’s top three markets. Despite expectations of a tourism surge from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, official figures show a distinct cooling in air travel demand across the country.

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Cox Wins US$304 Million Contract for Rosarito Desalination Plant

Cox has secured a US$304 million contract with Mexico’s National Water Commission (CONAGUA) to construct the Rosarito desalination plant in Baja California. The award mandates the engineering, specialized equipment procurement, and construction of an initial facility capable of treating 2,200L/s, supplying approximately 190 million L of potable water daily to municipal distribution networks. The infrastructure will provide an independent drinking water source for one million residents across Playas de Rosarito and southwestern Tijuana, with construction scheduled to run over a three-year execution timeframe between August 2026 and July 2029.

Trash Bins and the Hidden Tax of Institutional Retreat

Guillermo Bernal, Executive Director, The Place Institute, argues that the widespread disappearance of basic public infrastructure, such as municipal trash bins on Mexico City’s Paseo de la Reforma, exposes a critical failure of state capacity. When institutions withdraw from maintaining ordinary urban spaces, they shift the burden of public services onto private citizens and businesses, effectively raising operating costs and worsening civic inequality.

Mexico Fire Safety Rules Urged as Urban Fires Cost US$1.7 Billion

Unregulated urban fires generate real economic losses of up to MX$35 billion (US$1.7 billion) annually in Mexico, driven by a lack of standardized national regulations, inadequate municipal infrastructure, and widespread property underinsurance, according to industry leaders.

Dogs and Safety: Is the Condesa Neighborhood Effect Replicable?

Federico de Arteaga Vidiella, President, Ibero-American Network of Smart Tourist Destinations, argues that urban safety relies less on physical infrastructure than on the presence of stable residents who maintain daily neighborhood routines. Using Mexico City's Parque Mexico as a case study, he explains that while informal surveillance, such as dog-walking, reduces street crime, its effectiveness depends on local trust and permanent residency rather than transient tourist activity.

Sustainable Mortgages: How to Value Green Housing

Javier Abeljón, CEO, Tasvalúo, states that integrating sustainability into residential mortgage financing requires rigorous, standardized data and objective property valuations. By training appraisers to capture key indicators like energy efficiency and water conservation, the real estate valuation industry provides the essential data financial institutions need to offer preferential lending for sustainable homes.

Mexico Loses 293,000 Air Passengers as US Demand Cools

Mexico lost the highest volume of air passengers among the three largest markets in Latin America in June 2026, dropping approximately 293,000 travelers compared to the same month last year. Despite expectations of an international tourist surge driven by the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, official figures show a distinct cooling in air travel demand to and from the country.