Water/Legends

"Where there is life, there is water."

- Sentientologist Obo Rin

Water, known scientifically as dihydrogen monoxide, was a compound created from the elements of hydrogen and oxygen, and found on many planets in the galaxy. The surface of planets such as Mon Calamari, Kamino and Manaan were completely covered in water, and on other terrestrial planets water was found in oceans, lakes, rivers, and aquifers. Water was a vital commodity for many life forms, while for other species it was poisonous. Bodies of many species consists large amounts of water- for example human body- in which water forms about 60 percent of body weight.

Water in its frozen form was known as ice, and in gaseous form was called "water vapor", that formed crystals. Sometimes it would condense and fall as snow, sleet, or hail. Planets that experienced consistent ice include but are not limited to: Csilla, Hoth, Mygeeto, Ilum, Rhen Var, Anteevy, Ota, Orto Plutonia, Ojom, Rekkiad and Polus.

In the galaxy, no liquid was as versatile as water, and few organisms could exist without it. The unique molecular structure of water gave it several unusual properties necessary to the chemical reactions that sustains life. These properties included its ability to dissolve chemicals, ability to easily absorb and redistribute heat, high surface tension and the fact that it expands when frozen. Life had a much higher likelihood of developing where water and carbon were present.

Water farming
Water was essential for the survival of most species, and the availability of long-term and sustainable sources or means of acquiring water affected the habitability of any particular place. A variety of means, mostly technological, existed to allow water to be acquired, used more extensively on dry and arid planets, similar to farming and hence the term "water farming" was used.

Groundwater could be extracted from aquifers through the use of water wells, tap trees, and hydromech droids, though sometimes it simply flowed naturally from freshwater springs. It was usually processed by an aquifer purifier before being distributed for consumption. On Coruscant, water was gathered and stored in giant artificial aquifers.

Dams were built on some planets to form artificial lakes for the purpose of storing water for later use, providing a reliable source of water.

In dry climates and worlds, moisture vaporators were used extensively to harvest whatever atmospheric humidity was available, collecting enough water to sustain three average humanoids, even on hot desert planets like Tatooine. Water survey devices were used to detect high levels of humidity, and moisture vaporators were usually placed in these regions for maximum output. Water harvesters were also used as another ground-based method of collecting water.

Seas and oceans were also a major source of drinking water, but not without first processing it. On planets such as Belasco, sea water was run through a desalination process in order to make it drinkable.

On some planets, methods of producing pure water involving the processing and converting sewage existed, in order to reuse the water lost. The use of recirculation pumps was one such method.

Once water was collected, it was distributed through large networks of irrigation canals, allowing stored water to flow into populated regions for consumption. . An example of one would be the Telos Polar Irrigation System. The primary source of drinking water for Telos IV, though abandoned at the time of the Jedi Civil War and used primarily as a Jedi Academy for a time after that.

Drinking water
"How could anyone eat that stuff?" "Some creatures wonder how Humans can drink water, yet you take delight in it."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi and Si Treemba

Among many of its applications, water was popular for drinking, though not among all species. Water was usually dispensed from sink faucets found in various types of buildings. Water could also be purchased as a cheap beverage at a cantina, or in containers from street vendors. Free drinking water was rare in the galaxy. As a result, it was often a target of smuggling and theft.

Soldiers and other operatives usually carried drinking water in canteens, or could sip water through a helmet pipestraw.

The quality and purity of drinking water differed throughout the galaxy. On Tatooine, drinking water had a metallic taste and smelled strongly of dust and purification chemicals and contained bits of grit and sand.

Most animals and some sentient species drank water directly from lakes and rivers, though not all bodies of water were safe to drink from. For example, the water of Lake Natth on Ambria was poisoned by the dark side of the Force.

Other uses of water
"I have drinking water. And enough for the garden. But the irrigation system's dry. The crops are starting to droop."

- Farmer Carole Grawley

Valuable minerals could also be mined from sea water. The world-ocean of Utapau, for example, was rich in minerals, salts, and chemicals, and was the only natural resource on the planet which attracted interplanetary trade. By the time of the Clone Wars, however, less than 0.9% of the planet was covered in water.

Water was used in cooking, either to boil food such as pashi noodles, or used as an ingredient in beverages such as hot chocolate.

It was also used in hygienic applications. Beings often utilized water through fixtures found in refreshers such as showers, baths and faucets to wash themselves.

Water could also be used as art or decoration, in the form of elaborate water sculptures, fountains, and artificial waterfalls.

For recreation and relaxation, some beings would swim in natural bodies of water, or in artificial swimming pools.

Cultural significance
Water was very significant in some cultures, especially with those based on planets where water was rare. The Tusken Raiders of Tatooine considered water wells to be sacred places, and hence were vehemently protected.

The Cult of Varn was a religion on Kamar that had a great reverence for water.

Other facts
"Explanation: It's just that... you have all these squishy parts, master. And all that water! How the constant sloshing doesn't drive you mad, I have no idea...."

- HK-47

Large bodies of water presented the risk of drowning to many of the air-breathing species of the galaxy. Devices called rebreathers could be utilized by such beings to breathe underwater. The Yuuzhan Vong used gnulliths instead of rebreathers, which were also able to be used by other species. In 33 BBY, Alexi Garyn died by way of drowning, though not without the involvement of Darth Maul.

Some blasters were known to malfunction after being submerged in icy water. Lightsabers could not operate underwater unless specially modified.

A poncho was a piece of clothing that could be used as protection against rain.

Behind the scenes
In the ongoing MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic, water was referred to as "dihydrogen monoxide" in the description of the Harvesting Moisture buff, which temporarily refreshes and sustains the player on Tatooine.

Non-canon appearances

 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga