Pueblos lived in arid regions and water was one of the most precious of their commodities. The Pueblos regarded rainfall as a sign of benevolence on the part of the gods. When it rained, the people in the villages, especially the children, would roll around in the muddy puddles in sheer joy. Villages usually had a large hollow scooped out in the rock or in the ground to hold water for as long as possible. The strictest of the Pueblo laws were those that governed the use of water during the dry season. When water supplies ran out the men of the village traveled to distant springs to obtain new supplies. Even the dew that appeared on plants during the night was gathered.

Drought in these regions could be very prolonged. Examination of tree rings has shown that one such period existed from 1276 to 1299.