Fondo de Agua Santiago-Maipo

What Fondo de Agua Santiago-Maipo does

Fondo de Agua Santiago-Maipo is a Chilean non-profit public-private corporation established on October 15, 2019, that coordinates the water-security agenda for the Santiago-Maipo river basin — a 15,274 km² watershed supplying roughly 40% of Chile's population across the Metropolitan, Valparaíso and O'Higgins regions. The corporation was founded through an agreement among 27 public, private and civil-society institutions and serves as the Executive Secretariat of Chile's first Organismo de Cuenca (basin authority), established in July 2024, alongside the Gobierno de Santiago and the CORE Metropolitano. Its operational mandate covers six lines of action: information management, water-body protection, water-use efficiency, awareness and education, public-policy participation, and risk management.

The organization's core technology stack is built around nature-based solutions (NbS) for urban and precordillera water management. Proprietary project platforms include Bosque de Lluvia (urban forest + rain garden hybrids with retention terraces and smart irrigation), Refugios Biourbanos (six instrumented experimental gardens that measure infiltration, vegetation adaptation and microclimate), Mi Barrio Hídrico (a residential-scale gray-water reuse system serving 13 apartments), Centro de Inteligencia Hídrica (an IoT-based water-monitoring network with 10 devices feeding a software analytics layer), the Alianza Hídrica (27,000-hectare precordillera restoration program with FSC Chile), and the HERA basin diagnostic web platform. These NbS deployments generate measurable hydrological outcomes, including 1,400 m³ infiltrated through 1,800 linear meters of infiltration trenches at Parque Aguas de Ramón in 2024 and 38,000+ m³ of projected annual savings in Renca schools.

The revenue model is a subscription/recurring partner-contribution structure rather than commercial sales: 27+ founding member institutions (including Gobierno de Santiago, Anglo American, Aguas Andinas, Bupa Chile, Coca-Cola Andina, The Nature Conservancy Chile, AMUR, Confederación de Canalistas, FSC Chile, SNA, and Asociación Parque Cordillera) provide recurring financial and in-kind contributions, supplemented by ANID research funding and municipal co-financing of project implementation. The organization does not sell products commercially and discloses financials only through its Active Transparency portal. Headcount is approximately 10 employees, with field implementation executed through specialist partners (Fundación Mi Parque, Centro de Estudios Agua Tierra, Fundación Sendero de Chile, Fundación Olivo).

Name

Fondo de Agua Santiago-Maipo

Legal name

Corporación Fondo de Agua Santiago-Maipo

Website

https://fondodeaguasantiago.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fondo de Agua Santiago-Maipo is a non-profit public-private corporation coordinating 27+ institutions to advance water security in Chile's Maipo River basin through nature-based infrastructure, basin governance, and the Executive Secretariat of Chile's first basin authority.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watershed Management Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) & Recovery Utilities (ASR/ASTR) (EUANAGAF)

Keywords

• Watershed management
• Nature-based solutions
• Water security
• Basin restoration
• Water resource conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Santiago

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Partner Contributions: The corporation operates as a non-profit public-private corporation funded by contributions from government institutions, private companies, and civil society organizations who are members/partners of the organization.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Fondo de Agua Santiago-Maipo is a non-profit public-private corporation that develops and coordinates nature-based infrastructure projects, open-data information platforms, and public-private partnerships to advance water security in the 15,274 km² Maipo river basin. It delivers programs across six strategic lines — information management, water body protection, water-use efficiency, awareness and education, public policy participation, and risk management — for government institutions, municipalities, private companies, and agricultural users in central Chile.

