Water or Cleanliness? Problems Caused by Lima's Ditches in the 16th and 17th Centuries and the Debate over Their Elimination; [Água ou limpeza: os problemas gerados pelas acéquias limenhas nos séculos XVI e XVII e o debate sobre a sua eliminação]

Rivasplata Varillas P.E. · Fronteras de la Historia (2025) · DOI: 10.22380/20274688.2845

Resumen

The city of Lima was established on a site already occupied by a pre-Columbian curacazgo, and it made use of the existing network of irrigation canals. These pre-Hispanic canals were transformed into colonial ditches, which expanded as the city grew. Local residents acknowledged their importance in meeting water needs for various purposes. A license from the city council authorized their construction, and their maintenance depended on proper use and the cooperation of neighbors to keep them clean and prevent common issues such as overflows that could damage the foundations of houses. However, over time, a debate emerged about the need to eliminate these ditches due to the considerable filth they generated and the high cost of cleaning them. This article examines the ordinances and problems associated with Lima’s irrigation ditches during the first two centuries of Spanish colonization.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos