The event brought together representatives from public administrations, financial institutions, companies and leading water sector experts to discuss the key challenges and opportunities surrounding the financing of water infrastructure.

During the conference, Domingo Zarzo participated on behalf of the Water Positive Think Tank, an initiative he co-founded, sharing his perspective on the need to promote investment models capable of accelerating the transition towards a more sustainable, efficient and resilient approach to water management.

The discussions highlighted the growing need to mobilise investment to strengthen water security, modernise existing infrastructure and address major challenges such as resource scarcity and increasing water demand. Key topics included innovative financing mechanisms, public-private partnership models and the importance of long-term planning to enable the delivery of the investments required by the sector.

Sacyr Agua’s participation in this forum reinforces the company’s commitment to developing innovative solutions that contribute to sustainable water management and support the transformation of the sector through collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation.

At Sacyr Agua, we remain actively engaged in the industry's leading forums and discussions, contributing to the development of solutions that help address current and future water challenges while advancing a more sustainable and resilient water future.

Sacyr has taken another step forward with the proposed Northern Gulf of California Desalination Plant, a desalination solution designed to strengthen region’s long-term water supply.

The Board of Directors of the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) approved the initial stage of the appraisal study for the proposal, which is led by Sacyr and includes Arcadis, U.S., Inc. and Plenary Americas US Holdings Inc. as a participant.

The study will be evaluating the viability of a new desalination plant in Baja California, Mexico, and a pipeline to convey the desalinated water to Morelos Dam, on the U.S. border, where it would be integrated into the Colorado River system for distribution and use in Mexico. The water produced would be exchanged for part of Mexico’s Colorado River allocation, which could be made available to Arizona. 

Ultimately, it could increase Arizona’s supply by up to 500,000 acre-feet per year, equivalent to 1.7 million cubic meters per day, between 2034 and 2039.

A solution to water supply challenges 

Arizona faces water supply challenges, worsened by prolonged drought. This is putting pressure on traditional water sources, and has led the State to study long-term alternatives to diversify supply in the coming decades.

WIFA is an Arizona government agency that financially supports the development of solutions to ensure the state’s water future. Its evaluation process reviews proposals capable of providing new, reliable and sustainable water sources.

Under the proposal, Arcadis would serve as lead engineering firm, while Sacyr would lead construction, operations and maintenance. Sacyr would also work with Plenary Americas on the project’s financial development.

During this initial phase, Sacyr will advance early studies to define the project’s technical, financial, environmental, cultural and regulatory viability, reduce uncertainty and provide WIFA with information for future decisions within its phased evaluation process.

Approval of the scope authorizes only this first stage of analysis and does not represent a decision on delivery or on future funding requests, which WIFA will evaluate separately based on the results.

Even so, it places the Sacyr-led proposal in the next phase of the process to identify long-term water supply solutions for Arizona.

International experience in desalination and water management

Sacyr Water brings its international experience in the design, construction and operation of water infrastructure, particularly in desalination, treatment and reuse, to develop solutions to water stress and help ensure secure, efficient resources.

This step strengthens Sacyr’s presence in North America and its position in the water sector in a strategic market, in line with its commitment to sustainable, innovative and resilient infrastructure.

The award highlights transactions that stand out for their innovation, impact and financial sophistication, recognising projects capable of delivering long-term economic, social and environmental value. In this edition, LatinFinance acknowledged a landmark financing structure that will enable the development of critical infrastructure to strengthen water security in northern Chile.

The award was received by Isabel Ortega Redondo on behalf of Sacyr Water during the LatinFinance Project & Infrastructure Finance Awards 2026 ceremony. This recognition reflects the commitment, expertise and dedication of our teams in delivering innovative solutions that generate a positive impact on sustainable water management.

Located in Antofagasta, the Salar del Carmen Water Reuse Plant represents a US$460 million investment and will become the largest water reuse facility in Latin America. The project will recover and treat wastewater to supply the mining industry, promoting a circular economy approach while reducing pressure on conventional water resources in one of the world's most water-stressed regions.

