In humid regions such as Louisiana and the eastern United States, the consideration of water as a natural resource is relatively recent. In the past, water, like air, was taken for granted, and little if any value was attached to it. But in the past two or three decades, water has become a resource of major, even national, concern both in terms of amount and condition. In this new milieu, Louisiana is in a fortunate position in terms of total available water. But this does not mean that the state does not face problems of supply and quality.
Water is used extensively for domestic use, in industry, and in agriculture.
An obvious aspect of human population distribution is that, while people settle in many places, they are never far from water. The human need for water makes settling in areas where suitable water supplies do not exist, or cannot be contrived, a threat to survival. Surface Water Surface water comes mainly from streams, lakes, and ponds. Much of it originates outside the state and is brought in by streams and rivers. In prehistoric and early historic times, domestic water supplies were completely unimproved.