In the initial stages of our learning cycle, we set out to understand how the feasibility analysis for awarding new connections to the water system in the state of Queretaro is conducted. We analyzed this process to understand the opportunities for turning it into a planning exercise for ensuring water access in the state. We identified insights in various dimensions, detailed below. Insights related to the technical analysis of feasibility studies: 1) COMPLEXITY IN ESTIMATING WATER AVAILABILITY IN THE STATE: Public officials find it difficult to accurately assess the availability of water sources supplying the state and to compare this data with consumption levels. Some causes for this issue include lack of integration of data from different sources, insufficient or unavailable measurements, fragmentation of information, outdated data.  2) UNCERTAIN ESTIMATION OF THE DEMAND FOR NEW WATER SERVICES: Public officials find it challenging to accurately estimate the growth in demand for water services required to support new connections to the water network (feasibility studies) anticipated in the coming years across the state. Some causes for this issue include lack of adequate technological tools, insufficient collaboration between departments and institutions, limited analysis capacity and time to perform it, outdated information. Insights related to the integral planning of water resources: 3) DIFFICULTY IN ANTICIPATING AND RESPONDING TO EXTREME CLIMATE EVENTS: Public officials face challenges in designing and evaluating multiple scenarios in which water access and management are affected by extreme climate events, making it difficult to make present decisions that ensure a long-term water supply. Some causes for this issue include lack of advanced analytical tools, decentralized data, internal areas and institutions working in silos. 4) FRAGMENTED WORK AMONG INSTITUTIONS: Public officials face challenges in collaboration and communication with other agencies, especially when it comes to share information. Some causes for this issue include: lack of clear mechanisms for sharing information between agencies. Insights related to the inner workings of the Water Commission: 5) INFORMATION SILOS INSIDE THE WATER COMMISSION: Public officials struggle to access the information necessary to efficiently carry out internal processes. Possible causes include the perception among some officials that certain colleagues consider the information they handle as "theirs," leading to a lack of sharing with other departments and resulting in incomplete records. Additionally, there is an absence of standardized mechanisms for departments to share information and create unified case files for feasibility processes.

Since the beginning of this learning cycle, we have partnered with the Government of the State of Querétaro to develop a generative AI (genAI) solution that addresses the needs of its State Water Commission. The state’s Ministry of Finance is also a counterpart in this learning cycle, as they oversee the digital strategy as well as the development and deployment of technological solutions. We hope that involving these key actors from the start of the learning cycle will enhance the likelihood of adoption once we develop and pilot the solution next year.

We chose qualitative data and rapid ethnography to understand the barriers and motivators of the various actors involved in the feasibility process, including public officials from different areas of the State Water Commission and real estate developers applying for water feasibilities. Additionally, we conducted a literature review and analyzed grey documents to approach our challenge from a systemic perspective, exploring topics such as the state of water resources in Querétaro, trends, existing solutions, laws, and citizens' perceptions. This data also helped us identify the potential functions a generative AI-based solution could perform. We categorized these functions into those suitable for generative AI and those best carried out by humans, specifically the public officials of the State Water Commission.

Visual thinking and mapping, along with systems thinking, enabled us to understand where the feasibility process fits within the broader system and the various dimensions influencing the sustainable management of water resources (e.g., regulations, processes, users). Ethnography allowed us to identify the barriers and motivators faced by the actors involved in the feasibility analysis (public officials, real estate developers) and map the inner workings of this process. Micro-narratives provided insights into how the issue of water resources is discussed in the media and the perceptions of various stakeholders regarding this topic (e.g., citizens, government officials, NGOs). Finally, hackathons leveraged the creativity and expertise of university students from diverse disciplines (e.g., data science, design, engineering, communication) to generate multiple ideas for solutions that use technology to support the sustainable management of water resources.

The interplay of methods, data, and partners enabled us to understand the process for awarding new connections to the water network (i.e., feasibility studies) and to identify leverage points within this process to transform it into a planning tool for mid- and long-term futures.