The financing, supported by BancoEstado, BTG Pactual and Banco Internacional, marks a significant milestone in the market due to the technical and financial complexity involved in structuring a water reuse project of this scale. The facility is being developed under a 35-year concession awarded by ECONSSA and will make a substantial contribution to the long-term sustainability of the Antofagasta Region.

The new plant will capture pre-treated wastewater from the existing Antofagasta treatment facility, which is also operated by Sacyr Water, and convey it to the Salar del Carmen area for advanced treatment and subsequent reuse. With a final treatment capacity of 900 litres per second, the infrastructure will include an extensive pipeline network to transport reclaimed water to industrial users across the region. The facility is expected to begin operations in 2028.

In addition to its contribution to water security and environmental sustainability, the project will generate more than 500 jobs during its development and operation phases, reinforcing its role as a strategic asset for the economic and social development of the region.

This recognition further strengthens Sacyr Water’s position as an international benchmark in the development and financing of innovative, sustainable and high-impact water infrastructure. It also underscores the company’s ability to deliver solutions that support water reuse, climate resilience and more efficient management of water resources.

Through projects such as Salar del Carmen, Sacyr Water continues to advance its commitment to developing infrastructure that helps secure water availability for future generations while creating sustainable value for communities, customers and the environment.

Sacyr Agua took part this week in the first edition of the Hablemos de Agua Congress, held on 29 and 30 September in Gijón (Asturias). Organised by the Asturias Water Cluster (CAPA) with the support of the Regional Directorate for Water of the Principality of Asturias, the event brought together representatives from public administrations, private companies, financial institutions, universities and technology centres to discuss the current and future challenges facing the water sector.

Sacyr Agua’s participation was led by Eduardo Campos, the company’s General Manager, who joined a panel discussion focused on the private management of water services alongside senior executives from some of the sector’s leading companies. During the session, participants addressed key topics including infrastructure modernisation, public-private collaboration, service digitalisation and the need to accelerate investment to ensure water resilience in the face of climate change.

Domingo Zarzo, Director of Strategic Projects and Institutional Relations at Sacyr Agua, also played an active role in the congress through technical exchange and networking sessions. He contributed to discussions on innovation, sustainability and new opportunities for collaboration within the water sector. His participation further reinforced the company’s commitment to promoting advanced solutions to address challenges related to water security, reuse, circular economy and operational efficiency.

Under the themes “Perspectives on Water” and “Water, Innovation and R&D”, the congress focused on strategic issues such as water planning, infrastructure financing, digitalisation, technological innovation, resource reuse and climate change adaptation.

Sacyr Agua was also represented by Patricia Terrero, Head of Innovation, who participated in several workshops and discussion forums in her capacity as a member of the Board of AEDyR (Spanish Association for Desalination and Reuse). Her contribution brought the association’s perspective to key areas shaping the future of the water sector.

Through its participation in this forum, Sacyr Agua reaffirmed its position as a leading player in the industry and its commitment to sustainable, efficient and innovative water management, contributing to the development of solutions that create value for people, communities and the environment.

Sacyr Agua considers forums such as Hablemos de Agua essential for sharing knowledge, identifying opportunities for collaboration and advancing together towards a more resilient, digital and sustainable model of water management.

The Southern Seawater Desalination Plant (SSDP), located in Binningup, south of Perth in Western Australia and operated by Sacyr, has reached a major operational milestone by achieving a record production of 103.4 gigalitres (GL) of desalinated water during the last financial year, surpassing its nominal annual production capacity of 100 GL for the first time.

This achievement comes after 15 years of continuous and successful operation, further consolidating the plant's role as a strategic asset for the region's water supply and demonstrating the technical expertise, operational excellence and commitment of the Sacyr team responsible for its operation and maintenance.

The more than 103 gigalitres produced are equivalent to over 40,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools, highlighting the importance of this infrastructure in securing drinking water supplies at a time when water resources are under increasing pressure due to climate variability and growing demand.

