You may want to check the floorpan/carriage on the underside of the car. There is an issue with corrosion causing holes. If you check at: http://repairpal.com/Jeep-cherokee-1997/recalls_and_tsbs you will find the following.
Body, Interior & Misc.: STRUCTURE:BODY Service Bulletin Number: 2302602
NHTSA Number: 633948
Model Years Affected: 1997
Date of Bulletin: 09/2002
Bulletin Summary: SUBJECT REGARDING FLOOR PAN CORROSION. C
The same is noted for my 95 Cherokee. The floorpan on mine had a number of places where holes had to be repaired. The repair included: scraping off the extra rusted area, filling in with caulk, riveting a metal scrap over them, then caulking the edges and once dry covering with the weatherproof sealant.
You may be able to get repair advice or a kit from the dealer since this is a technical service bulletin - I did not bother doing that as the materials I used in the repair noted were readily available in the garage already.
in the floor board on the front passenger side. If you were sitting in the front passanger seat it would be right next to your right foot. There is a panel that you have to pull off.
On a 1997 Ford Explorer : The toe board is the angled piece between the floor and the firewall in front of the driver and the front passenger
Heater core failure.
Under the carpet in the front passenger floor board.
You have a fuse box under the carpet in the front passenger's front floor board and another fuse box under the hood in front of the passenger's side.
Heater core
It is under the front passenger seat.It is under the front passenger seat.
one under the hood and one in the right front kick panel passengers floor out board side
Underneath the passengers seat Actually its on the passenger side but on the front of the floor board. Just peel back the carpet on the front passenger side and you will see it
Between the passenger side front seat and captains chair on the floor board is the release mechanism
If you are sure it is water and not coolant, then the A/C Condenser drain line is stopped up. You will find it near the firewall on the passenger side. Look for a tube under the Jeep. If it is coolant, which will taste sweet, your heater core is leaking and must be replaced.
It is under the carpet of the front passenger floor board under the glove box. There is a panel back there that you can access and you will see the connector.