Energy and water resources are deeply interconnected. In the United States, the water sector consumes ∼4% of primary energy, and energy generation is the sector where the most water is withdrawn. These competing water-energy demands are global and not unique to the U.S.; this highlights an urgent role for first-principles scientific innovation. The goal of this perspective is to define the scientific context of the water-energy nexus and examine ways in which developing technologies could have an impact on the future of deriving energy from water and, in turn, water from energy. Scientists, perched upon the steep slopes of demand curves for water and energy, are charged with developing enhanced techniques to enable a sustainable water and energy future. Inevitably though, for sustainability to be achieved, there must be a pairing of these innovative new technologies with a more cognizant public perception surrounding water use and reuse.

能源和水资源之间有着紧密的联系。在美国，水务部门消耗的一次能源约占4％，而能源生产是取水量最大的部门。这些相互竞争的水能需求是全球性的，并非美国独有。这凸显了第一原理科学创新的紧迫作用。该观点的目的是定义水能源关系的科学背景，并研究开发技术可能对未来从水获取能源以及从能源获取水的未来产生影响的方式。科学家们坐在水和能源需求曲线的陡坡上，负责开发增强的技术，以实现可持续的水和能源未来。但是，为了实现可持续发展，不可避免地，