Geotechnical hazards pose continuous threats to the performance of structures and facilities for example expansive soils that act slowly on structures and other hazards such as earthquakes that act rapidly causing loses. Some of these hazards are naturally occurring, others cannot or are difficult to predict and thus structures are prone to failure. However, before construction the soil can be tested and if need be the land to be developed remediated and thus structures are built on the land are safe and are not susceptible failure caused by contamination.

Water is a vital commodity for human existence. Despite covering about 71% of the earth, not all available water is fit for human consumption, agriculture of even to be used in industries. This poses the questions to engineers; how much water is needed? How much water is available? Who may use the available water?