Abstract
The human condition depends on our planet's inland waters. An effective use of water can impart success, whereas an ineffective use can lead to disaster. If nothing else, like all life forms on Earth, humans require water—water that is both reliably available and free of contaminants and pathogens. Meeting these goals is, perhaps, one of the greatest challenges of human kind. In this chapter, we introduce and analyze case studies to expose the evolving nature of our relationship with water.