• A forgotten 0.6L vessel holds one key to global water conservation

• Muslims use up to 10L per wudu. The Prophet used 0.6L. The gap costs billions

• Abundance makes you forget the setpoint. Scarcity teaches you precision

• WAYAKIT saved 5M liters using the same principle: minimum viable resource

• The Mudd Test: What’s the gap between what you use and what’s actually enough?

👋 Hi, it’s Luisa Javier. Welcome to Aziul Connections ( 🌎🔬The Sustainable Systems Lab), where I study how sustainable systems are built for business, leadership, and life.

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Nobody knows what a mudd is.

I learned that the hard way, standing in the old market of Madinah, holding up a picture on my phone and asking shopkeeper after shopkeeper if they had one. Most looked at me with polite confusion. A few thought I was looking for mud, the dirt kind. One man pointed me toward the souvenir section near the back of his shop, where I finally found it: a small copper vessel, stamped with the words “Prophetic Mudd” and “Madina Souvenir,” sitting between decorative prayer beads and miniature mosque replicas.

A decorative object. Its original purpose, apparently, forgotten.

I bought it. I held it in my hand. And I kept thinking about the conversation that had sent me searching for it in the first place.

The gathering

It started the way most important things in my life start: not in a lab, not in a boardroom, but in a regular conversation with a friend.

Nora Al Jindi had just come back from UK. She had spent time at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies with Professor Shahid Jameel, a biochemist who spent decades studying viruses before turning his research toward something that puzzled him more: why Muslim societies, despite having one of the richest ethical frameworks around resource stewardship in history, were struggling so much with environmental practice.

His work sits at the intersection of faith-based sustainability and applied climate science, a combination that almost nobody in mainstream sustainability discourse is taking seriously enough.

Nora mentioned his work on water. Specifically, on a daily ritual that 1.8 billion Muslims on Earth perform up to five times a day.

And then she said the number.

I want to pause here because something about that moment matters beyond the data. Two women in Saudi Arabia, one Saudi, another Mexican, sitting together in an ordinary gathering, passing knowledge that had not traveled through any formal institutional channel. No conference. No journal. No policy brief. A professor in Oxford had documented the research, a woman named Nora had attended his lecture, and she brought it to me. That is how this information moved. The World Water Day 2026 theme — “Where Water Flows, Equality Grows (Water and Gender)” — carries a quiet truth that I recognized in that room: water knowledge, like water itself, does not reach everyone equally.

I asked her to introduce me to the professor. I needed to understand it. More than that, I needed to share it.

What happens five times a day

Before every prayer, Muslims perform a ritual purification called wudu, or ablution. A precise sequence: washing the hands, rinsing the mouth and nose, washing the face, washing the arms up to the elbows, wiping the head, cleaning the ears, washing the feet. Each step has a specific order and intention behind it. Not a shower. A designed ritual, with defined inputs and a clear purpose: to arrive at prayer in a state of physical and spiritual cleanliness.

Hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari records that the Prophet Muhammad dedicated an entire chapter of his guidance to the act of performing ablution: its steps, its limits, and its relationship to waste. The chapter title is explicit: performing ablution with one Mudd of water. Prophet Muhammad water conservation was never vague. It was measured.

Most people who are not Muslim have never heard of wudu. Most Muslims have never questioned how much water it actually requires.

I converted a few years ago. I came to the faith as a water scientist, which meant I asked a lot of questions about what the tradition actually prescribed in terms of Islamic water conservation. How many repetitions for each step? What exactly counts as clean? What is the correct sequence?

What I never thought to ask was: how much water is enough?

I was doing it with the tap fully open. Water running the whole time. Three passes for each body part. I assumed that was what the ritual required, because nobody had told me otherwise, and because in the mosques of Madinah, where I have gone for prayer, everyone around me seemed to be using at least as much. Tap water running freely, the sound of it constant, the sense that water was the one thing in infinite supply.

