Huachicoleo of water in the hydrosocial cycle: Breaking clientelistic subordination of water in Ecatepec, Mexico

Abstract

Urban disputes over water, while a constant theme in cities worldwide, have only recently spurred interdisciplinary analyses, particularly from theoretical approaches termed hybrids such as urban political ecology. This approach seeks to unravel the complex relationship between the political and the water resource in metropolitan areas. This article focuses on analyzing disruptions in the hydrosocial cycle of Ecatepec, in the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico, caused by 'huachicoleo' (water theft through clandestine connections) and its political consequences. It explores whether huachicoleo aims to assert the political rights of citizens lacking access to the resource and dismantle the political-clientelist networks linked to water scarcity. Unlike other studies, this analysis goes beyond the strategies employed by those in power over those without it, delving into the intricacies of the interaction. The methodology included fieldwork and semi-structured interviews with residents and employees of the municipal water management agency during the years 2020 and2021. It is concluded that, although huachicoleo does not primarily seek to challenge power networks that limit political rights, it has had a disruptive impact on water flows and power dynamics in the region.