BBVA Reports Advances on Innovative Water Efficiency Projects

BBVA Mexico has concluded the second edition of its National Sustainability Challenge, “Mexico: United for Water,” which allocated a total of MX$7 million (US$410,000) to support early-stage projects aimed at addressing the country’s water crisis. The program is designed to mitigate water scarcity by funding innovative solutions at early development stages and enabling them to be tested in real-world environments.

The challenge is promoted by BBVA Mexico in partnership with the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and the Tecnológico de Monterrey through the UNAM-TEC Research, Technology Transfer, and Entrepreneurship Consortium. “Through this initiative, we created an ecosystem where entrepreneurs, scientists, and researchers channeled their talent toward a shared goal: developing innovative, scalable solutions with high impact potential for water preservation, use and sanitation in Mexico,” says Ricardo Fernández, Director of Wholesale Banking and Sustainability, BBVA Mexico. He adds that water scarcity is not only an environmental issue but also a socioeconomic one, with direct effects on agricultural productivity, industrial capacity, and national economic stability.

Pedro Castillo, General Coordinator of University Consortia, Tecnológico de Monterrey, says the UNAM-TEC model has proven effective by identifying real challenges, activating academic talent, and supporting it until solutions reach applied technological stages. “It is a model that puts the best of our institutions at the service of the country’s major challenges,” says Castillo.

Jorge Ramos, Coordinator of Linkage and Technology transfer, UNAM, says the second edition of the challenge confirms the value of collaboration among academia, companies and institutions. “The partnership with BBVA shows how strategic alliances accelerate technological development and innovation focused on social benefit,” says Ramos.

Five finalist initiatives, which were selected in October 2024, presented progress updates during the challenge’s closing event. In the scientists and researchers category, two projects reached Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7, showing that a prototype has been tested in real environments. The first, Project Enjambre, collects, crushes, and transports floating waste efficiently, reducing technological risk ahead of commercialization. Its modular design allows for scalability across regions with different water conditions, and its business model includes equipment sales, operation, and maintenance, and integrated waste management. Future development will integrate predictive software and circular economy approaches to add value to recovered materials. 

The second, NixtaCycle, enables water reuse in the nixtamalization process used in tortilla production. The project also allows for recovery of hydroxyapatite, a byproduct with commercial value. The prototype combines physicochemical and biological processes and has been tested in the “Oro Azul” tortilla shop in Atlixco, Puebla. Developers say the system is replicable and could significantly reduce the discharge of highly alkaline effluents from the industry.

In the entrepreneurship category, three initiatives were highlighted. The first, BIOTAR, is a decentralized wastewater treatment technology for households that operates without complex infrastructure. The project tripled manufacturing capacity by redesigning molds and introduced a nanofilter using photocatalysis and nanotechnology to improve disinfection. The first functional version of the filter is being evaluated by Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Water Center, with early results indicating improved effluent quality.

The second project, yet to be named, reported progress on a “zero discharge” concept for pig farms, which face significant environmental challenges. The initiative integrates membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology into traditional lagoon systems, enabling higher-precision filtration and compliance with stricter environmental standards. The system is designed to produce water suitable for agricultural reuse and is currently being adapted for installation at the Cofradía farm.

The third project, ATL-59, targets urban water scarcity through rainwater harvesting in vertical housing. The compact system converts underused spaces such as balconies and windows into collection points without requiring complex infrastructure. Tests in Mexico City reported yields of up to 120L per week. Developers estimate potential scalability to more than 900,000 vertical households in the capital.

Following the challenge, all five projects will enter a 10-week acceleration program run by New Ventures. The program focuses on scalability through acceleration, financing and business connections. It is supported by BBVA Mexico and partners including Telmex, Grupo Alsea, Fundación Alsea, and Indra’s Minsait.