In Saudi Arabia, water scarcity is easy to forget because it rarely shows up in daily life. I had absorbed that sense of effortless abundance without questioning it. The system had trained me to treat conservation as an anomaly, not the default.

The 0.6-liter shock: a forgotten measurement with modern consequences

A mudd is a unit of measurement from the time of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Roughly 0.6 liters. About the size of a large coffee cup.

But how much water is spent in wudu today?

Research published across multiple peer-reviewed studies tells us what most Muslims actually use today. A comprehensive 2017 study in Applied Water Science by Zaeid analyzed water use and time during ablution from taps, finding that more than 20% of ablution water is used for washing of feet and the largest water waste occurs during washing of face portions.

Numbers across studies range from 3 liters to 10 liters per session depending on location and method. For example, there is comprehensive PhD thesis by researcher Alia Alawi “Water demand management in mosques in Oman”. Participants using a modern tap averaged 7 liters per session.

The mudd specification (0.6 liters) was never just a religious guideline. It was a systems design principle built for scarcity, one that fourteen centuries later still works precisely because it was designed for the constraint, not despite it.

But I did not arrive at that understanding through the faith alone. I came to it through two education systems that should have been connected from the start: the scientific training that taught me to measure water rigorously, and the lived reality of a country where water scarcity is not an abstraction but a daily calculation for millions of women I never had to see growing up.

What privilege and science taught me that I had to learn differently

I grew up in Mexico, in a middle-upper class family. Water came from the tap. I did not carry it. I did not wait for it. I did not pay for it with hours of my day.

But I knew that was not the reality of my country.

In Mexico, 57% of the population lack access to safe water by WHO standards. Much of the work required to secure and manage water in Mexico is carried by women, often through unpaid and unseen labor. In Mexico City’s lower-income neighborhoods, women spend between one and four hours per week hauling water or managing intermittent supply. In some communities, researchers have documented more than two hours per day. Among the poorest households, more than 60% of the water burden falls on women.

I did not grow up carrying water. But the women who did were in my country, in my lifetime, doing it every day while I studied science and engineering.

When I chose to dedicate my PhD to water desalination, I was not responding to personal scarcity. I was responding to professional responsibility. A scientist who understands the system cannot pretend the system is neutral. Water scarcity in Mexico is not a weather problem, it is a design problem. And one that falls hardest on the bodies of women who had no say in the design.

That is why the mudd is not a historical curiosity, but a systems specification with human consequences.

The mudd matters beyond religion and beyond chemistry for exactly this reason. A design solution that makes water go further does not just solve a technical problem. It returns hours to the people who could not afford to waste them in the first place.

What the broken signal costs

In January 2026, the United Nations University declared that the world has entered an era of “Global Water Bankruptcy”. The report, led by hydrology researcher Kaveh Madani, was deliberate in its language. Not a crisis, which implies something temporary. Bankruptcy, a structural failure of the ledger, where spending has permanently outpaced income.

The 2026 World Water Day theme, “Where Water Flows, Equality Grows,” chose its framing because the data demands it. Women spend 250 million hours per day globally collecting water, more than three times the burden carried by men. Over a billion women lack safely managed drinking water. Girls are nearly twice as likely as boys to be tasked with fetching it. Water scarcity has never been gender-neutral.

Here is what most people do not realize about water scarcity in Saudi Arabia specifically. The water-energy nexus here is extreme: producing fresh water costs roughly 25 times more energy than in most Western countries, because almost all of it comes from desalination.

The kingdom consumes roughly 300,000 barrels of oil per day to run its desalination infrastructure. When the price signal at the tap does not reflect that reality, behavior follows the broken signal instead.

Arjun Gidwani traces this in his piece on hydrostrategic realities, what water costs to produce and what people actually pay for it are two completely different numbers. That gap is not an accident of policy. It is the signal the system sends every time someone turns on a tap.

My PhD is in water desalination at KAUST. I know the cost of a liter of water in this region not as a number on a bill but as a thermodynamic calculation. Every liter wasted here is energy. Carbon. A cost the planet absorbs invisibly while the person at the tap feels nothing.

