Canvey's unique geography puts it in the strange position of being on the one hand dependent on the surrounding water for its identity, and to some extent economy, and on the other hand always at risk of being submerged again.

BBC: Life behind the sea wall

"With our own Scottish Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Business Survey projecting only a marginal improvement in output and confidence in the early part of 2013, these latest figures underline the picture of an economy that has been treading water for an extended period of time, " she said.

BBC: Scotland business

Despite this great need for upgrades and repairs to water infrastructure, a lagging economy and tough talk in Washington is putting more pressure on federal funding.

FORBES: Spending Cuts Threaten U.S. Water Infrastructure

Agriculture uses more than 80% of the state's water, though it accounts for less than a tenth of the economy.

ECONOMIST: Water policy

The problem arises when actions in other domains ignore or misunderstand that water underpins the entire green economy, and that without planning for good management of freshwater resources the entire movement is put at risk.

UNESCO: World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP)

The aquifer provides drinking water for much of the state and is important for Nebraska's agricultural economy.

CNN: Keystone pipeline builder proposes new route

Inefficient energy use is what's bad for the economy, as is the collateral damage in terms of pollution, erosion of water resources, and international security that accompanies old-school fossil fuel and nuclear solutions on the supply side.

FORBES: Evan Mills

Not, in this case, whisky - although we may take for granted that he is well aware of the intrinsic worth of the water of life as far as the Scottish economy is concerned.

BBC: Alex Salmond's Plan Macb