“A company from Carmarthenshire making such a positive impact,” said UK Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean Chris Elmore MP in Quito this month, praising Hydro Industries’ work during a January 2026 visit. He toured the company’s “El Inga” plant alongside the British Ambassador Libby Green and Montecristi’s mayor, Jonathan Toro, hailing a Welsh export delivering at scale in South America.

Hydro Industries has signed two new drinking‑water technology contracts: roughly US$15.3m in Sucre and around US$8m in Montecristi, both aimed at stabilising supply in areas facing persistent shortages. Based on municipal data and the expected reach of the systems, the projects are forecast to benefit an estimated 350,000–400,000 people.

According to the UK Government, Hydro’s local portfolio in Ecuador has now surpassed US$100m - the largest commercial transaction by a UK company in the country. The latest agreements sit alongside a 10‑year strategic partnership in Rocafuerte valued at more than US$75m, expansion of leachate treatment capacity in Quito, and a public‑private partnership framework under development with the Municipality of Manta.

During the ministerial visit, Hydro walked officials through the technologies operating at “El Inga”, outlining how its approach is being deployed to widen access to safe water, protect local environments and strengthen essential infrastructure. The British Embassy in Quito also convened a roundtable where Hydro and other UK firms briefed the Minister and Ambassador on the business climate.

Chief executive Wayne Preece called the programme “deploying our patented technology to help its people and climate”, welcoming the ambition shown by Ecuadorian leaders and signalling Hydro’s intent to work closely with municipalities over the long term.

Sucre’s US$15.3m contract is framed as a step towards dependable drinking‑water provision. The plan brings proven treatment systems and a maintenance regime calibrated to municipal needs, with officials emphasising public health gains alongside day‑to‑day reliability.

In Montecristi, which has endured recurring shortages, new treatment capacity will complement ongoing capture and distribution works. The US$8m agreement is designed to stabilise potable supply and move the municipality towards a more resilient and affordable service for households and businesses.

Beyond the mainland, Elmore met Galapagos authorities with Hydro representatives to discuss the islands’ distinct water requirements and development priorities. From Quito to coastal towns and the islands, discussions underline the breadth of the UK–Ecuador partnership now taking shape.

For Northern manufacturers, engineers and digital control specialists, the signal is clear: British water technology is winning work overseas. Export runs of this size often flow through to UK supply chains - from process instrumentation to modular fabrication - areas where firms across the North are strong.

What happens next will be watched closely: delivery timetables in Sucre and Montecristi, progress on the Manta framework, and the roll‑out of the decade‑long Rocafuerte partnership. From the Valleys to the Andes, this is a British export story built on practical engineering and local partnerships.