January 11, 2022
The municipalities of Colina, Empedrado, Licantén, and La Ligua were winners of the Innova Agua Fund, which will allow the installation of innovative solutions thanks to an initiative developed by the Amulén Foundation, in collaboration with AB InBev Brewery and Coca-Cola.
At the end of last year, 53% of Chile's municipalities were declared to be experiencing water scarcity, while more than 8 million people reported living with water rationing. These record figures define 2021 as one of the driest years in the country's history.
Faced with this scenario - and with the goal of enabling clean access to this vital element - AB InBev Brewery, together with Coca-Cola Chile, donated $180 million to this Amulén Foundation initiative to implement projects that provide innovative water solutions in different areas of the country.
Under the name “Innova Agua Fund,” the foundation enabled more than 134 municipalities between the Coquimbo and Maule regions to apply for funding to implement various technological and innovative solutions. Among them, Villa Peldehue in Colina, Linda Vista in Empedrado, Los Copihues School in Los Junquillos de Licantén, and Hornos de Huaquén School in La Ligua were selected to receive this benefit.
Regarding the solutions being developed in these communities, the following stand out: water purification through Remote Waters technology, water from the air with the Watergen machine, and two of them with rainwater harvesting, an Isla Urbana program that won the Softys Water Challenge competition organized by Softys, Fundación Amulén and the UC Innovation Center.
“It is very difficult to get ahead, overcome obstacles, and move forward without a service as basic as water. The reality is that the relationship between water scarcity and social vulnerability is direct. At Fundación Amulén, we work to raise awareness of this serious situation and provide a solution as soon as possible. For this, it is essential to coordinate different stakeholders and participate in initiatives like these to implement innovations that will provide drinking water to communities and thereby improve their quality of life and future prospects,” explains Antonia Rivera, Project Director at Fundación Amulén.
Furthermore, José Antonio Alonso, Legal and Corporate Affairs Manager at AB InBev Brewery, adds that water conservation and access for communities are key pillars of the company's sustainability strategy, and that they have been supporting various initiatives in this area for years. “Throughout our entire production chain, we strive to make our production processes as environmentally friendly as possible while simultaneously generating a positive impact. Through projects like this, we aim to ensure access to clean water for various communities across Chile and thus provide a real solution to the country's water scarcity problem,” he states.
During 2021
Two winning projects have already been implemented – Linda Vista in Empedrado and the Los Copihues School in Los Junquillos, Licantén, both of which now have access to potable water – and work is underway in the remaining beneficiary communities. In Empedrado, Isla Urbana (rainwater harvesting technology) has enabled the 50 residents to collect rainwater in their homes during the winter, thus increasing water availability. This technology allows for the collection, treatment, and storage of an average of more than 36,000 liters per year. Meanwhile, in Licantén, the Rainwater School program has been installed, and its innovative system already allows the Los Copihues School to collect, store, and treat up to 72,000 liters of water annually.