Adjust oven racks to upper- and lower-middle postions and heat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk flour, salt, and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.

Either by hand or with electric mixer, cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes with mixer set at medium speed. Scrape sides of bowl with rubber spatula. Add eggs, vanilla, and water. Beat until combined, about 40 seconds. Scrape sides of bowl.

Add dry ingredients and beat at low speed until just combined, 15 to 20 seconds. Add chocolate chips and stir until combined.

Drop batter by tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheets, spacing pieces of dough about 1 inch apart. Bake, reversing positions of cookie sheets halfway through baking (from top to bottom and front to back), until cookies are light golden brown and outer edges begin to crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool cookies on sheets for 1 to 2 minutes before transferring to cooling racks with wide spatula.