1. All nature relies on water, yet climate change threatens water availability to the highest degree- from too much (e.g. extreme weather; flooding) to too little (e.g. droughts; wildfires). These water shifts threaten all life on earth.2. Societies' safe and reliable water accessibility faces growing uncertainty from climate change; however, water crisis communication may inadvertently remind audiences of their mortality. According to terror management theory, these mortality reminders can hinder pro-environmental efforts in humans and even increase intergroup biases- a significant challenge for developing environmental solutions. While climate change has been examined as a mortality reminder, water remains untested.3. We presented participants with either a mortality -laden message, an aversive but not - life-threatening message, or one of three threatening water-related messages- experiencing drowning, dehydration or contaminated water consumption- to determine if the water-related messages function similarly to the mortality message.4. Some (e.g. drowning; contaminated water), but not all (e.g. dehydration), water messages increased death-thought accessibility, which could lead to paradoxical environmental behaviours, depending on the audience. Our research findings should inform policymakers, non-profit organizations and other water correspondents' communication strategies.5. As some threatening water messages elicit similar responses to known mortality reminders, the way water crises are framed is important for water-related decision-making and ensuring equitable, successful pro-environmental outcomes.