Abstract

GALINDO-ESCAMILLA, Emmanuel  and  PALERM-VIQUEIRA, Jacinta. Small drinking water systems: between self-management and municipal management in the state of Hidalgo, México. agric. soc. desarro [online]. 2007, vol.4, n.2, pp.127-145. ISSN 1870-5472.

The presence of municipal commissions or decentralized operating organisms in a municipality seems to be a constant in water management for domestic use in the municipalities of the state of Hidalgo, but, as will be shown later, there are also institutions created and administered by users themselves. This essay has as objectives to document some conflicts that have arisen between self-managing community institutions and municipalities over administration of drinking water systems, and to present the theoretical discussion over the capacity of users to manage hydraulic systems they use for water supply. The information gathered provides elements for debate over the pertinence of small systems managed by users in comparison with a centralized and bureaucratic administration. In the particular case of the state of Hidalgo, decentralization of drinking water systems has created local bureaucracies which weaken the community institutions created by the users.

Keywords : Irrigation system administration; self-management; hydraulic bureaucracy; conflicts in water management; water decentralization.

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