The causes and consequences of intermittent water supply in urban areas: the case of Buenaventura, Colombia

Abstract

Millions of people around the world do not receive a continuous provision of water for drinking and other domestic purposes, which means they have an intermittent water supply (IWS). This has a significant effect on the daily lives of associated residents. In this research, the underlying causes and consequences of water intermittency are studied by placing power relations at the centre of the analysis. These are exposed by the usage of the case study of Buenaventura, a port city in Colombia which experiences water intermittency. This is done by the means of an extensive literature review, six semi-structured expert interviews and the usage of a journal of one of the residents. It focuses not merely on the direct causes and consequences, but on the underlying processes hereof. This presents a new academic perspective on these water systems. The results indicate that historical developments such as colonization resulting in structural racism and economical neo-liberal processes actively affected the water provision in Buenaventura. This is said to lead to intermittency. It is caused by unequal investments and inadequate and decayed infrastructure. Furthermore, the privatization of the water utility cooperation Hidropacífico created little incentive to invest in the infrastructure because of a focus on cost-recovery and profit. These processes created an environment in which Hidropacífico directs their water provision on the wealthiest individuals, which does not include the residents. The consequences of water intermittency are capture and storage practices by the residents to ensure water in times of discontinuous water provision. This creates health hazards as still-standing water undergoes bio-physical changes which result in an attractive breeding place for animals potentially wearing vector-borne diseases and decreases the quality. Furthermore, it is argued that water intermittency targets the predominately vulnerable such as the Afro-Colombian community and women who found to be further deprived of socially developing due to labour-intensive activities surrounding water prevision. Unequal power relations, either based on class, race and ethnicity and/or gender, cause and enforce water intermittency.