We analyze numerically and experimentally the effect of the input pulse chirp on the nonlinear energy deposition from $5 mu$J fs-pulses at $800$ nm to water. Numerical results are also shown for pulses at $400$ nm, where linear losses are minimized,
and for different focusing geometries. Input chirp is found to have a big impact on the deposited energy and on the plasma distribution around focus, thus providing a simple and effective mechanism to tune the electron density and energy deposition. We identify three relevant ways in which plasma features may be tuned.
