Sarar Transformación

What Sarar Transformación does

Sarar Transformación is a Mexican civil society organization (SARAR Transformación SC, founded 1995) headquartered in Tepoztlán, Morelos, that designs, develops, and implements decentralized water supply and ecological sanitation (EcoSan) technologies for rural and peri-urban communities across Latin America, the Caribbean, and selected African and Asian contexts. Its core technical portfolio spans rainwater harvesting systems, activated-carbon drinking water filtration, graywater treatment via planter filters, urine-diverting dry toilets (UDDT), composting toilets (Sanihuerto and alternate-pit variants), and closed-loop nutrient recovery systems for urine and treated feces. These technologies are deployed alongside the firm's proprietary SARAR participatory adult-education methodology and its companion PHAST framework, both co-developed in the 1970s and widely adopted by PAHO/WHO, UN-HABITAT, and UNICEF.

The organization operates as a professional-services consultancy contracted by NGOs, government agencies, multilateral bodies, and corporate foundations, delivering multi-stage engagements covering planning, diagnostic, design, implementation, and monitoring. Revenue streams include consulting and advisory fees, paid training courses (notably the annual Regional Course in Sustainable Ecological Decentralized Sanitation), guided tours of its Demonstrative Center in Tepoztlán, sale of technical publications and manuals, small hardware sales through its partner microenterprise EcoSencia, and project grants from donors such as SEI, EAWAG/SANDEC, IDB, World Vision México, Green Cross International, OXFAM, UNICEF, Conservation International, Coca-Cola Foundation, and UN-HABITAT.

Its small interdisciplinary core team (~6 staff) is supplemented by a wider network of external advisors and promoters, and the firm operates alongside two adjacent entities within the Grupo SARAR umbrella — EcoSencia (sanitation accessories commercialization) and TAO de Tepoztlán (local arts and crafts workshop). The firm holds no patents and has no disclosed external equity or funding-round history, operating instead on a project-based, grant-funded nonprofit consultancy model anchored by long-tenured institutional partnerships and the personal networks of co-founder and Executive Director Ron Sawyer.

Name

Sarar Transformación

Legal name

SARAR Transformación SC., Sociedad Civil

Website

https://sarar-t.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sarar Transformación is a Mexican civil society organization (founded 1995) that designs and implements decentralized ecological sanitation and water-supply technologies, combined with its proprietary SARAR/PHAST participatory methodology, for NGOs, government agencies, and multilateral donors serving rural and peri-urban communities across Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Water and Sanitation Consulting and Ecological Sanitation Technologies

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Decentralized/Package Wastewater Systems (Small/Remote) (EUANADAE)

Keywords

• Ecological sanitation systems
• Decentralized water treatment
• Participatory rural development
• Rainwater harvesting solutions
• Sustainable sanitation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Tepoztlán

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Advisory Services: Sarar is contracted by organizations (NGOs, government agencies, international bodies, civil society organizations) to provide social and technical advisory services across all project phases: planning, design, implementation, and monitoring of water and sanitation systems. This forms the primary revenue stream.
2. Training and Capacitation Services: Fees for participation in training courses and workshops, including the annual Regional Course on Sustainable Ecological Sanitation, and customized capacity-building programs for organizations and institutions.
3. Demonstration Center Visits and Tours: The Demonstrative Center in Tepoztlán offers guided tours (free on Thursday mornings; paid for groups with refreshments) showcasing functional examples of decentralized water and sanitation technologies.
4. Technical Materials and Publications: Sale of publications, technical sheets, manuals, guides, promotional materials, and videos developed by the organization. Additional products and accessories for ecological sanitation available through ecoSencia partner.
5. Project Grants and Donations: Funding received from international donors, foundations, and development agencies (e.g., Green Cross International, OXFAM México, UNICEF, Conservation International, World Vision, SEI, EAWAG) to operate development projects in water and sanitation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sarar Transformación researches, develops, designs, and implements decentralized water supply and ecological sanitation technologies (urine-diverting dry toilets, composting toilets, graywater filters, rainwater harvesting, and activated carbon water filtration) for rural, peri-urban, and community contexts. It complements these physical technologies with consulting, technical advisory, and capacity-building services based on the SARAR/PHAST participatory methodology, and operates a Demonstration Center in Tepoztlán, Mexico, where functional systems can be observed and studied.

