LA CACHORA CASE STUDY
Living in concert with the environment, while planning for a sustainable future.
The Situation
Client: Residential; new homeowner on mature orchard with rustic dwellings
Location: La Cachora, Todos Santos
Date: Summer 2026
The project began simply, with a request from new homeowners to test their water and confirm it was safe for their kids to play in. During the sample collection, Drew walked the property and surveyed the existing infrastructure, water sources, opportunities and needs. Set amid the lush neighborhood of La Cachora, the land had a diverse orchard of mature trees and plants, a simple house, outhouses, and communal palapa. Eventually, the goal would be for the buildings to grow with the family.
The Process
Along with the water test and site analysis, we delivered an estimate of the work to undertake to bring potable drinking water onto the property with an eye to sustainable infrastructure for potential growth.
Time onsite: three weeks in August
There was extensive infrastructure excavation and discovery needed to assess the entire existing property and potential future growth. As the clients experienced our team’s diligence, professionalism and conscientious approach to the work, the project scope expanded. We were happy to support their goals and appreciated the confidence immensely.
Project Scope
Replaced municipal plumbing as it came onto, and was routed throughout, the property.
Provided recommendation and assisted in communication with respected cleaning service to drain, clean, and sanitize two cisterns serviced by municipal water lines.
Added new municipal inlet piping and float valves to hold 10,000 liters of water to supply the current house.
Removed all old unused piping.
Cleared and cleaned existing concrete bodega to become the “water shed”; created new cement wall to insulate equipment for three-part water filtration system and pump powered by solar energy that was being installed simultaneously. As such, much of our early work included new plumbing lines into existing underground concrete cisterns by hand.
Installation of irrigation junction boxes along the 2 acre property line, with valves and labels for easy client management.
Plumbing lines created to new washing machine with grey water routed to the orchard for irrigation.
All water filtration tested for a second step of assurance (included in all of our filtration projects), as well as a second test to be taken in 6 months for a progress check as we’ve learned, no two properties are built the same and as such assumptions for what each client needs can only take you so far.
When solar energy provider’s return was delayed, our team quickly jumped to problem-solve for the client and complete power installation including:
New 110v and 220v power lines in the water shed with breaker box and grounding rod
Excavating once again and laying underground conduit that included pulling cables 150 meters by hand to connect to the solar batteries.
Power run to new washing machine and dryer
Power run to newly-installed electric gate
The Results
The project began with the simple curiosity of a water test, and blossomed into a full property water planning, plumbing, electricity, and filtered solution project.
A 5-person home with plans for expansion that receives excellent drinking water now, and can expand with minimal future interventions as the property has been mapped and planned for.
An orchard and garden property that receives water for irrigation unfiltered from various points of distribution clearly noted and managed, for optimal water usage and sustainability.
The work was long, hot and challenging at a time of year when the weather determines our timeline more than we do. It was also one of the more satisfying recent projects, as our small yet mighty team was able to welcome our neighbors to a home that their family could grow into.