Why was access to waterways an important factor in the development of colonial cities and towns?

Access to waterways was an imperative factor in the advancement of pioneer urban areas and towns since it gave ripe land to develop crops, drink water, and used for transportation. 
Transport by inland conduits might be by safe streams or those made safe by canalization or on counterfeit conduits called trenches. Numerous inland conduits are multipurpose, giving seepage, water system, water supply, and the era of hydroelectric power and in addition route.