Life around the planet has adapted to thrive by managing and filtering water in all sorts of conditions. We need only look out our back doors to learn effective ways to manage and clean the water we use.

Fresh water is the sustenance of life. It’s a key factor that has defined how ecosystems and human societies have grown and developed throughout history. Access to just the right amount of water is anything but consistent. Many people face daily struggles coping with too little—or too much—water. Life around the planet has adapted to thrive by managing and filtering water in all sorts of conditions. We need only look out our back doors to learn effective ways to manage and clean the water we use. This collection explores just a few strategies nature has evolved to do just that and more.

How might we follow nature’s lead to capture water and store it for later, providing sustenance in times of drought? Protect our infrastructure from floods and torrential rains? Conserve this valuable resource in our cities by reusing wastewater and handling stormwater effectively? Improve distribution efficiency in our agricultural irrigation systems? Remove water contaminants in drinking water? Emulating nature’s strategies in human designs could uncover new solutions to our water challenges.