A Key Infrastructure Asset for Perth's Water Supply

The Southern Seawater Desalination Plant plays a vital role in Perth's water system. Today, the facility provides more than 34% of the city's water supply, delivering a reliable, resilient and sustainable source of drinking water for the community.

Its contribution is particularly significant in Western Australia, one of the regions most affected by declining rainfall and climate variability, where desalination has become an essential component of long-term water security strategies.

Operational Excellence Driving Sustainability

This record production milestone is the result of the dedication and expertise of Sacyr's teams, who operate and maintain the plant around the clock to ensure the highest standards of availability, efficiency and service quality.

The achievement also demonstrates the ability of desalination infrastructure to meet growing water demand through innovative and sustainable solutions that help strengthen cities' resilience to future water challenges.

With this new production record, the Binningup desalination plant reinforces its position as one of Australia's leading desalination facilities and a key contributor to Perth's water security, while reflecting Sacyr's commitment to the sustainable management of water resources.

Sacyr participated in a series of international events organized by the United Nations Global Compact in New York, where the company shared its experience and best practices in sustainability, reinforcing its commitment to creating positive environmental and social impact through its activities and projects.

Representing Sacyr, Domingo Zarzo, Director of Strategic Projects and Institutional Relations at Sacyr Agua, took part in several high-level discussions focused on sustainable infrastructure, responsible business practices, and sustainable supply chains.

Designing infrastructure for long-term positive impact

The first event was "SDGs in Brazil", organized by the United Nations Global Compact Brazil and held in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Chamber at United Nations Headquarters.

During the session, Domingo Zarzo highlighted the importance of integrating sustainability criteria from the earliest stages of infrastructure design to maximize positive environmental and social outcomes throughout the entire lifecycle of projects. He also presented examples of Sacyr's initiatives and projects in Brazil that demonstrate how infrastructure can deliver lasting benefits to communities and the environment.

Recognition for sustainability best practices

Sacyr also participated in a meeting hosted by the Spanish Commercial Office in New York and ICEX, where the United Nations Global Compact presented a publication featuring nine successful sustainability business cases from Spanish companies.

Sacyr was selected as one of the featured organizations in recognition of its commitment to embedding sustainability across its operations and business strategy.

The event provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and strengthen relationships with representatives from Spanish institutions and leading international companies committed to sustainable development.

Promoting a more sustainable and inclusive supply chain

The agenda concluded with Sacyr's participation in the United Nations Global Compact Leaders Summit, where Domingo Zarzo joined a panel discussion on sustainable supply chains at the invitation of the United Nations Global Compact Spain.

The panel brought together representatives from supplier companies, purchasing organizations and financial institutions to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with driving sustainability across value chains.

During his intervention, Zarzo explained how Sacyr integrates environmental, social, governance, compliance, financial and human rights criteria into its supplier assessment and procurement processes. He also highlighted the company's commitment to supporting suppliers beyond compliance requirements, helping them strengthen their sustainability capabilities and generate a positive impact alongside Sacyr.

In this context, he referred to initiatives such as the Sustainable Suppliers Training Programme promoted by the United Nations Global Compact Spain, in which Sacyr actively participates.

He also emphasized the particular challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises operating across different countries, cultures and regulatory environments, underlining the importance of collaboration and capacity building to accelerate sustainable transformation throughout the supply chain.

Going beyond regulatory requirements

Throughout the various events, Sacyr reaffirmed that sustainability is fully embedded in its business strategy and decision-making processes, representing both a responsibility and an opportunity for long-term growth and value creation.

The company also highlighted pioneering initiatives such as its positive water footprint, a unique achievement in the sector considering the scale, geographic reach and diversity of its activities. This milestone reflects Sacyr's ambition to go beyond regulatory requirements and contribute positively to water resources and environmental stewardship.

By participating in these international forums, Sacyr continues to strengthen its position as a leader in sustainable infrastructure and responsible business practices, contributing to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals and generating long-term value for society, communities and the environment.