In the small tequila-producing town of San Pedro de Los Landeros (SPL), the Gente Buena Foundation developed a long-term strategy for water security and watershed health in partnership with Pronatura and the University of Guadalajara. As of the end of 2025, that project is complete. Every resident of SPL now has access to clean, reliable water.

The work centered on cisterns that guarantee round-the-clock water access. By completion, the project had delivered:

• 20 household cisterns installed, each providing 5,000 liters of storage for 24/7 access
• 1 community cistern strengthening resilience for every resident of SPL
• More than 100,000 liters of new water storage capacity
• 86 direct beneficiaries with improved household water security

Independent evaluations of the project showed how much daily life changed for residents beyond the infrastructure. As one resident put it: “Before, I had to stay awake late into the night waiting for water. Now I have peace of mind.”

Through the project, the community’s Ejido (a collective land and resource governance system unique to Mexico) was also reactivated and strengthened, giving residents a renewed structure to organize around, coordinate water distribution, and tackle shared challenges together.

Alongside the cisterns, the team developed a two-year plan to replenish SPL’s water source using nature-based solutions (green water retention systems, soil and water conservation, waterways restoration, and reforestation) and built community capacity for ongoing sustainable management.