Abstract
This paper focuses on the public water resources in Vila Rica, a mining town founded in 1711 and which became the governor's headquarter in the Captaincy of Minas Gerais, during the historical period entitled Colonial Brazil, in 1720. The main hypothesis concerns the appropriation of waters, especially unused waters and the proportion of private waters ordered by the town council so as to supply the public fountains. Thus, the study period correspondingly spans the period beginning in 1722 with the construction of the first fountain before ending with the building of the final one in 1806. The analysis highlights the council funding injected into this appropriation of waters. Moreover, adopting a legalist point of view, the findings serve to stress the interlinkage between water and territory in the public domain.
Keywords
public water; appropriation; Colonial Brazil
