Water can symbolize your spiritual side or life itself. It can assume the shape of anything into which it is placed. How the water is depicted in the dream says something about your spiritual side. Our spiritual side is quite often the most neglected aspect of our nature. Spirituality is expression of the soul and not to be confused with religion. Expression of the soul connects you with life and is your true essence. What gives you expression? Is it writing, poetry, playing musical instruments, dancing, teaching, helping others, etc? Do you know what it is and if you do, have you created space for it in your life?
Rain is about letting life in, and being caught in the rain in a dream is very positive. What the rain is hitting can be significant. For example, rain falling onto a car engine asks you to let life into your heart.
A river has a natural flow and has carved out its own path over time. This dream is asking you to be like a river and allow your spirituality to flow freely in the direction it must take.
A lake is a large body of water with no outlet. You are being asked to create an outlet for your spirituality. It is deeper than you think.
A canal is a flow of water whose path is controlled by manmade structures. This indicates that your spirituality is limited by conventional or manmade ideals.
The sea is the ultimate body of water. This dream can be about life or your spiritual life. Other symbols in the dream will refine the subject matter.
Shallow water indicates that despite what you may think, you still have room to deepen your spiritual side.
Watching others jump into water is a request to jump into life or develop your spiritual gifts.
A swimming pool is a body of water contained by four sides. This indicates that you limit your spiritual expression or flow of life.
Polluted water symbolizes toxins in your blood stream. These dreams will usually indicate what foods or drinks are causing the toxins to get there. You are being asked to cut them down or cut them out altogether.
Water running down the walls or leaking from the ceiling of a house or building is indicative of your body being dehydrated. This is common, particularly if you were drinking alcohol the night before.
Soapy water asks you to cleanse something. For example, washing red meat in the sink asks you to cleanse red meat from your diet.
Soapy water hitting your back is a request to cleanse something from your past. Deal with it and let it go.