Designed to serve as a framework from which high school debate students, coaches, and judges can evaluate the issues, arguments and evidence present in the availability and quality of water resources in the United States, this booklet provides guidelines for research on the 1985-86 debate resolutions selected by the National Federation of State High School Associations. Following the presentation of the problem area and the three debate resolutions, the booklet's four chapters discuss (1) getting started, a review of useful information on researching the topic of water resources; (2) an overview of the general issues of water policy; (3) problems of water quality; and (4) issues of water allocation. Diagrams and tables accompany the text. (EL)