A Second Life for Water in Ahome: Mexinol and Veolia Drive Industrial Water Innovation in Mexico

• Veolia will design and equip the Pacifico Mexinol project's water treatment plant with advanced wastewater reuse and purification technology.
• The project will transform an average of 32,300 cubic meters per day of Ahome's wastewater into an engine for clean and sustainable industrial development and become one of the largest industrial wastewater reuse projects in the world.
• Pacifico Mexinol has completed its annual water quality study, analyzing more than 60 parameters for the final design of its water reuse project.

LOS MOCHIS, Mexico--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pacifico Mexinol reports that its annual water quality monitoring and baseline data collection study has concluded. Since the end of 2024, Mexinol has been taking water quality samples at the point where wastewater from Los Mochis exits the oxidation ponds managed by the Ahome Municipality’s Drinking Water and Sewage Board (JAPAMA).

The results of laboratory tests—conducted by an accredited Mexican laboratory—cover more than 60 parameters, including pH, heavy metals, and dissolved solids. This information is fundamental for the final design of the innovative wastewater reuse project being designed by Veolia, a world leader in water technology.

Pacifico Mexinol is being developed by Transition Industries LLC, a developer of world-scale, net-zero carbon emissions methanol and hydrogen projects. The project is poised to be the world’s largest standalone ultra-low carbon chemical production facility in the world, with an output of 6,130 metric tons of methanol (MT) per day.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in 2024, Veolia will be responsible for designing and equipping the water treatment plant for the methanol project in Topolobampo. Veolia will also be responsible for the commissioning, startup, and operation of the equipment to optimize system performance, ensuring efficient and sustainable operation.

In addition, as part of its Good Neighbor Program and Strategic Community Investment initiative, Transition Industries will sponsor an upgrade to the JAPAMA wastewater collection systems to allow more Los Mochis wastewater to be routed into the oxidation ponds to avoid untreated wastewater and raw sewage bypassing the system and directly entering the Bay of Ohuira.

These efforts mark a milestone in water management in Mexico. The water used by the future plant will come from treated wastewater acquired for a fee from the municipality of Ahome wastewater treatment facilities, operated by JAPAMA, giving it a second life as a high-value industrial resource and providing additional revenue for JAPAMA.

Although this water has already undergone basic treatment, it still contains residual particles, organic matter, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), dissolved salts, and microorganisms. This is where Veolia's advanced reuse technologies come into play, through a four-stage process that will achieve total water regeneration and sustainable purification to address high quality standards required: ZeeWeed™ 500EV Membrane Bioreactor; MUNI and PROflex™ – Two stage Reverse Osmosis; UV Oxidation and E-Cell™ – Electrodeionization (EDI).

A circular and responsible water model

When the plant delivered by Veolia becomes operational, Mexinol will transform wastewater into a strategic resource, without competing for natural water sources with agricultural, urban, or domestic use.

With this technological investment, Pacifico Mexinol will position itself among the few companies in the world using municipal wastewater on this scale and caliber, minimizing environmental impact and maximizing the use of water resources.

Thus, Topolobampo and Sinaloa are at the forefront of industrial water supply innovation, demonstrating that it is possible to promote economic development with respect for the environment, social inclusion, and a long-term vision for future generations.

At Pacifico Mexinol, we believe that progress only makes sense if it is responsible. This project was born with a clear commitment: to develop clean industry.

ABOUT TRANSITION INDUSTRIES

Transition Industries LLC, based in Houston, Texas, is a developer of world-scale, net-zero carbon emissions methanol and hydrogen projects in North America to address climate change and promote environmental and social sustainability. For additional information about Pacifico Mexinol or Transition Industries, email [e-mail].

ABOUT VEOLIA

Veolia group aims to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with 215,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for the management of water, waste and energy that are contributing to a radical turnaround of the current situation. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, to preserve available resources and to renew them. In 2024, the Veolia group provided 111 million inhabitants with drinking water and 98 million with sanitation, produced 42 million megawatt hours of energy and treated 65 million tons of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 44.7 billion euros in 2024. www.veolia.com and www.watertechnologies.com