Researchers at KAUST’s Information Science Lab quantified exactly what this costs in the context of wudu water conservation. Their Smart-Tap AI project found that Saudi Arabia wastes approximately 8.4 billion liters annually due to inefficient ablution practices. Their AI-powered faucet, designed to match the mudd specification, could save 3.32 billion liters per year in Saudi Arabia alone, representing $81.2 million in annual savings. A water-energy nexus argument with a dollar figure attached.

In Islamic ethics, this is called israf, the prohibition of waste that runs through the Quran as a consistent principle. The role of humanity as khalifah, steward of the Earth, appears explicitly in Quran 6:165, and 35:39. The faith named this problem, quantified it, and provided the measurement tool. The abandonment of the mudd was not theological. It was behavioral. And behavior follows the signals a system sends.

The same principle, a parking lot and a washing machine in your pocket

I co-founded WAYAKIT in 2020 with two simple engineering questions: how to wash clothes without using water? how do you wash a car in a desert without using water?

The instinct came from scientific training, from years studying desalination at KAUST, from understanding precisely what it costs in energy terms to produce every liter flowing from a Saudi tap. The constraint-driven innovation approach, using the minimum viable amount to achieve the purpose, was not a compromise position. It was the design standard.

WAYAKIT’s laundry spray has saved over 5 million liters of water since 2020. The waterless car wash service at KAUST has saved an additional liters and counting. No sacrifice. No asking anyone to give anything up. A product that does the job with less, by design.

The Green Techpreneur has been documenting how Latin American climate founders are building constraint-first companies and the pattern is consistent: the founders who grew up with less built the more efficient systems.

The mudd and the spray bottle are the same idea, separated by fourteen centuries, a portable washing machine and a parking lot.

The question nobody asks at the river

Professor Jameel’s presentation included a Hadith I have not stopped thinking about since.

The Prophet passed by Sa’d while Sa’d was performing his purification ritual. The Prophet said: “What is this extravagance?” Sa’d replied: “Can there be any extravagance in ablution?” The Prophet said: “Yes, even if you are on the bank of a flowing river.”

Abundance does not change the setpoint. The system has a correct value regardless of how much supply surrounds you. Waste remains waste whether you are in a desert or standing in a river. The resource is not the point. The design is.

For many women in places like Oaxaca in Mexico, where getting water can take hours each day, “enough” is not an abstract idea. It is arithmetic.

The mudd was never only a religious detail. It was a practical limit designed for people who live with constraint.

And yet I found that limit in Madinah as a souvenir: a “Prophetic Mudd” displayed between prayer beads, its original function reduced to decoration.

The Mudd Test

I believe a good field observation changes something in your own operation. Here is the tool I want to leave you with.

Pick one resource your work runs on. Water, time, meeting hours, packaging, energy, or money. Ask three questions.

1. How much are we actually using per unit of output?

2. What is the minimum amount that achieves the same purpose?

3. What is the gap between those two numbers costing us annually?

A founder I know calculated that her team was spending 6 hours per week in alignment meetings. The minimum to actually stay aligned turned out to be 45 minutes. The gap was costing her roughly 250 hours of productive work per quarter, invisible because nobody had ever named it as a resource with a setpoint.

A supply chain operator discovered his company was using 340 grams of packaging per unit shipped. The minimum that protected the product without returns was 190 grams. The gap was costing him $180,000 annually in materials alone, on top of the environmental cost he had stopped calculating because the budget absorbed it without complaint.

Neither of them had a water problem. Both of them had a mudd problem.

That gap is the hidden inefficiency. Invisible because the price signal never made you feel it, and because nobody gave it a name before now. The mudd named it 1,400 years ago. The number was 0.6 liters.

What is yours?

The women carrying water in Mexico’s lower-income neighborhoods could answer without hesitation. They know the minimum because they live with the constraint. The question for the rest of us is whether we design our systems with that precision before water scarcity forces the calculation on us, or after.