Product overview

Sarar Transformación offers a comprehensive portfolio of decentralized ecological sanitation (EcoSan) and water management technologies designed for domestic, institutional, and community use in rural and peri-urban contexts. The core product suite includes rainwater harvesting systems, drinking water filtration, greywater treatment, urine-diverting dry toilets, composting toilets, and nutrient management systems (urine and feces treatment). These technologies work together as an integrated closed-loop approach where urine and treated feces become fertilizers, greywater is treated for irrigation reuse, and rainwater supplements freshwater supply. The company complements its technology offerings with participatory methodology training (SARAR/PHAST), technical advisory services, and a demonstration center where stakeholders can observe functional systems. Founded in 1995 and based in Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico, the organization serves communities across Latin America and other regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sistema de Captación de Agua Pluvial (Rainwater Harvesting System) Gutter-based rainwater collection system that conducts precipitation through filters for storage in cisterns, providing domestic water supply in areas without municipal water service.
• Sistema de Filtración de Agua para Beber (Drinking Water Filtration System) Water filtration system using activated carbon technology to treat water and make it safe for human consumption in households and communities.
• Sistema de Manejo de Aguas Grises / Filtros de Aguas Jabonosas (Graywater Management System) Treatment system for graywater from sinks, showers, and washing machines using planter filters and subsurface infiltration zones that allow treated water to provide nutrients for plants.
• Sanitario Compostero (Sanihuerto y Fosa Alterna) (Composting Toilet) Shallow-pit composting toilet with a mobile cabin, available in Sanihuerto (portable unit) and alternate pit variants, appropriate for areas with groundwater below 5 meters; converts human waste into safe compost/eco-humus for ornamental plants and trees.
• Sanitario Seco Desviador de Orina (Urine-Diverting Dry Toilet, UDDT) Water-free toilet system that separates urine from feces, enabling nutrient recovery: urine is stored for 1 month then used as liquid fertilizer; feces are stored in a popostero for at least one year until safe for use as soil conditioner.
• Sistema de Manejo de Orina (Urine Management System) Urine collection and storage system that channels urine from urine-diverting toilets into containers for treatment and subsequent use as liquid fertilizer, recovering N, P, and K nutrients.
• Sistema de Manejo de Poposta (Heces Tratadas) (Treated Feces Management System) Treated feces management system using a popostero (external storage container) that allows feces to dehydrate and sanitize over time for safe application as soil conditioner and organic fertilizer.
• Capacitación en Metodología SARAR/PHAST (SARAR/PHAST Methodology Training) Training services using the SARAR participatory methodology (Self-esteem, Associative Strengths, Resourcefulness, Action Planning, Responsibility) and PHAST tools for community development in water and sanitation projects, including the annual Regional Course and customized capacity-building programs.
• Asesoría en Proyectos de Agua y Saneamiento (Water and Sanitation Project Advisory) Technical and social advisory services for planning, design, and implementation of decentralized water and sanitation systems in rural, peri-urban, and urban contexts, including gender-sensitive educational materials and capacity building.
• Centro Demostrativo (Demonstration Center Tours) Demonstration center showcasing functional examples of decentralized water and sanitation technologies, offering guided tours in Spanish and English for schools, universities, professionals, NGOs, institutions, and individuals (free Thursday tours, paid group tours with refreshments).
• Materiales Educativos y Publicaciones (Educational Materials and Publications) Educational materials including technical sheets, manuals, guides, promotional materials, and posters on use, operation, and maintenance of water and sanitation systems, available for download as PDFs and for sale at the Demonstration Center.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 350 people trained in Bolivia through advisory and dissemination missions
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CRESFED (Center for Economic and Social Research and Training for Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRESFED is a national NGO in Haiti that collaborated with SARAR on organizing and facilitating a National Total Sanitation Forum with UNICEF and DINEPA in Haiti in May 2012, aimed at increasing access to sustainable sanitation and hygiene practices.
• EAWAG/SANDEC (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology / Department of Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEAWAG/SANDEC is a Swiss research institute that partnered with SARAR on multiple projects from 2004-2008, including urine collection and reuse, household-centered ecological sanitation, and graywater management research. SARAR served as a field implementation partner for these technical research projects.
• FAN-GLOBAL (Freshwater Action Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of freshwater advocacy organizations. Ron Sawyer is listed as a member of FAN Global.
• Habitat for Humanity Latin America and the CaribbeancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHabitat for Humanity provides logistical support to SARAR for community engagement in Jamaica (USAID BRACED project) and social technical assistance programs in Mexico. SARAR provides training in SARAR/PHAST methodology and ecological sanitation systems.
• IMTA (Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexican government research institute for water technology. Collaborated with SARAR on water quality analysis in the Barranca El Rastro project with Naturalia and Grupo Modelo.
• IWA (International Water Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational professional network for water sector. Ron Sawyer serves on the advisory council of IWA Mexico.
• SEI (Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEI is a key strategic partner that supported SARAR's work through the EcoSanRes Programme. SEI provided funding and technical support for the TepozEco pilot project, Bolivia missions, and Haiti programs. SARAR has served as a consultant to SEI's EcoSanRes program.
• SNV-NSSD (Nodo de Conocimiento en Saneamiento Sostenible Descentralizado, Bolivia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSNV's knowledge node on decentralized sustainable sanitation in Bolivia partnered with SARAR for advisory and dissemination missions on ecological sanitation in Cochabamba, La Paz, and Lake Titicaca, contributing to training over 350 people.
