the water is a must, flushes out the canal. otherwise all that bacteria just builds up over time, like that kid in school with a cold who'd wait till he had about three pounds of mucus starting to drip down his face before he'd finally go blow his horrible sinus cavity out as loudly and disgustingly as possible in front of the whole class. just like that. very few bitches these days hydrate properly, not very many practicing good hygiene either