What comes next

This is Field Observation 004 in the Sustainable Systems Lab’s World Water Day 2026 series.

The next piece looks at the planetary cost of this broken setpoint at scale. What happens when you multiply 0.6 liters by 1.8 billion people, five times a day, 365 days a year, in regions where every liter costs 25 times more energy to produce, and where the UN has already declared us officially bankrupt. The numbers are not comfortable. They do point toward something actionable.

If the Mudd Test surfaces something real in your operation, leave it in the comments. I read every one.

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Public lab studying sustainable systems across business, leadership, and life. Essays, experiments, field observations and case studies from a climate-tech founder (Dr. Luisa Javier) operating between LATAM and MENA. Aziul = Azul (the planet) + Luisa (backwards)

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About the author - Dr. Luisa Javier

Dr. Luisa Javier is a scientist and climate-tech entrepreneur across LATAM & MENA, focused on designing sustainable systems for business and society. She is the Founder and CEO of WAYAKIT Group and the author of **Aziul Connections.**

Aziul Connections is the public lab where I study how sustainable systems are built.

“I build sustainable living through WAYAKIT, and study the systems behind it through Aziul Connections.”

Thank you for reading or listening to this article, and if this sparked a “Mudd Test” in your own life or work, share this article.

Luisa

Connect with me

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If you’ve ever lived in Saudi Arabia’s coastal regions, you might be familiar with the sneezing, watery eyes, and morning rhinitis that seems to hit many of us hard. According to a recent literature review analyzing different studies, around 20% of Saudi population develops allergic rhinitis¹.

Dust mites, tiny but potent allergens, are a significant contributor to the rise of allergic reactions in the Kingdom. Their prevalence is significantly heightened due to humidity levels and periodic sandstorms, creating an ideal environment for their reproduction.

In this article, I’ll share my personal journey with dust mite allergies, explore scientific studies on their prevalence, and highlight the importance of air quality and effective cleaning solutions. My hope is to raise awareness and help others combat these invisible invaders that can turn daily life into a battle with allergies.

Personal Story: From Sneezes to Anaphylactic Shock

Living in Saudi Arabia for over a decade, I never expected that something as small as dust mites could have such a massive impact on my health. Coming from Mexico, where "allergy" wasn’t a part of my vocabulary, I was shocked when I started experiencing symptoms like morning sneezing, red eyes, and congestion.

One day, I visited a new apartment and experienced a dramatic allergic reaction. My eyes swelled shut, my airways constricted, and I collapsed, suffering from anaphylactic shock.

The culprit? Dust mites thriving in the high humidity of coastal Saudi cities. Physicians confirmed that I developed a severe allergic reaction to dust mites. That near-fatal experience has driven me to understand and eliminate dust mites from my living spaces.

Dust Mites: A Hidden Allergen in Saudi Arabia

Dust mites are minuscule creatures that thrive in warm, humid environments—like the coastal regions of Saudi Arabia. These pests feed on dead skin cells and multiply rapidly in damp conditions, becoming a major contributor to allergic reactions and asthma attacks. Here are some of the main factors contributing to dust mite reproduction:

1. Humidity

Research shows that dust mites are prevalent in humid areas, especially in homes with poor ventilation. According to the Annals of Saudi Medicine², coastal cities in Saudi Arabia experience higher dust mite concentrations than inland cities due to the higher humidity levels. With 50-60% of Saudi Arabia's population residing in coastal areas, this presents a significant public health concern.

2. Sandstorms

Another study analyzed if sandstorms had an influence in allergic rhinitis (AR) cases. The findings showed that allergic rhinitis tends to flare up more in the summer and winter compared to spring and autumn, and one big reason for that in Saudi Arabia is the sandstorms that hit throughout the year.

