An Emerging Logic of Urban Water Management, Cochabamba, Bolivia

This paper exam ines the emergen ce of a new logic of water management in develop ing cities. We argue that water provision is characteri sed by two largely disconnected circu its of water supply. Formally organ ised distribution networks provide a publicly subsid ised service to higher-in come users, while an informal system of water vendors provides a more expensive supply to margin alised communities. A new style of water management is now challenging the production ist logic that has created and maintained these dual networks. The case study of water privatisa tion in the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia , illustrates how this emerging logic is recon ® guring the management of urban water networks with a shift from large supply option s towards greater consideration of user needs and extension of the network to unconnected communities. The production ist logic is in a period of profound tran sition as efforts are being made to mesh togeth er more effectiv ely the formal and informal networks. While th is process is highly contested , many of the central assumptions of the production ist logic are challenged and new opportunities for a more socially inclusionary and environmentally sensitive style of water management are emerging.