Autogestión and water sharing networks in Puerto Rico after Hurricane María

Authors

Anais Roque, Arizona State University
Amber Wutich, Arizona State University
Alexandra Brewis, Arizona State University
Melissa Beresford, San Jose State University
Carlos García-Quijano, University of Rhode Island
Hilda Lloréns, University of Rhode Island
Wendy Jepson, Texas A&M University

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-2021

Abstract

Puerto Rico’s residents were left without water services for up to nine months in the wake of hurricanes Irma and María (2017). Further, it was clear that there were no viable plans for addressing water provision gaps in anticipation of future hazards. In response, Puerto Ricans initiated autogestión, a strategy to secure survival through self-provisioning. Utilizing mixed methods, we reveal two different emergent forms of autogestión water self-provision in three differently serviced Puerto Rican communities. These provide an informed reflection on the trade-offs and pitfalls of reliance on autogestión for water security in the wake of disaster.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Water International

Volume

46

Issue

6

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Roque, Anais, Amber Wutich, Alexandra Brewis, Melissa Beresford, Carlos García-Quijano, Hilda Lloréns, and Wendy Jepson. "Autogestión and water sharing networks in Puerto Rico after Hurricane María." Water International 46, 6 (2021). doi: 10.1080/02508060.2021.1960103.