Water security is a global threat that is intensifying with increasing demands for freshwater and climate change. Scientific advances provide tools to address issues of water quantity and quality, but new advances in conflict resolution (CR) theory are also required. Here, we discuss new CR theory (conflict analysis as the intervention, and the use of middle-influencers as key players), along with a case-study of the application of these CR advances in a water-stressed region of Canada. We argue that continued adaptation, iteration, and refinement of CR theory involving both social and natural scientists is crucial for addressing water-related conflicts globally.