Background

Laguna Water Supply consists of a platform of long-term supply contracts in Texas with a total capacity to provide over 76,000 annual acre-feet (capacity to serve c.150,000 residences) of water to local municipalities in Central Texas, anchored by San Antonio.
The main contract, a 60-year take-or pay water supply agreement, supplies 20% of San Antonio water provision, through an associated pipeline completed in 2020.
Meridiam acquired the platform from a US water infrastructure developer as Meridiam is actively seeking to source and develop critical new water infrastructure with municipalities across the US.
Acquisition of the Laguna Water Supply portfolio was completed on December 16, 2022, and represented a total transaction size of c.$150 million.

Stage:

In Operations

ESG/SDG Key Facts:

As Laguna is an important contributor to the Central Texas water supply, Meridiam remains committed to maintaining consistent clean, affordable, and sustainable water management practices. Meridiam intends to achieve such commitments through ongoing engagement with local stakeholders (i.e. regulators), municipal water utilities (off-takers), and organizations promoting sustainable end user water consumption, conservation, and recycling.

SDG Achievements and Roadmap

SDG 5 (Gender Equality) –The Project Company will enhance gender equity by seeking out qualified contractors that are women-owned businesses, such as the womenowned accounting firm. Further, it will seek to ensure the pool of applicants for open positions within the company is well represented across the spectrum.

SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) –
The Project Company will implement a “Buy Local” policy to encourage and actively seek out local resources for the purchase of materials and services. It will also encourage the donation of time and resources to local charities with aligned environmental goals, specifically water conservation aspirations. The company will be contributing to the Edwards Aquifer Conservancy to enhance education for underserved communities by providing bus transportation to underfunded schools so they can take field trips to the Edwards Aquifer Authority education center.

SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) –

The Project Company intends to support the communities in which it operates by encouraging dining and shopping locally when visiting. It will encourage sourcing materials and services from locally owned and operated businesses. The company will also implement policies that encourage the support of local charities through volunteer activities with groups that align with our environmental and sustainability goals (e.g., park clean-up, river clean-up, Habitat for Humanity, etc.).

SDG 15 (Life on Land) –

The Project Company will continue to work with its regulators to ensure a clean water supply. When flushing water out of its system, it will ensure the reintroduction of the water into streams, lakes, and wetlands to ensure the availability of clean water for aquatic and terrestrial life. The company will encourage volunteer opportunities that support terrestrial life (e.g., park clean-up).
Further, the company will implement policies that encourage a paperless workplace.