CARTOGRAFÍA DEL AGUA VIVA | LIVING WATER CARTOGRAPHY
A Joint Initiative of Peanut Project & Alex Ling’s Water Blueprint Research (2026)
1. Vision
Cartografía del Agua Viva is a collaborative, transdisciplinary project whose aim is to map the living water systems of the Yucatán Peninsula — its lagoons, cenotes, subterranean rivers, and wells — using the Water Blueprint methodology developed by artist and researcher Alex Ling.
The project understands water as a living, conscious force — the “nervous system” of both the Yucatán Peninsula and the human body — and seeks to deepen understanding of these systems, support their integrity, and contribute to their protection wherever possible. The starting point is the Laguna de Bacalar, with community participation, scientific collaboration, and creative and educational processes at the core of the initiative.
2. Context
Bacalar, known as the Lagoon of the Seven Colors, has in recent years shown visible changes in its color spectrum and water clarity. A number of interconnected factors — including changes in land use, sedimentation, agricultural runoff, and hydrological shifts across the wider aquifer system of the Yucatán Peninsula — may be contributing to these transformations.
One relevant factor appears to be the partial obstruction of the northern inflow, which historically allowed for freer circulation of water within the lagoon ecosystem. The established relationships of the Peanut Project in Bacalar and with the Ejido de Pedro Santos create an opportunity to work closely with local communities on processes that may include studying, potentially reopening, and carefully restoring this inflow, as part of a broader approach to ecological rebalancing and shared responsibility.
3. Core Objectives 2026
• To build a scientific–artistic–community alliance for the collection and interpretation of Water Blueprints across the Yucatán Peninsula.
• To develop a shared water-sampling protocol that is accessible, low-tech, and reproducible by communities, schools, and local initiatives.
• To create a digital, interactive cartographic platform integrating all collected data, images, and Water Blueprints.
• To establish a pilot center for research, education, and community learning in Uchbenkah, transforming the former village into a “Living Water Laboratory | Research Center.”
• To carry out ecological studies and community-based action processes aimed at better understanding and, where possible, reactivating the northern inflow of the Laguna de Bacalar, as part of a broader strategy to support natural water dynamics — explicitly acknowledging that multiple interconnected factors influence the lagoon’s condition, color, and health.
• To form a network of water ambassadors and guardians, beginning in Yucatán and extending globally.
• To develop a model of sustainable, water-based tourism that invites visitors into a respectful, learning-oriented relationship with the living intelligence of water.
4. Methodology
The Water Blueprint method developed by Alex Ling captures the energetic and informational imprint of water through simple physical processes. Each water source reveals distinct structures, patterns, and qualities that may offer insight into its condition, vitality, and internal organization.
Participants will be trained to create these blueprints and to upload them, together with contextual information (location, type of source, date, and related data), into a shared database. This database forms the foundation of the Living Water Map — an evolving, collectively generated cartography of living water systems.
5. Community Involvement
The project is intentionally designed as a community-led process. Children, families, local organizations, and initiatives will actively participate in sample collection, learning processes, and the care of water systems.
Uchbenkah will serve as the first pilot site for testing community-managed infrastructure, offering workshops, educational programs, eco-tourism experiences, and learning spaces for schools, groups, and visitors. The site is conceived as a living environment for cultivating shared responsibility toward water.
6. Intended Effects and Outcomes
• Impulses toward the ecological regeneration of the northern system of the Laguna de Bacalar.
• The gradual emergence of a participatory Water Atlas of the Yucatán Peninsula.
• EStrengthened local communities in their role as stewards and co-responsible caretakers of their water sources.
• Educational formats that integrate science, art, and experiential and spiritual dimensions.
• The development of a transferable framework that can be adapted and applied in other regions.
• SA deepening of regional and global awareness of water as a living, conscious, and worthy-of-care resource.
7. Partnership Framework
• Peanut Project – Overall coordination, community engagement, educational programs, and artistic communication.
• Alex Ling – Scientific methodology, blueprint analysis, training, and system design.
• Local Communities (Pedro Santos, Uchbenkah) – Water guardianship and on-site implementation.
• Scientific Advisors & Institutions – Validation, data analysis, and collaboration with research centers.
• Cultural & Governmental Partners – Support for restoration and education programs.
