WATER / Photographic Project of Alena Dvorakova and Viktor Fischer, Afisphoto. We do not perceive the presence of water everywhere around us. Work on our long-term project Missions involved locations where we became fully aware of its actual and major importance for life. Earth is often called a ‘blue planet’ – ¾ of its surface is water: 94 % of water is in oceans, only close to 6 % is fresh water. Current human population is using 54 % of all available fresh water resources and the share is to grow to 70 % by the year 2025 only due to the growth of population. If at the same time the trends of water consumption continue to grow, mankind will be using up to 90 % of water resources in 25 years. Lack of fresh water currently represents the second biggest risk of future development of mankind after the climate changes. The 21st century is identified as a century of wars for water and more than one hundred potential epicentres of conflicts are registered, since the nineties of last century people are openly talking about global water crisis. Global industry produces every year up to 500 mil. tons of heavy metals and waste waters polluted with organic substances. In developing countries 70 % of industrial waste is discharged without treatment. Excessive use and pollution necessarily reflects in the status of rivers, lakes and water related ecosystems. A half of 500 largest rivers around the world is highly polluted, one fifth of fish species are endangered. Due to unbearable pollution and drying up of water sources a new category of environmental refugees has been formed – 25 million people fall into this category every year. Perhaps the most serious worldwide issue is the lack of water to satisfy the basic human needs. Almost a quarter of human population does not have access to good quality potable water and a half of population suffers from lack of water for sanitary purposes. Five million people die every year as a result of diseases contagious through water, this is ten times more than the number of people dying in wars. With the population growing mainly in developing countries this issue is reaching the scale of human tragedy. The solution is known and relatively simple but it is hard to implement due to the scope and financial demands. As photographers living in one of the problematic areas we are clearly aware of the common responsibility for the current and quickly aggravating environmental disaster. We work on the non-for-profit project Water with the idea that photography has the power to positively influence the development of such a serious problem. It is our objective to present to the audience some common topics that are almost not perceived any more, to inspire the imagination and to present new context. In these times we all depend on everything and everything is interrelated. Sources: UN, Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic, Prague Sewerage System and Water Streams.