Several factors make collaboration more important in water matters:

1. The parties are often “repeat players”  - they are on the same water system and other disputes will arise in the future. Therefore, becoming competent in conflict resolution is more important than in ‘one off’ matters.
2. Parties are often connected not only physically by water system, but also by administration and law.
3. Parties in water disputes tend to have ups and downs in sequence (i.e., the water supply changes for everyone in the basin year to year; they all have a wet year or all have a dry year.

These issues make collaboration more important – and the avoidance of litigation more important.