These storms transport all sorts of dust and microorganisms that can easily trigger or make respiratory issues like AR and asthma worse. In fact, Meo et al³ pointed out that these year-round sandstorms are often linked to more cases of wheezing, runny noses, coughing, and even asthma attacks.

3. Air quality

The relationship between dust mites, air conditioning, and air quality is an important factor in allergy management. In Saudi Arabia, air conditioning systems are ubiquitous due to the extreme heat. However, poorly maintained AC units can harbor dust mites, mold, and other allergens, worsening indoor air quality.

In summary, here is an adapted graph of sixteen research studies showing the most prevalent triggers for allergic rhinitis in Saudi Arabia:

Adapted graph showcasing the most prevalent allergy triggers in Saudi Arabia¹.

5 Steps to Breathe Easy: Beat Dust Mite Allergies

1. Control indoor humidity

Studies from the World Allergy Organization⁴ emphasize the importance of controlling indoor humidity to reduce dust mite proliferation. In humid environments like Saudi Arabia's coastal cities, keeping indoor humidity below 50% is critical to minimizing dust mite populations.

2. Air purification

Air purification is a powerful tool in combating dust mite allergies. These units work by filtering out allergens from the air, including dust mite particles that often trigger allergic reactions.

A recent study analyzing thirty five trials⁴ for the treatment of allergic asthma proved clinical benefits of nocturnal air purification of the breathing zone. Regular use of air purifiers can make a noticeable difference in minimizing symptoms like sneezing, congestion, and itchy eyes.

3. Deep cleaning of AC vents

In my personal experience, after enduring an anaphylactic shock, I decided to take action by thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the AC vents in my home. I used WAYAKIT Biotech Cleaner and Disinfectant⁵, which is incredibly effective, eliminating 99.999% of viruses and bacteria in just 30 seconds. After this deep cleaning, I noticed a significant reduction in my allergy symptoms, making a real difference in my daily comfort and health.

4. Deep cleaning of linen and furniture

In the same report from the World Allergy Organization⁴ , a total bedroom control protocol proved to have clinical benefits in patients with house dust mite-induced allergic asthma. The total bedroom control protocol consists of:

• Fitting of mite-impermeable covers to all bedding elements.

• Laundering of bedding monthly with hot water, with a minimum temperature of 60 °C.

• Deep cleaning of house carpets, soft toys, upholstery, and other textiles.

Reducing dust mites through regular cleaning, particularly in areas prone to high humidity like AC vents and upholstery, is crucial for managing allergies. Together with my team at WAYAKIT, we designed the deep cleaning protocol "WAYAKIT Biotech Curtain and Furniture Care⁵", targeting the disinfection, sanitization and stain removal from air conditioning units, mattresses,  furniture, curtains, and carpets.

In my own experience, deep cleaning AC vents and furniture dramatically improved air quality and reduced my allergy symptoms. Wayakit’s products, designed to clean deeply while being environmentally safe, made all the difference. For those living in humid coastal areas, incorporating regular cleaning protocols can make a significant impact on reducing allergy symptoms.

5. Take control of your allergies before they take control of you

When I visited the allergologist, he explained that many people, including myself, tend to ignore their allergy symptoms, leaving them untreated. The problem with this is that over time, the repetitive exposure to allergens could lead to chronic allergic inflammation⁶ resulting in anaphylactic shock. Since then, I’ve learned that at the first sign of symptoms, I use a nasal antihistamine spray to keep them under control. It’s been a game-changer for me. Always consult your physician to get the right medications tailored to your needs.

The Impact on Health and Sustainable Development Goals

The presence of dust mites and poor air quality contributes to the growing health concerns related to respiratory diseases in Saudi Arabia. Tackling these allergens not only improves individual health but also aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Specifically, this article targets SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by promoting healthier living environments, and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by advocating for sustainable cleaning practices that ensure safe and effective hygiene. By reducing the presence of allergens like dust mites, we can improve air quality, prevent allergic reactions, and support a healthier living environment for all Saudis.

