Comunidades de práctica en ocho organismos operadores de agua: estrategias de gestión para la calidad del agua en México

Efficient water management is a top priority in Mexico, exacerbated by climate change, population growth, and resource scarcity. This study documents the creation and implementation of a community of practice (CoP) among eight drinking water utilities (OOAPAS), a technical team, and an educational team, with the aim of improving water quality and strengthening their management capacities. Through eleven sessions held between April 2023 and May 2024, the initiative promoted collaborative learning, the exchange of best practices, and the evaluation of technical, administrative, and communication processes. The study is based on a qualitative approach and is structured as a case study. The CoP was conceived as a horizontal space for dialogue among traditionally isolated actors, organized under the triple helix model (government, academia, and the private sector). The methodology combined interviews, observations, and in-person and virtual sessions. The research team actively participated as a facilitator of the process. The results show that the CdP is an effective strategy for sparking social innovation, strengthening the organizational identity of the OOAPAS, and generating shared knowledge to foster more efficient, equitable, and sustainable water management, with a direct impact on collective well-being.