The underground solution: prolegomena of the state response to scarcity and droughts (Mendoza, Argentina: 1918-1955)

Abstract

Faced with water scarcity, the authorities tasked with confronting its socioeconomic, political, and environmental consequences implemented various strategies to cope. Some were limited to managing the crisis; others, on the contrary, sought to be more lasting. Within this framework, actions were undertaken to understand the phenomena on a technical basis, measure them, and, to some extent, control them. One of these strategies implemented in response to adverse hydroclimatic conditions was the exploitation of groundwater. In the mid-20th century, governments in various parts of the world decisively incentivized the use of aquifers to meet both production demands and population supply needs. However, due to the technical (related to hydrogeology) and legal (depending on whether it was considered a private or public good) characteristics of this resource, implementing this strategy proved challenging. Therefore, from a historical perspective focused on state action, this article examines when and how groundwater became a solution for the authorities of Mendoza, Argentina (1918-1955), a province with arid and semi-arid environmental conditions; how this alternative entered the political agenda; who promoted its development; what particularities it adopted; and to what extent it was influenced by the national level. The analysis of the trajectory of the government agencies responsible for the promotion, study, and control of these waters will contribute to a broader historical understanding of the management of a resource whose importance is undeniable in the face of scarcity and/or drought.