Local water governance in times of scarcity

Lessons from the San Rafael Canal Users Association, Chile

Bibliographic Data

ID21697083
AuthorsAna Caroline Avanco (0009-0000-6441-5051, a Universidad Mayor, José Toribio Medina 38, Santiago, Chile), M Castillo (0000-0002-0864-9248, Universidad Mayor), Rodrigo Pérez-Silva (0000-0003-3100-1658, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume28
Issue4
Pages599-615
Publication date2026-04-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueWater Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1366-7017 • E-ISSN: 1996-9759
PublisherIWA Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.2166/wp.2026.193
OpenAlexW7155068376
LanguageEN
References cited31

Map of the Río Claro watershed, Chile, alongside four boxes summarising the study context, methodology, local organisation, and findings on water governance under scarcity. In the context of the climate crisis, water scarcity has become an increasingly critical challenge, particularly in rural territories affected by long-term reductions in rainfall. While much research has focused on the role of the state and public policies, less attention has been paid to how local water organizations respond to this crisis in practice, especially in Latin America. This article focuses on Chile's Maule Region, examining the case of the San Rafael Canal Users Association. Drawing on a qualitative approach that combines interviews, participant observation, and document analysis (2023–2024), the study explores how power relations within the organization shape unequal access to water and influence collective responses to scarcity. The findings reveal that formal rules reproduce hierarchies that privilege large landowners, while social relations and gender norms determine who participates and who is excluded. Material resources and institutional position further mediate the capacity to adapt and influence decisions, showing how collective management, both reflects and reinforces broader social inequalities

Corporate governance · Participant observation · Scarcity · Water scarcity · Environmental and Cultural Studies in Latin America and Beyond · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance · Water Governance and Infrastructure

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