Water
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- Obi-Wan Kenobi: "How could anyone eat that stuff?"
- Si Treemba: "Some creatures wonder how Humans can drink water, yet you take delight in it."
- ―Obi-Wan Kenobi and Si Treemba[src]
Water 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 and Kamino were totally 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.
Water in its frozen form was known as ice, which formed crystals. Sometimes it would condense and fall as snow, sleet, or hail. Planets that experienced consistent ice include but are not limited to: Hoth, Mygeeto, Ilum, Rhen Var, Anteevy, Ota, Orto Plutonia and Polus.
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[edit] Water farming
Groundwater could be extracted from aquifers through the use of water wells, tap trees,[1] and hydromech droids,[2] though sometimes it simply flowed naturally from freshwater springs.[3] It was usually processed by an aquifer purifier before being distributed for consumption.[4] On Coruscant, water was gathered and stored in giant artificial aquifers.[5]
On some planets, dams were built to form artificial lakes for the purpose of storing water.[6]
On dry land, moisture vaporators were used to harvest excess atmospheric humidity, collecting enough water to sustain three average humanoids[source?], 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.[7]
Water harvesters were also used as another ground-based method of collecting water.[8]
Seas and oceans were also a major source of drinking water. On planets such as Belasco, sea water was run through a desalination process in order to make it drinkable.[9]
Throughout the galaxy, a variety of methods were used to convert sewage into pure water on some planets. The use of recirculation pumps was one such method.[10]
Once water was collected, it was distributed through large networks of irrigation canals, allowing stored water to flow into populated regions for consumption.[11].
[edit] Drinking water
Among many of its applications, water was popular for drinking, though not among all species.[12] Water was usually dispensed from sink faucets found in various types of buildings.[13] Water could also be purchased as a cheap beverage at a cantina,[13] or in containers from street vendors.[8] Free drinking water was rare in the galaxy.[14] As a result, it was often a target of smuggling and theft.[8]
Soldiers and other operatives usually carried drinking water in canteens,[15] or could sip water through a helmet pipestraw.[16]
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.[8]
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.[17]
[edit] Other uses of water
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.[18]
Water was used in cooking, either to boil food such as pashi noodles,[19] or used as an ingredient in beverages such as hot chocolate.[20]
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.[13]
Water could also be used as art or decoration, in the form of elaborate water sculptures, fountains, and artificial waterfalls.[16]
For recreation and relaxation, some beings would swim in natural bodies of water, or in artificial swimming pools.[21]
[edit] 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.[source?]
The Cult of Varn was a religion on Kamar that had a great reverence for water.[22]
[edit] Other facts
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.[23] 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.[24]
Some blasters were known to malfunction after being submerged in icy water.[25] Lightsabers could not operate underwater unless specially modified. [source?]
A poncho was a piece of clothing that could be used as protection against rain.[14]
[edit] Appearances
[edit] Non-canon appearances
- LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
- LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
- LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
[edit] Sources
- The Essential Guide to Characters
- The Secrets of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
"Secrets of Mos Eisley" - Star Wars Gamer 7
Planet Hoppers: Cona on Wizards.com (article)
- Arkanian Chill on Wizards.com (article)
[edit] Notes and references
- ↑ Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire
- ↑
M-HYD droid in the Databank - ↑ Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
- ↑ Cloak of Deception
- ↑ Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (novel)
- ↑ Jedi Apprentice: The Evil Experiment
- ↑ Star Wars: Galaxies
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Boba Fett: Hunted
- ↑ Jedi Apprentice: The Dangerous Rescue
- ↑ A Forest Apart
- ↑ Changing Seasons
- ↑ Jedi Apprentice: The Rising Force
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Darth Maul: Saboteur
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Boba Fett: The Fight to Survive
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Shield of Lies
- ↑ Darth Bane: Path of Destruction
- ↑ Star Wars: Complete Locations
- ↑ Jedi Apprentice: The Deadly Hunter
- ↑ The Joiner King
- ↑ Republic Commando: Hard Contact
- ↑ Han Solo and the Corporate Sector Sourcebook
- ↑ Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- ↑ Darth Maul
- ↑ The Monster
