Water policies must be scaled. They must respect communities of water-sharers. They must recognize watersheds (be basin consistent).
In the realm of philosophical priorities, free water comes first. The acts of pumping, piping and dumping water, unavoidable as they may be, are degrading to water. This awareness should be the foundation for any pricing policy of pumped and piped water. The priority of free, gratuitous and flowing water should be recognized. We must allow water to recover the dignity of its sparkling, flowing presence.