• SUSANA (Sustainable Sanitation Alliance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network promoting sustainable sanitation. Listed as a SARAR alliance partner.
• SOIL (Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods, Haiti)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOIL is a Haitian organization focused on sustainable organic livelihoods and ecological sanitation. SARAR supported SOIL's emergency sanitation program in Port-au-Prince communities after the 2010 earthquake, funded by SEI Sweden.
• Water for PeopleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO working on water and sanitation. Listed as a SARAR alliance partner and was a recipient of SARAR's knowledge transfer in Bolivia.
• World Vision MéxicocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term strategic partner with multiple projects: rural water and sanitation model design across 4 Mexican states (2015-2017), participatory methodology training for field staff, and demonstration system construction in Oaxaca, Veracruz, Chiapas, and San Luis Potosí.
• ecoSenciacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorecoSencia is a partner microenterprise that commercializes furniture and accessories for ecological sanitation projects. It emerged from SARAR's work and is consolidated under the Sarar group. Through ecoSencia, customers can purchase products and accessories for sanitation projects.
• TAO de Tepoztlán (Taller de Artes y Oficios de Tepoztlán, A.C.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal arts and crafts workshop in Tepoztlán, listed as part of the SARAR group of organizations.
• Alter-Eco (Colombia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColombian partner organization in the project for learning and demonstration of safe excreta disposal in the Munchique Indigenous Reserve, Colombia (2010), along with WfW and Aqua for All.
• WWF México (World Wildlife Fund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWWF Mexico's Watershed Management Program partnered with SARAR on ecological sanitation in the Copalita-Zimatán-Huatulco watershed (2008) and the San Pedro Mezquital watershed in Durango (2009-2010), integrating participatory methodologies with watershed conservation.
• ONU-HÁBITATcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN-HABITAT partnered with SARAR on the Joint Water and Sanitation Program in schools in Chiapas and Veracruz (2010-2012) and the Human Values-based Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education (HVBWSHE) methodology in the Ecatepec program (2008-2009).
• OPS/OMS (PAHO/WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAHO/WHO collaborated with SARAR on strengthening Colombia's Ministry of Health and PAHO's implementation of sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene projects within the Healthy Environments program, using the SARAR/PHAST Participatory Methodology.
• CREPA (Centre Régional pour l'Eau Potable et Assainissement à faible coût)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional water and sanitation center for West Africa. Hosted the Regional Workshop on Ecological Sanitation and Architecture in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (2007), funded by EcoSanRes/SEI, with 32 participants from 10 French-speaking West African countries.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI): Research institute that ran the EcoSanRes Programme funding SARAR's TepozEco pilot and Bolivia missions. SEI overlaps with SARAR on ecological sanitation research, policy advisory, and capacity building in developing countries, but operates globally and at greater scale.
• WaterAid: Major international WASH NGO operating across dozens of countries. Comparable in addressing rural water and sanitation access but at vastly greater scale, with broader programming beyond EcoSan and stronger brand recognition with institutional donors.
• SNV Netherlands Development Organisation: Dutch development organization with deep WASH programming including the Bolivia NSSD knowledge node that partnered with SARAR. SNV operates at significantly greater scale across multiple continents and competes for similar multi-country EcoSan and rural WASH contracts.
• Water for People: International NGO delivering durable WASH services in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Listed as a SARAR alliance partner and Bolivia knowledge-transfer recipient; competes for the same donor funding pool for rural water and sanitation projects in Latin America.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Global housing nonprofit that partners with SARAR on USAID BRACED in Jamaica and WASH programs in Mexico. Operates at massive scale and offers adjacent community-level sanitation/housing services in many of the same geographies.
• EAWAG / SANDEC: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology / Department of Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries. Long-standing SARAR research partner (2004-2008 urine, EcoSan, greywater projects) and the leading academic authority on decentralized sanitation — directly comparable technology and methodology focus but at much larger institutional scale.

Others

• Conservation International Mexico: Conservation NGO and SARAR customer/partner (ECOBA project in Morelos). Overlaps where watershed protection and community WASH intersect (e.g., WWF/Conservation International watersheds), but primary mandate is biodiversity rather than sanitation.
• Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA): International open network promoting sustainable sanitation, of which SARAR is an alliance partner. Functions as an ecosystem convener rather than direct implementer, but its members collectively compete for the same EcoSan thought-leadership positioning.

Regional players

• Centre Régional pour l'Eau Potable et l'Assainissement à faible coût (CREPA): West African regional water and sanitation center that hosted SARAR's Burkina Faso workshop. Operates a comparable decentralized sanitation and capacity-building mandate but is geographically focused on francophone West Africa rather than Latin America.

Direct peers

• SOIL (Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods): Haiti-based nonprofit operating ecological sanitation (container-based UDDT-style) systems and nutrient recovery. Listed as a core SARAR partner and co-respondent after the 2010 Haiti earthquake; competes for the same donor pool and deploys overlapping EcoSan technology in the Caribbean.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SararTransformacion
• Xx.com/sarartransforma
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sarar-transformacion

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sarar Transformación