Agua del Mariscal: water treatment plant in the capital of Guatemala

Agua del Mariscal is an investment in the oldest private drinking water utility in Central America. It is therefore not about building just a new water treatment plant, but about an existing drinking water company with existing infrastructure and an established position in the local water supply.
‍
Under its previous owners, the company had fallen behind, and its infrastructure and operations needed new investment. The current partners are rebuilding and further developing Agua del Mariscal, with the aim of modernising the drinking water company and increasing the value of the business.

Dutch Clean Tech holds a 25% stake in Agua del Mariscal. A total investment of approximately €21 million is planned for the project.

More than a year ago, we embarked on a mission to bring about change through one of the largest private investments in water distribution in Guatemala. Our aim is to create societal impact, increase access to water and build a sustainable private distribution company.
‍

This ambitious initiative initially had few supporters. One of them was Dutch Clean Tech. Thanks to their feedback, technical knowledge sharing and support as one of our first investors, investors, customers and industry peers have turned their attention to us. Although their investment is important, their brand and their confidence in our project were among the most important drivers in making real progress.
‍

We are now well on our way to achieving our mission, and we believe that the involvement of Sander Pielkenrood, CEO of Dutch Clean Tech, as one of our ambassadors will further broaden our objectives and horizon towards more sustainable water solutions for our country. In doing so, we can draw on their expertise in water treatment and other relevant disciplines.
‍

Guatemala receives 1,500 mm of rain every year. Even so, we need to manage our water resources better and use them more carefully, both in our own interest and in that of the environment.
‍

With a partner that has been active worldwide for more than 60 years in providing advanced water treatment solutions, we are fully confident that we will soon see the benefits.

Andrés Rodas Godoy CEO, Aguas del Mariscal| Guatemala Water Infrastructure Company

‍

Eduardo Rodas Marzano, President of Aguas del Mariscal S.A., Director of Pentagua S.A., Director of Corporación Magdalena del Mar, Director of Water Development of the West and President of the Integrated Water Management Working Group of the Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce.

Reviving a company almost a hundred years old to meet the water challenges of Guatemala City is, above all, a commitment to the people. It is also the reason why we are joining forces today with an international partner who shares our vision: Dutch Clean Tech (DCT).
‍
Aguas del Mariscal was founded in 1927 by a group of visionary entrepreneurs who recognised early on the importance of water and sanitation as pillars of a country's development. The company represents almost a century of commitment to the basic services that support the quality of life of communities.

Almost a century later, a group of Guatemalan entrepreneurs has decided to take over the company in order to strengthen its services. These services have declined considerably over time, as is the case in many cities around the world today. It is a diverse group: some have extensive experience in the water and sanitation sector, while others have a successful track record as leaders in their respective business niches. That shared experience has brought them to the position they hold today. It is precisely this vision that makes them fully aware of the value that international companies operating in Latin America can add within this sector.

Our goal is to bring in strategic partners who contribute to the development and realisation of the objectives we have set for Guatemala City, which suffers from a considerable shortage of water sources. These objectives focus on three fundamental challenges: the lack of access to drinking water, the scarcity and almost complete absence of water replenishment, and the widespread indifference to the pollution of surface water sources.

Faced with challenges of this magnitude, we could not have wished for a better partner than Dutch Clean Tech (DCT), with a successful track record of more than 60 years in water treatment, advanced technology and the financial strength to responsibly bear the responsibility that this new term of management brings.

I had the opportunity to get to know DCT through their country director, and I found in them a way of thinking and delivering projects that fits fully with the reality and characteristics of Guatemala. A little over a year ago, I had the honour of meeting Sander Pielkenrood, CEO of Dutch Clean Tech. There was an immediate click and we turned out to share a vision: that of a driven and visionary person who focuses on solving concrete problems through concrete water projects. It is precisely this alignment in vision and approach that gives this partnership its strength.

The collaboration between Aguas del Mariscal and DCT will improve the lives of Guatemalans by delivering solutions that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on water and sanitation, and by increasing the availability and reliability of water for human use.

The services that Aguas del Mariscal provides form an integral part of any food security programme. That is why we have set clear and concrete objectives that will enable us to take part in initiatives of this kind, in cooperation with local and international organisations. In this way, we contribute to the wellbeing of even more Guatemalans.

Taking up Aguas del Mariscal again means honouring a legacy of almost a hundred years while developing it further towards the next hundred. With the guidance and support of Dutch Clean Tech, we are moving forward with conviction, based on the belief that access to safe and reliable water is the foundation of the wellbeing of an entire community.

The consortium is further strengthened by Dutch Clean Tech, and it is an honour for us to have our international partner and friend, Sander Pielkenrood, at our side on this important journey.

More than a year ago, we embarked on a mission to bring about change through one of the largest private investments in water distribution in Guatemala. Our aim is to create societal impact, increase access to water and build a sustainable private distribution company.
‍

This ambitious initiative initially had few supporters. One of them was Dutch Clean Tech. Thanks to their feedback, technical knowledge sharing and support as one of our first investors, investors, customers and industry peers have turned their attention to us. Although their investment is important, their brand and their confidence in our project were among the most important drivers in making real progress.
‍

We are now well on our way to achieving our mission, and we believe that the involvement of Sander Pielkenrood, CEO of Dutch Clean Tech, as one of our ambassadors will further broaden our objectives and horizon towards more sustainable water solutions for our country. In doing so, we can draw on their expertise in water treatment and other relevant disciplines.
‍

Guatemala receives 1,500 mm of rain every year. Even so, we need to manage our water resources better and use them more carefully, both in our own interest and in that of the environment.
‍

With a partner that has been active worldwide for more than 60 years in providing advanced water treatment solutions, we are fully confident that we will soon see the benefits.

‍

‍