Water grabbing risk index: A methodological proposal for water justice

Abstract

This is a proposal to establish a Water Grabbing Risk Index (IRAA, according to its initials in Spanish) capable of territorially differentiating grabbers, considering the use they give to water, the volumes they accumulate, as well as water status in each basin and aquifer. Grabbing pattern is established by identifying concessionaires and water uses when the volumes granted concentrate at least 80 % of the municipality surface and/or groundwater. The IRAA integrates water stress index to determine risk and makes it possible to link water management and land use management, since water grabbing activities are identified in each municipality. The index was applied in the state of Puebla where, from 174 municipalities that met methodological requirements, 45.4 % were at very high risk, 41.4 % were at High risk, 10.9 % were at medium risk and 2.3 % were at low risk. None entered the very low risk category, showing a strong tendency towards water grabbing risk in the state, which is confirmed by the presence of inter-municipal grabbers, also identified in this study. Through the IRAA it is possible to identify priority areas in the transformation of water management that transcends basin organizations and integrates municipal territories. In turn, it proposes arguments for environmental justice. The methods and techniques used are in the field of data science.