Irrigation Water Sources, Climate Variability and Water Scarcity: A Perception Study in Rural Mexico

This study examines how different irrigation water sources (groundwater vs. surface water) shape farmers’ perceptions of water scarcity and climate variability. Using ethnographic methods and a quantitative survey, I analyzed the perceptions of 38 surface water users from an irrigation district and 35 groundwater users in Jalisco, Mexico. The results show that groundwater users perceive climate variability more acutely, reporting greater reductions in rainfall, prolonged droughts, and shifting precipitation patterns. They also experience more severe water scarcity, describing it as increasingly frequent, intense, and harmful to their livelihoods. These findings suggest that beyond differences in water sources, groundwater users’ heightened sensitivity stems from the economic and logistical constraints of accessing groundwater. In contrast, surface water users benefit from collective infrastructure and stronger institutional support. This underscores the need for management strategies that integrate biophysical, socioeconomic, and institutional dimensions of water scarcity amid increasing climate variability.