Ecotechnologies Versus Conventional Networks: A Socioeconomic Analysis for Water Management in Rural Communities

Abstract

Arid and semi-arid regions of Mexico, such as the Bajío of Guanajuato, face a huge challenge in water resource management. The municipality of León, located in the State of Guanajuato, persistently lacks access to water resources despite having high coverage in urban areas by the León Water Utility System (SAPAL, the abbreviation in Spanish of “Sistema de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado de León”), particularly in peri-urban and rural areas. In this context, this study compares water distribution network expansion with rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems in four rural communities of León. A cost–benefit analysis (CBA) with a 20-year horizon and a 10% social discount rate (SDR) was applied. Results indicate that network expansion is financially unfeasible, whereas RWH emerges as a technically and economically viable alternative, providing household savings and strengthening community resilience.