Conclusion: Taking Control of your Environment

The rise of dust mite allergies in Saudi Arabia is a serious issue, particularly in coastal regions. However, with the right knowledge and tools, we can take control of our environments. Regular cleaning using eco-friendly solutions like Wayakit can significantly reduce the presence of dust mites and improve air quality, leading to healthier homes and lives. Let’s take action today to create cleaner, safer living spaces for everyone.

Thanks for reading Aziul Connections!

Let’s continue building sustainable bridges together. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it and invite others to join our community.

Stay tuned for more insights on science, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.

See you in the next edition!

Best,

Dr. Luisa Javier

Aziul Connections

Disclaimer: The content of this post is based solely on personal experiences and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional or your physician before starting any new treatment or making changes to your current healthcare regimen.

References:

1. Aburiziza, A., Almatrafi, M. A., Alonazi, A. S., Zatari, M. H., Alqouzi, S. A., Mandili, R. A., Hawsawi, W. T., & Aljohani, R. H. (2022). The prevalence, clinical picture, and triggers of allergic rhinitis in Saudi population: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Asthma and Allergy, 15, 1831–1849.

2. Al-Frayh, A. S., Hasnain, S. M., Gad-El-Rab, M. O., Schwartz, B., Al-Mobairek, K., & Al-Sedairy, S. T. (1997). House dust mite allergens in Saudi Arabia: Regional variations and immune response. Annals of Saudi Medicine, 17(2), 156–160.

3. Meo, S. A., Al-Kheraiji, M. F. A., AlFaraj, Z. F., Alwehaibi, N. A., & Aldereihim, A. A. (2013). Respiratory and general health complaints in subjects exposed to sandstorm at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 29(2), 642–646.

4. van Boven, F. E., Braunstahl, G.-J., Arends, L. R., van Maaren, M. S., Bramer, W. M., Gerth van Wijk, R., & de Jong, N. W. (2024). House dust mite allergen avoidance strategies for the treatment of allergic asthma: A hypothesis-generating meta-analysis. World Allergy Organization Journal, 17(6), 100919.

5. WAYAKIT - Biotechnology in Hygiene https://sa.wayakit.com

6. Galli, S., Tsai, M., & Piliponsky, A. (2008). The development of allergic inflammation. Nature, 454, 445-454.

Hello and welcome to Aziul Connections – a newsletter for changemakers connecting science, business, and sustainability.

While in academia, I realized that science and business often feel like separate worlds. I made it my mission to bridge this gap, translating research into sustainable, market-ready solutions.

This is where Aziul Connections comes in—connecting people, ideas, and industries for impactful change. Let’s build a future driven by sustainability, one post at a time.

As we celebrate Saudi National Day on September 23rd, 2024, I find myself reflecting on the tremendous strides made by Saudi women, particularly in entrepreneurship.

From leading startups to gaining global recognition, Saudi women are not just reshaping the nation’s business ecosystem but are driving innovation across multiple sectors.

As HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud stated on The Mo Show, “You can't be what you don't see.” Her words resonate deeply as we acknowledge the groundbreaking progress made by women across the Kingdom.

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My Journey: A Witness to Change

When I first arrived in Jeddah in 2009, Saudi Arabia was very different.

As a Mexican arriving in the Middle East for the first time, I entered a world of new customs and norms.

I was studying at the first mixed-gender university in the Kingdom, and at that time, women couldn't drive, and the sweeping changes we see today were still on the horizon.

Fast forward to 2017, when I returned for my PhD. The pace of transformation was staggering.

Not only did I become one of the first women to drive in Saudi Arabia, but I also became one of the first female expats to establish a business here.

Being part of this transition has made me a believer in what’s to come. Here are some of the incredible milestones we’re celebrating today.

