There is no doubt the importance of water for all life on our planet. Civilizations developed along bodies of waters, rivers, lakes, and oceans. Throughout the long stretches of history, water has been understood as a commons, a natural resource available for everyone and not something that could be owned and traded. Questions of sustainable usage of water did not arise. Water was truly a commons.

Kaelin, L. (2010, January 26). Reflections on water. BusinessWorld, p. S1/5.