As the heat budget of Earth's ecosystem changes scientists have pointed out that the availability and distribution of water will change as well. Predictions of something as complex as climate cannot be very precise, nevertheless the expectation is that in the coming decades dry areas will become yet more dry and wet areas will experience increased precipitation, both in over all volume and severety of particular weather events. This could be disastrous for the ways in which human settlements are currently distributed around the globe. Concepts of "embedded water," drought stressed populations and "water refugees" will be discussed.