Introduction
The book “A Precious Liquid”, by Michael Ennis-McMillan offers ethnographic scrutiny of the cultural and social dimensions of fitting and managing a piped, drinking water structure, in a community situated in the semiarid and heavily occupied area of La Purificacion Tepetitla. La Purificacion Tepetitla is a small area at the foot of the Valley of Mexico, rather near Mexico City (Harmon et al. 45).
This area has a long record of water shortage, and the community of La Purificacion Tepetitla appears more conspicuous than the rest because of its customary, communal water distribution activities. Most management decisions, which involve setting up a water systems system, depending on the distinctive, cultural values of the society. Some of these values include egalitarianism, belief in civil rights, and the need to share resources evenly.
The society of La Purificacion Tepetitla is egalitarian
The society of La Purificacion Tepetitla is egalitarian, in all instances, even when it comes to the management of water. The main character of an egalitarian society is their belief in the need to give all community members even powers, as they view all people as equal (Harmon et al. 45). All community members use the water system, and thus, all of them must take care of the water system. Taking care of the water system entails taking cargo positions and faenas, as well as, paying taxes. Cargo positions refer to devout or civil offices, whereby community members get elected to work within the Catholic Church or local, municipal administration (Ennis-McMillan 41).
Conversely, Faenas refer to community service that is mandatory instead of, or besides paying taxes. Positions in e religious cargos go for up to one year while civil cargos positions last for up to their years. People serving in both positions never get paid, despite the positions being compulsory. Besides, these positions are only accessible and may be alternated among an eligible group of candidates.
People become elected by society from every half of the population, to balance the sharing of knowledge and concerns. Every member of the community knows about the geography of the water system, the names of residents in the segment of the community, and the history of water management growth (Ennis-McMillan 53). Hence, when a crisis affects just a certain segment of the society, it will, also, affect that section’s designated member.
Considering the case that the books presents, if the water stops running to a certain part, the designated members can instantly establish whether the cause of the problem, such as, issues with the piping, or untimely placement of the pump, which may interfere with the amount of pressure that is essential, for water to flow into that part.
The community of La Purificacion Tepetitla upholds civil rights
Another value that the community of La Purificacion Tepetitla upholds is civil rights. The belief in civil rights is a component of egalitarian societies. This can be confirmed by the rise in the functions of women in the management of water. Since 2000, women became designated to positions in civil cargo. The number of households that had piped water systems registered by the name of a woman demonstrated the rise of women-headed homes.
Carmen, who belongs to the La Purificacion Tepetitla community, gives some reasons that could be key contributors to water being of more interest to women than men. She explains that men have little concern with water since all that a man has to do with water is to take a bath. However, Carmen explains that the situation is not so for a woman, since everything that a woman does requires water. According to Carmen, women need water for washing hands, washing diapers, bathing, preparing tea, and washing the baby, among other key responsibilities of a woman (Ennis-Mc Millan 93).
Women act as water managers, in the house, since they perform the tasks of filling barrels, which is a small tank for keeping water for domestic use. Moreover, the role of women as water managers is evident as they ration water during phases of scarcity and ensure that fees for water get paid (Ennis-Mc Millan 97). Further, women in La Purificacion Tepetitla share tasks of faena laboe for drinking water systems and are more involved in water politics. Is it not rare for women to air their views in meetings related to water and desire to take sterner action against those found not taking responsibility during phases of water scarcity (Ennis-Mc Millan 99).
On account of an interview conducted among twenty-one members of La Purificacion Tepetitla including those who held religious or civil cargo at that time, all twenty-one members concurred that it was a brilliant idea to have women positions in the delegacy (Ennis-Mc Millan 105).
The community of La Purificacion Tepetitla believes in sharing resources evenly
On the other hand, looks can be misleading. The entire management practice is not egalitarian. For instance, the uppermost cargo positions become designated elder or native residents, since they belong to the region and are familiar with its traditions and mores. Also, elders become designated to these top positions because they boast the most reverence and status in the community. Prestige, in La Purificacion Tepetitla, becomes acquired by giving things to the community, but not accruing wealth and resources for selfish reasons (Ennis-Mc Millan 54). Similarly, residents who are native-born and practice local agriculture through the use of water for irrigation usually take up the uppermost civil cargos. This is because new residents are apt to have different opinions regarding water management.
The chief goal of La Purificacion Tepetitla is to share the scarce amount of water equally to all homes, so as, to meet their basic requirements (Ennis-Mc Millan 49). While water circulation is not even due to the geography of the community, authorities endeavor to give every household a fair quantity of water for drinking (Ennis-Mc Millan 51). Those endorsed to control water are all local people, who are conversant with the local mores and customs. This is extremely valuable to all the inhabitants of La Purificacion Tepetitla because the community can manage the costs since the authorities know how to respond to the community in the best way and identify problems facing the community promptly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, La Purificacion appears distinct because of its social and cultural values regarding water distribution. People of La Purificacion see water as an essential and restricted natural resource that should be shared evenly all over the community. The community links water to community involvement and social obligations. Residents who accomplish these duties become entitled to their fair share of water. This attitude on social responsibility expresses the principle that water ought to be a communal resource, but not a tradable commodity.
Works Cited
Ennis-McMillan, Michael. A Precious Liquid: Drinking Water and Culture in the Valley of Mexico, Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth, 2006. Print.
Harmon, Laurel, Kristen Troester, Taryn Pickwick, and Giovanna Pelosi. “The Effects of Different Types of Music on Cognitive Abilities.” Journal of Undergraduate Psychological Research 3(2008):41-46. Print.