Water is important and special because it takes part in almost
all of the processes that form and shape the Earth. Water is also
essential to life. Without water, life—in all its many forms—
would not be possible. The study of water science helps toward
understanding how and why water plays such an important
role.
Water also unites and divides us. Water is the subject of
numerous treaties, laws, and agreements between nations,
states, and communities. However, because water is an increasingly
important and scarce resource, there are often complex
legal and political issues surrounding the use of water. Many
wars and court cases have arisen over who owns a body of
water, who has a right to use it, or how water should be divided
and used among those who claim it. To assure an adequate
supply of water to meet broad needs of humans around the
world, the development of scientifically sound strategies for
sustainable water development are critical.
In many cases, disputes over water are related to preserving
the quality of waters that nourish and protect both human and
natural communities. To better understand these issues, one
also needs to know the essentials of water science.