Water's unique chemical and physical properties affect its ability to be contaminated. There are several water quality indicators scientists can use to determine the health of a body of water, including: temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, specific conductivity, and biological sampling. Water quality is important for recreational, industrial, and residential water usage.

Conservation of water is also a global phenomenon, one in which countries strive to combine water quality and water quantity conservation efforts. The types of strategies employed are dependent upon the physical geography, climatic patterns, human infrastructure, and economic conditions of the region.