Abstract

URQUIOLA-PERMISAN, José I.. Water supply: models of water use and distribution in urban centers of the Bajío colonial. agric. soc. desarro [online]. 2010, vol.7, n.1, pp.35-56. ISSN 1870-5472.

This study presents variations that arose regarding the ways of accessing and distributing water in urban centers of the Bajío region during early Colonial times. These variations revolved around two models or ways of organization. In indigenous towns, represented by Querétaro, Acámbaro and Apaseo, shared use of water for domestic and productive uses, within spaces in an urban settlement, was suggested from an early stage, which is why the hydraulic network was part of urban planning, with channel distribution throughout the settlement. In Spanish villas, represented by San Miguel, Celaya, Salamanca, León and Salvatierra, formation of hydraulic complexes outside the urban centers was common, for irrigation of areas destined to agricultural use. Water entry to these urban centers was the result of some conduction derived from these complexes, or through independent installation, which started in springs and led the water into public fountains and pools. These initial differences had successive changes, insofar as the number of neighbors increased and they were integrated into the complex user system not foreseen in the initial phase.

Keywords : Water access and distribution; hydraulic complexes; indigenous towns; Spanish villas.