Nice idea L M, I've been reading & writing through the blogs & forums from the beginning, and don't recall water ever being mentioned, at least off-hand. Would be cool feature in the form of a mote and practical to program, graphically simple I think. The mote could be crossed (as you said slowly) unlike the chasm. Another idea springs to mind of piranhas,crocs/gators lurking about. It's possible somebody brought up water before, but I only remember thoughts about fire. So while we're on the elements, let's add a little wind in some of the corridors (easily coded), would be cool just before a roaming swarm of bats fly by our heads.
I look forward to getting a server back active and getting into some games with you!