Product overview

Fondo de Agua Santiago-Maipo is a non-profit public-private corporation focused on water security in the Maipo river basin. The organization does not offer commercial software products but rather develops and manages a portfolio of nature-based infrastructure projects and information platforms. The core offerings include the HERA diagnostic platform for basin information, the 8 Senderos de Ribera riverbank conservation program, Refugios Biourbanos urban climate refuge solutions, Bosque de Lluvia rain forest infrastructure installations, Mi Barrio Hídrico gray water reuse systems, Centro de Inteligencia Hídrica monitoring solutions, and the strategic water alliance initiative. These projects operate across six strategic lines: information management, water body protection, water use efficiency, awareness and education, public policy participation, and risk management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Plataforma HERA Web-based diagnostic platform providing open access to data and information about water resources, users, and ecosystem conditions in the Maipo basin, for government, researchers, companies, and citizens.
• 8 Senderos de Ribera Ecosystem conservation program focused on riverbank restoration, ecopark development, and education along the Maipo basin's riverside areas, involving community participation in design and protection.
• Refugios Biourbanos Network of experimental urban gardens evaluating nature-based solutions for water-sensitive urban design, measuring infiltration capacity, vegetation adaptation, biodiversity, and microclimate generation to mitigate heat-wave impacts.
• Bosque de Lluvia Nature-based infrastructure combining urban forest and rain garden elements that capture, filter, and infiltrate rainwater while providing thermal regulation, biodiversity habitat, and public green space for municipalities and residents.
• Mi Barrio Hídrico Innovative gray water reuse system that collects, treats (via sedimenter and constructed wetland), and distributes gray water from residential buildings for irrigation of community green areas and urban forests.
• Centro de Inteligencia Hídrica Water monitoring and efficiency system combining 10 IoT devices with software platforms to analyze, record, and systematize consumption data for decision-making in water management and savings across municipal facilities.
• Alianza Hídrica Collaborative restoration initiative with FSC Chile and Asociación Parque Cordillera focused on precordillera terrain to implement nature-based solutions for water and soil conservation, enabling water-positive outcomes for partner companies and institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 28% reduction in water gap projected through Maipo Resiliente portfolio covering 15% of basin
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• InterexpomajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2025Event management company co-organizing the annual Expo Agua Santiago, the largest water security summit in Latin America, together with Government of Santiago and the Water Fund.
• Sociedad Nacional de Agricultura (SNA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025One of Chile's oldest agricultural associations with 187 years of history, representing major agricultural water users. Newest partner bringing agricultural sector perspective and agenda for water efficiency in farming operations.
• FSC Chile (Forest Stewardship Council)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2025International forest certification organization partnering in the Hídrica Alliance to promote responsible forest management and restoration of sclerophyllous forest in precordillera territories.
• Gobierno de SantiagocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2019The Government of Santiago serves as a founding member and primary institutional partner, providing strategic direction and co-chairing the Executive Secretariat of the Basin Organization with the Water Fund. Governs regional water security policy and provides funding through the Regional Council.
• Aguas AndinascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor water utility company and founding partner contributing technical expertise and financing to water security projects including the Hídrica Alliance for precordillera restoration and infiltration works at Parque Aguas de Ramón.
• The Nature Conservancy ChilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational conservation organization providing technical expertise in watershed protection and nature-based solutions as a founding partner of the Water Fund.
• AMUR (Asociación de Municipalidades Rurales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of rural municipalities representing agricultural water users in the basin, providing governance perspective and community connections for rural water initiatives.
• Anglo AmericancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMining company and founding partner contributing corporate social responsibility resources and water security expertise to the organization.
• Confederación de Canalistas de ChilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization representing irrigation water users providing expertise in agricultural water management and water rights coordination.
• Asociación Parque CordilleracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of municipalities with mountainous territories (Colina, Lo Barnechea, Las Condes, La Reina, Peñalolén, La Florida, San José de Maipo) providing 27,000 hectares for precordillera restoration projects.
• Bupa ChilemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare company providing financing for nature-based solution projects including Bosque de Lluvia in Maipú and San Bernardo, aligned with corporate sustainability commitments.
• ANID (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChile's national research agency providing funding for the Refugios Biourbanos project through IDEA I+D competition, supporting academic collaboration with UTEM and UCEN.
• Coca-Cola AndinamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeverage company providing financing for Centro de Inteligencia Hídrica project in Renca schools, contributing to water efficiency monitoring and savings.
• La Fábrica de RencamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal innovation center providing operational space and coordination for Centro de Inteligencia Hídrica project implementation.
• Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana (UTEM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic university collaborating on Refugios Biourbanos project through 'Aguas de Barrio' initiative, providing research facilities and academic expertise.
• Universidad Central (UCEN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity collaborating on Refugios Biourbanos project through 'Jardín Biodiverso' initiative, contributing research capabilities for nature-based solutions.
• Fundación Sendero de ChilemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChilean trails foundation executing the 8 Senderos de Ribera program with Water Fund as strategic partner, implementing ecoparks along Maipo basin riverbanks.
• Fundación Olivo - Barrio PróximomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation program providing community development expertise and implementation support for rain garden projects with participatory design approaches.
• Fundación Mi ParquemajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPark foundation executing Bosque de Lluvia construction projects in Pedro Aguirre Cerda with community participation methodology.
• Centro de Estudios Agua TierramajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEnvironmental research center executing water and soil conservation projects including Bosque de Lluvia Maipú and infiltration system construction.
• Ecological (Startup)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology startup developing gray water reuse systems for Mi Barrio Hídrico project, providing innovative water efficiency solutions.
• Alianza Latinoamericana de Fondos de AguacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network of Latin American water funds providing peer learning, best practice sharing, and international collaboration on watershed protection.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves1 record

Broad incumbents

• Global Water Partnership (GWP): Global network promoting integrated water resources management (IWRM) across 180+ institutions, with active presence in Chile and direct conceptual alignment with FDA's approach to basin-level coordination.
• CAF - Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe: Multilateral development bank that awarded FDA's Bosque de Lluvia first place in 2024; funds and supports water infrastructure and basin-level projects across Latin America, providing capital and policy support to comparable initiatives.
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Chile: Founding partner of FDA and global leader in water funds and nature-based solutions; TNC supports multiple Latin American Water Funds and operates at a much larger scale, providing the technical framework FDA applies.

Emerging players

• Water for People: International NGO focused on sustainable water and sanitation access in Latin America and other regions, with comparable mission around water security and integrated resource management in developing contexts.

Direct peers

• Fondo de Agua Quito (FONAG): Pioneer Latin American Water Fund for Quito's water supply basins, operating a comparable public-private trust structure to fund conservation and water security projects in metropolitan watersheds.
• Fondo de Agua de Lima (Agua LimpiA): Latin American Water Fund Alliance member focused on water security for Lima, applying nature-based solutions and corporate-NGO-government partnerships similar to the Santiago-Maipo model.
• Fondo de Agua para la Conservación del Río Bogotá: Other Latin American Water Fund Alliance member focused on water security and watershed protection in the Bogotá River basin, using comparable public-private partnership models for nature-based solutions and basin governance.
• Fondo de Agua de la Región Metropolitana de Buenos Aires: Argentine Water Fund covering the Buenos Aires metropolitan basin, also a Latin American Water Fund Alliance member, addressing similar water security and urban watershed challenges.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondoaguasantiago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fondo de Agua Santiago-Maipo