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Many reasons:
First of all, your body needs water in order for it to survive.
Water is used to help the body process the foods you eat, and to maintain wellness.
Water is used to flush your body of wastes and toxins as well as other foriegn chemicals. Just think back (or imagine) how people used to eat 25, 50, or 100 years ago. Back then, very few foods were processed, and very few foods had chemical additives in them. Today, even the best of real unprocessed foods might be laced with hormones, or some sprays that are ingested into the body. Drinking plenty of water helps flush the body and may give some organs some relief of toxic substances.
The author has had personal experiences where his mothers' condition stopped deteriorating, and actually started improving - at age 80. This elderly mom was asked and encouraged to drink 10 glasses a day. Most of the time, it was not 10 glasses, but it was at least 5 many days, and some times 10 a day. In conjunction with drinking plenty of water, her diet was changed - there would be no more processed foods in the home. No more refined foods such as doughnuts, or pizza, or bread, or bagels, buns, sugar, rice. All the high calorie refined carbohydrates were completely eliminated once and for all. Her condition improved and impressed the health care professionals who had regularlly attended to her.
She also lost about 80 pounds within 1 year. Before and after photos are available - just email jack@drinkplentyofwater.com and put MOM's PHOTO in the subject heading along with any other information you require.

Just remember this... If you eat foods with chemical dye's or preservatives, or any other chemicals in it... just think about the actual accumulation of these substances over a year, a decade, or 3 or 4 decades. A body gets beaten down, and gets beaten down quickly as time goes on.
Drinking plenty of water, along with the lifestyle of refined food elimination, and being active all work hand in hand so that you may live disease free and usually problem free much longer than otherwise.
All of the homes of my family have one of the water filters shown in these webpages. My home has a filter on the incoming water line as well as a countertop filter (with a charcoal cartridge). Our water tastes better than most homes I visit. We have water drinking contests with our kids - a fun way to get them to drink plenty of water.

A significant number of Americans/Canadians may be "drinking themselves to dehydration" by consuming too little water and too many beverages that rob the body of water, according to the results of a national consumer survey.

The survey of 3,003 Americans, conducted by Yankelovich Partners for the Nutrition Information Center at The New York Hospital - Cornell Medical Center and the International Bottled Water Association, reveals that America's glass is half empty.

The good news is that the average American drinks nearly eight daily servings of hydrating beverages, such as water, milk, juice and decaffeinated soft drinks. But that is undermined by the nearly five servings of caffeine- or alcohol-containing beverages that respondents report drinking each day. Scientific research shows that caffeine and alcohol act as diuretics, causing the body to lose water through increased urination.

"The net result is that most Americans are probably only getting about a third of the valuable hydration benefits they need," says Barbara Levine, R.D., Ph.D., Director of the Nutrition Information Center. "The vast majority aren't drinking enough water to begin with, and, to make matters worse, many don't realize that beverages containing alcohol and caffeine actually rob the body of water."

Awareness of Water Needs is High, but Compliance is Low

While two out of three survey respondents say they know that health and nutrition experts recommend drinking eight, eight-ounce servings of water a day, one in two admits to not getting enough. In fact, the survey shows that the average American only consumes 4.6 servings of water a day.

Indeed, only one in five meets the "eight a day" recommendation. More than double that amount (44 percent) drink three or fewer servings of water daily. And nearly one in 10 (9 percent) report drinking no water at all.

"It's troubling that so few Americans drink the recommended amount of water daily," notes Levine. "The consumption of water and other hydrating beverages is crucial for proper retention and use of the body's water in complex and intricate biochemical processes."

Water comprises more than 70 percent of solid tissue, such as muscle, in the human body. Besides oxygen, it is the most important nutrient in the body, functioning as a physiological "jack of all trades." Water has an important role in nearly every major function in the body, regulating body temperature, carrying nutrients and oxygen to cells, removing waste, cushioning joints and protecting organs and tissues.

It is not surprising, then, that those survey respondents who say they drink eight or more servings of water a day are less likely to report experiencing the symptoms of dehydration than those who drink three or fewer glasses of water daily. Low-volume water drinkers, for example, are more likely to report having dry, itchy skin or feeling tired and groggy when they wake up or at mid-day, two classic signs of dehydration.

