ABSTRACT
Chapter 2 recounts the story of Cochabamba in the aftermath of the Water War, including how the momentum of that event was harnessed at the time and altered over the years, in an effort to illustrate how public water restructuring has not met intended goals post-privatization. The chapter provides a broad overview of water issues in Cochabamba, following the city’s hydrosocial cycle to understand how water is produced and distributed and to demonstrate the complexity of Cochabamba’s urban waterscape. Following the flow of water allows me to trace the constraints and tensions around water provision and to provide a physical sense of the region’s water basin. This demonstrates how water governance in Cochabamba is differentiated and informs broader political processes and consolidations of power. Tracing the water flow from water sources, water infrastructure, the tap/household, and, finally, wastewater infrastructure and disposal, this chapter highlights the power dynamics embedded in Cochabamba’s everyday water practices and water governance structures.
