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Taking into account the concept of imagined water communities elaborated by Benedict Anderson (1983) in this paper, we have studied cases about originary communities that have developed identity processes and collective legitimacy forms through the ownership and property of water resources. Through this perspective it was possible to identify how communities located within the State of Mexico territory have gained power and have had empowerment of water resources. These communities have also gained other capabilities such as control, management, access and the collection of water users payment for the drinking water service they receive. Through imagined communities perspective it also helps to identify identity processes and legitimacy processes within originary communities. This paper concludes that access, operation and management of the drinking water supply service by water committees is useful to built water communities that become active participants in the relationship State-nature. This paper was elaborated with information obtained from interviews carried out in 2008, 2009 and 2010 in three communities from the State of Mexico. These communities share similar characteristics in terms of their water management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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