Levine notes that longer-term, more severe dehydration presents more serious problems, dangerously affecting blood pressure, circulation, digestion, kidney function and nearly all body processes.

Survey Reveals Hydration 'Knowledge Gaps'

While survey respondents are widely aware of minor dehydration symptoms such as dry skin and headaches, they are less knowledgeable about the causes of dehydration. For example, one in five does not know that caffeine dehydrates -- a key finding, considering that Americans down 4.1 daily servings of coffee, caffeinated soda and tea.

Additionally, nearly half (47 percent) are unaware that the human body loses as much water when asleep as when awake, while more than a third (37 percent) do not know that the body needs as much water in cold weather as it does in warm weather.

One in 10 respondents say they wait until they are thirsty before drinking a beverage. They do not realize that thirst lags far behind the body's need for water and does not adequately signal the body's hydration needs.

The Nutrition Information Center is a component of the Clinical Nutrition Research Unit, The New York Hospital - Cornell Medical Center, Memorial Sloan - Kettering Cancer Center.

About the survey methodology: The findings are from a survey of 3,003 American adults, conducted by Yankelovich Partners for the Nutrition Information Center of The New York Hospital -- Cornell Medical Center and the International Bottled Water Association. Total sampling error: plus/minus 1.8%.

HYDRATION FACTS

75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. It is probable that similar percentages apply to 90% of the world population.

In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

Even mild dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.

One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

Research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%.It can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and reduce the risk of developing bladder cancer by 50%.

HYDRATION IN COLD & HEAT

According to nutritionists, the best way to fight the heat and the cold is to drink plenty of water. However, a survey by The Brita Products Company found that, even in the best of weather conditions, two out of three Americans drink fewer than the recommended 8 glasses of water a day. Read on for some interesting and important tips on keeping hydrated in the cold and heat.

Cold Weather Hydration
In the winter, skiers don't always realize that drinking copious amounts of water will help them perform and feel better. A 1998 study conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine monitored skiers and compared a well-hydrated group (using back-mounted hydration packs) with a "no-water" group. The results showed how dehydration can dramatically affect a skier's day. The combination of drier air, high altitude and exercise can bring on effects of dehydration ranging from fatigue to frost bite. Although skiers are often tempted to drink hot beverages or alcohol, these only add to the effects of dehydration. Don't rely on thirst to be your guide. Drink water steadily over the course of the day, at least twelve 8-ounce glasses or more if you are and aggressive skier or snowboarder. A helpful method for hydration outdoors is a back-mounted hydration system, like the CamelBak.

Keeping Cool in the Heat
When the weather heats up, remember to increase your water consumption. "High temperatures and humidity can cause serious health problems if people over exert themselves," says Susan Kleiner, Ph.D., R.D. "Dehydration is more common under these conditions. To help combat dehydration, I recommend drinking more than eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day during the summer."

-- Add two glasses a day to your 8-glass minimum. While 8 glasses daily is a good start, you should routinely drink more fluids during the summer. Increasing your minimum intake by a couple of glasses is good insurance. Keep in mind that heavy perspiration can cause you to lose 12, 14 or even 16 glasses a day.

-- Drink before you get thirsty. If you wait until you're thirsty, you're already slightly dehydrated. Thirst is an unreliable indicator of your hydration needs.

-- Have a "water plan." It is important to drink water at regular intervals throughout the day in order to keep your body's internal temperature down. Keep a full pitcher, glass or water bottle handy to remind yourself.

-- Don't over exert yourself during the heat wave. Even daily rituals may be too much during very hot weather. This may mean not going for a walk during the day or postponing outdoor chores such as gardening until after the heat wave.

-- Parents should monitor the fluid intake of infants and toddlers since they are unable to express thirst. Even older children will often not stop to take a drink until they are thirsty and need to be reminded to take "water breaks" on a regular basis, especially during hot weather.

-- Pregnant women need to drink more water. They need to accommodate the needs of the fetus and the fluid losses due to increased heat production and perspiration. Lactating women need to increase water intake to replace fluid lost through nursing.

-- Don't count beverages containing caffeine or alcohol toward your 8 glasses. Caffeine and alcohol dehydrate your body, so you need to compensate for them. Drink an extra glass of water for each cup of regular coffee or tea, and for each glass of an alcoholic beverage that you drink.

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