Some of the clientele mentioned water, perhaps (7)

I believe the answer is:

element

'water perhaps' is the definition.
(water is one of the four classical elements)

'some of the clientele mentioned' is the wordplay.
'some of' indicates a hidden word.
'ELEMENT' is hidden within 'clientele mentioned'.

(Other definitions for element that I've seen before include "Comfort zone" , "fire, perhaps, once" , "Constituent component" , "Ingredient - small amount" , "Basic chemical unit" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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