On a personal level , humans heavily depend on water. We need it to bathe, to wash our clothes, to cook, as well as to drink. On an industrial level , water is used in the manufacture of paper, steel, rubber, chemicals, and other products. For instance, Geneva Steel uses water as a manufacturing coolant. While its true that we are very dependent on water for all life, this is not to imply that water is always beneficial.
Water can be a destructive force as well.
Heavy rains can flood areas, destroying homes, businesses, and even entire communities. Levees have been built around large water bodies, such as the Mississippi River, in an attempt to curb the potentially destructive effects of large amounts of water. The Great Salt Lake has been the source of flooding on several occasions. Various attempts to control flooding include holding water in reservoirs in the mountains, dikes, and even pumps to carry excess water to the Bonneville Salt Flats. Other destructive effects of water can be seen in the roads built in northern areas.