ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates how the groundwater enclosures are enacted by the gradual dissociation of groundwater from its sociocultural and territorial context; growing social inequities; and violent expropriations. It focuses on the douar Ait Ali, which consists of approximately 80 extended families. This chapter explains how the discursive regime functions and illustrates its various exclusionary mechanisms. It distinguishes how groundwater enclosures happens through three interrelated processes: fenced water physical enclosure through changes in tenure relations and new property demarcations; hidden flows enclosure through technology, notably drip irrigation; modern water discursive enclosure. Groundwater is increasingly flowing away from peasant families who relied on water for sustaining their livelihood, toward new 'entrepreneurs' who produce 'sour grapes'. Drip irrigation allows and is part of changes in ways of farming. In the Saïss in Morocco, farming is increasingly becoming a professional and masculine activity.
