This water penetrates the cell protoplasm, but does not dissolve it. Without water, there would be no life. This means that the distribution of life on earth is highly dependent on the distribution of water. Our needs, both metabolically and otherwise, are often affected by the distribution of water and by competition for available water. Of course, water is not evenly distributed , and this has a major impact on us, both as living organisms and as a complex social species.
Most water is concentrated in the oceans.
Even on land, the distribution of water varies greatly because of weather patterns, evaporation rates, and other factors. We humans often choose to live in areas with dry, sunny climates. At the same time, we require large quantities of water for domestic, recreational, agricultural, and industrial uses. In other situations, human populations settle on fertile coastal plains or in river valleys. These areas are susceptible to flooding during storms and spring run-off.