ABSTRACT
It is commonly said that Planet Earth might better be called Planet Water because the abundance of surface water makes it the only planet in our solar system that is capable of sustaining life. As Steven Solomon (2010: 9) has put it: ‘Water’s pervasiveness and indispensable capability to transform and transport other substances played a paramount role in forging Earth’s identity as a planet and the history of life upon it.’ Paradoxically, access to freshwater has caused conflict and tension within and between human societies and yet it is impossible to avoid the conclusion that it has not been valued sufficiently. This chapter argues that the science of water is a good starting point for rethinking the value of water to humans. We can follow the flow of water to understand how freshwater and marine ecosystems work and to recognise that the very water molecules that pass through our own bodies may end up in a tropical cyclone or in the gullet of a deep sea fish. The concept of ‘environmental flows’ has helped to highlight human responsibility for the well-being of freshwater ecosystems, however we need to follow the flow to accept much greater responsibility for increasingly stressed marine environments. Putting a higher value on water highlights the need to reduce water waste and pollution. However, we need to look beyond streams and water deposits to understand the vital functions of water and in this regard the concept of catchment management has been a major advance. The main aims of this chapter are to:
■ Highlight the importance and value of water as it moves through the global hydrosphere.
