What do bees use Water for?

[MrILoveTheAnts]

Obviously they drink it. But recently I noticed tons of them at the pond, birdbath and dog dish and so one. I'd expect this kind of activity on a warm day but yesterday it was only 61F here. I actually needed a light weight coat. So what are the bees using all this water for?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/Beesdrinking.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/Beesdrinking2.jpg

[LET-CA]

Based on the numbers you're describing, I wouldn't be surprised if they were getting some nectar value from this.  The plants may have a certain amount of stuff disolved into the water that the bees like.

[MrILoveTheAnts]

True but that doesn't rule out the birds bath and dog bowl. They aren't as busy because they are farther away.

[annette]

They use the water to cool the hive during hot weather and to dilute the nectar to make honey.

Mine are drinking like crazy now during this 100 degree heat we are having here now. When I visit them during the day, you can hear a loud humming coming from the hive as they fan their wings and make like a swamp cooler in the hive.

Annette

[Sean Kelly]

Adult bees don't need to drink water, but the brood does.

Sean Kelly

[Mici]

diluting nectar to make honey...ok this can't be it annete.
they use water to mix it with pollen and honey, to make bee-bread, and like someone mentioned, to cool the hive. at least i think so

[MrILoveTheAnts]

So it's a sign that they are making honey like crazy then?

[Mici]

So it's a sign that they are making honey like crazy then?

no....read my previous post once again, slowly.
but i do think that when bees AREN'T using water-taking it from your supplyes, there's a flow going on-they do not need water to mix the bee.bread since nectar is already thin, but i'm not sure about this one.

so_
lot's of bees on water-rearing brood, low honey flow
almost no bees at water-still rearing brood but with a flow goind on.

at least i think so

[Michael Bush]

It takes a frame of honey, a frame of brood and an equal amount of water to make brood.  And that's not counting cooling the hive, and diluting the honey so they can eat it themselves.