Lima’s city wall was completed in 1687, creating a physical boundary between the urban space and its rural surroundings. Yet well before this date, the division between city and countryside had been established. Water governance wasone arena in which this can be observed. Officially, all water in Lima and its rural surroundings fell under the jurisdiction of Lima’s cabildo. However, the viceroy and Real Audiencia were also frequently involved in water governance, sometimes in direct conflict with the cabildo. This article analyzes the debate over the roles of these branches of government during the entire colonial period.

Lima’s city wall was completed in 1687, creating a physical boundary between the urban space and its rural surroundings. Yet well before this date, the division between city and countryside had been established. Water governance wasone arena in which this can be observed. Officially, all water in Lima and its rural surroundings fell under the jurisdiction of Lima’s cabildo. However, the viceroy and Real Audiencia were also frequently involved in water governance, sometimes in direct conflict with the cabildo. This article analyzes the debate over the roles of these branches of government during the entire colonial period.

No presenta resumen

Lima’s city wall was completed in 1687, creating a physical boundary between the urban space and its rural surroundings. Yet well before this date, the division between city and countryside had been established. Water governance wasone arena in which this can be observed. Officially, all water in Lima and its rural surroundings fell under the jurisdiction of Lima’s cabildo. However, the viceroy and Real Audiencia were also frequently involved in water governance, sometimes in direct conflict with the cabildo. This article analyzes the debate over the roles of these branches of government during the entire colonial period.

Este artículo presenta el espacio hidráulico limeño urbano del siglo XVII y los esfuerzos delcabildo de Lima para gobernarlo. Con base en un análisis detallado de las menciones sobreel agua en los Libros de cabildos de Lima de 1588-1700 se examina el manejo de esterecurso natural a través de la instalación de infraestructura y la creación de autoridades políticas.Con una perspectiva tripartita se consideran los procesos naturales, la infraestructuray las autoridades en conjunto para discutir tres casos: 1) el río Rímac, los tajamares y loscomisarios de tajamares, 2) los puquios, la red de cañerías y los comisarios de cañerías,y 3) las lluvias, las procesiones religiosas y San Marcelo el “abogado de la ciudad para lasaguas”. En cada uno de los tres casos se evalúa la efi cacia de las estrategias del cabildopara administrar los recursos hídricos.