Most people you talk with would say that there is no water in the desert, when, in fact, that is far from the truth in most cases. There are a few extreme cases where nothing will grow, but if there is vegetation growing, then you can assume there is water somewhere close by. The more vegetation, the greater the likelihood of more water being present. If you are in the desert and do not have water, there are some of plants that retain water in order to make it through the dry times, and you are able to drink this provided you know where to look.

If you live in a desert region, it is very important that you have a good water source, since your livelihood depends on it. In some desert-like countries, the small and poorer farmers use buckets to carry water for their crops, but that is not a rewarding experience and their crops do not always do well. Meanwhile, the larger and more well-to-do farmers use motorized irrigation pumps and their crops usually do better. A good water source is the difference between success and failure.

In the United States, farmers have mastered ways of harnessing the water. The U.S. has many western states that consist of desert conditions, and yet there are thriving communities which could not be possible without water. In order to grow crops in these areas, there are highly developed irrigation systems in place. Also, dams have been built in order to store water from rainstorms and also the winter's melting snow. Conservation of the water supply is also a major part of the way cities plan around their water supply.

If people did not have ways to collect and store water, such as the water from the Hoover Dam which holds a 2-year supply of water, the people living in the desert would not be able to grow crops and, thus, survive.