The Path to Progress: Key Reforms for Saudi Women

2013 – Women Join the Shoura Council

In a groundbreaking move, 30 women were appointed to the Shoura Council, marking the first female representation in the Kingdom’s advisory body. Source

2015 – Women Elected to Municipal Seats

For the first time in history, 17 women were elected to municipal councils, a critical step toward integrating women into public decision-making. Source

2017 – Vision 2030 Ambitions

Vision 2030 set ambitious targets, aiming for 30% female workforce participation by 2030. Legal reforms enabled women to travel and work without needing male guardian consent.

2018 – The Driving Ban Lifted

Saudi women finally gained the right to drive, symbolizing newfound freedom and independence. Source

2019 – Global Recognition for Reforms

Saudi Arabia was recognized by the World Bank as the top reformer in improving women’s economic participation, with new provisions for gender equality in access to financial services and employment. Source

2021 – Female Workforce Participation Doubles

The female labor force participation rate doubled to 35.6%, exceeding Vision 2030's target of 30%. Source

2023 – Women Lead in SMEs

Women now lead 45% of Saudi Arabia’s SMEs, with female entrepreneurs on par with their male counterparts in terms of participation, as reflected in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report. Source

The Road Ahead

While the progress is remarkable, the journey continues. Female founders still receive a fraction of the funding that male entrepreneurs do. In 2023, women-led SMEs received only $19 million in investments, representing just 0.47% of total startup funding in the Kingdom.

For Saudi Arabia to continue its progress, it’s crucial to provide resources, networks, and financial backing to female entrepreneurs.

By doing so, we ensure that the next decade of women’s transformation in the Kingdom is even more impressive.

Call to Action

Let’s support and uplift the women who are shaping the future of Saudi Arabia. Their success is our success, and their progress is a testament to what’s possible when we commit to change.

Happy Saudi National Day!

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Thanks for reading Aziul Connections!

Let’s continue building sustainable bridges together. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it and invite others to join our community.

Stay tuned for more insights on science, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.

See you in the next edition!

Best,

Dr. Luisa Javier

Aziul Connections

Today is a special day for me—Mexican Independence Day. As I reflect on my heritage, I want to share something closely tied to both my culture and my passion: water desalination. Specifically, how an ancient Mexican civilization mastered water management over 2,000 years ago.

Last year, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Las Coloradas in Yucatan, Mexico—a place where the Mayan method for desalinating water is still in use today. Las Coloradas is more than just a salt processing plant; it's an eco-engineered marvel that transforms seawater into salt using evaporation, microorganisms, and the natural power of the sun.

Why is the water in Las Coloradas pink?

The striking pink color of the lagoons in Las Coloradas is more than just visually captivating—it’s the result of a unique natural process. The vibrant color comes from halophiles, salt-tolerant microorganisms, and a specific type of algae that thrive in the high-salinity waters. These algae produce large amounts of beta-carotene, a reddish pigment also found in carrots, which gives the water its pink or reddish color. The process that creates this pink spectacle is not only beautiful but also a testament to the adaptability of life in extreme conditions. It's a perfect example of how nature can create stunning landscapes through biochemical interactions.

As I reflect on this, I’m reminded of how resourceful and sustainable the Mayans were, even without the technologies we rely on today. It’s fascinating to think that lessons from ancient cultures could help us solve modern challenges in water management and sustainability.

Why This Matters Today

While the Mayans used this method for salt production, modern science is now exploring how we can extract even more valuable by-products, like enzymes for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

As a professional deeply involved in water management and environmental innovation, this visit reinforced my belief in the power of sustainable practices. Whether it’s preserving water resources in aviation or scaling biotech solutions in Saudi Arabia, my journey always circles back to a simple yet profound message: we have much to learn from our ancestors.

Viva Mexico! Let’s honor our heritage by embracing sustainability and innovation—two principles that guided the ancient Mayans and can lead us to a better future today.

Let’s stay connected and continue to share the wisdom of the past to shape a sustainable future!

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Thanks for reading Aziul Connections!

Let’s continue building sustainable bridges together. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it and invite others to join our community.

Stay tuned for more insights on science, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.

See you in the next edition!

Best,

Dr. Luisa Javier

Aziul Connections