在水环境日益恶化的今天，如何有效遏制恶化趋势，重新建立起水的健康循环，恢复良好水环境，是当前水资源可持续利用，人类永续发展的根本性问题。文章从水的自然循环和水的社会循环关系出发，论述了人类社会活动与自然界的协调发展，指出水环境恢复和维系的基础是建立健康的社会水循环。进而首次提出了系统的水环境恢复原理和方略。呼吁建立水循环科学与工程学科，为水环境恢复和维系事业提供科学依据和人才基础。从水环境角度进行各项水事工作，是恢复水环境的基本途径，也是客观实际的迫切要求。

With the increasing deterioration of water environment, it is very urgent that an efficient method be found to control and rebuild a healthy recycling of water. Based on the relationship between natural and societal recycling of water, this paper highlights that social sustainable development should be harmonized with nature and shows that the recovery and maintenance of water environment should be based on a healthy societal recycling of water. A systematic theory and strategy of water environmental recovery has been put forward for the first time and the authors hold that a new branch-water environment science and technology-should be established in order to provide scientific foundation and professional. It is elemental and essential that all kinds of water-related work should be carried out in terms of water environment.