The first step in understanding the water industry is the water cycle—a process we often take for granted. Here’s a very brief reminder of how it works: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. This cycle keeps the total amount of water on Earth mostly fixed.

Remember, 97% of water is salty, 1.5% is locked in ice or glaciers, and only 1% is in groundwater or surface water. While groundwater can be replenished, it takes much longer to recharge than the rate at which we exploit it.