The Social Crisis of Water in Aconcagua, Chile: Privatised Rights Management and Collaborative Usage Strategies in a Context of Mega-Drought

This article addresses the ongoing drought situation in the Aconcagua basin in central Chile, framing it as a social crisis caused by the 1981 water management model. The model prioritised the privatisation and commercialisation of water for large-scale agriculture, forestry and energy, leading to intensive usage and unequal access. For over 15 years the basin has been experiencing a prolonged mega-drought, leading to escalating conflict between social movements and actors from various sectors and social strata. In an attempt to address the situation, a reform passed in 2022 prioritises human consumption of water and seeks to mitigate inequalities in water access and distribution. We examine how the 2022 water reform and the water governance model proposed by the regional government of Valparaíso have addressed growing water conflict. Using frameworks derived from political ecology and the commons paradigm, our study investigates conflicts between key actors involved in water management and the search for collaborative solutions in Aconcagua. We applied cartographic methodologies, conducted 19 in-depth interviews with key actors, and engaged in participant observation in five regional water meetings between May 2023 and June 2024. Our findings reveal that new actors and collaborations have emerged within water debates. Municipal authorities are increasingly tasked with providing potable water in waterless sectors; Rural Drinking Water Associations seek recognition for their historical role as community water managers; and the General Water Directorate has increasingly intervened to redistribute the existing supply. Our findings highlight the importance of strengthening cooperation in support of collaborative water models that recognise the diversity of uses and actors within the basin and their ways of relating to the territory. Our results raise the question of a water model that accounts for social and geographical heterogeneities and promotes the development of collaborative water experiences at the local, provincial and regional levels.