Why do we need the water cycle?
Water is constantly moving. It flows. This counters what
we (as humans) think we have to do to keep it flowing
(often a tack line used by water supply corporations).
However, for the move to support the habitants of the
earth, we need to appreciate and work with the
hydrologic or water cycle (as we have learned in
schools).
The Earth is covered by water, however, almost 97% is
salt water found in the oceans. We can not drink salt
water or use it for crops because of the salt content. We
can remove salt from ocean water, but the process is
very expensive.
Natural hydrologic systems maintain a balance amongst
the various processes of precipitation, runoff to lakes,
rivers and wetlands, infiltration to the groundwater
system, evaporation from open water surfaces and
evapotranspiration from vegetation. It is this cycle that
allows us to use the water 'in the sea' for use by all on
earth without investing in salt extraction systems.
This balance completes the natural cycle of water from
the atmosphere back into atmospheric moisture and
precipitation.
As a general rule, in natural watersheds, approximately:
Click on the diagram on your left for a view of the watercycle.
Water is constantly moving. It flows. This counters what
we (as humans) think we have to do to keep it flowing
(often a tack line used by water supply corporations).
However, for the move to support the habitants of the
earth, we need to appreciate and work with the
hydrologic or water cycle (as we have learned in
schools).
The Earth is covered by water, however, almost 97% is
salt water found in the oceans. We can not drink salt
water or use it for crops because of the salt content. We
can remove salt from ocean water, but the process is
very expensive.
Natural hydrologic systems maintain a balance amongst
the various processes of precipitation, runoff to lakes,
rivers and wetlands, infiltration to the groundwater
system, evaporation from open water surfaces and
evapotranspiration from vegetation. It is this cycle that
allows us to use the water 'in the sea' for use by all on
earth without investing in salt extraction systems.
This balance completes the natural cycle of water from
the atmosphere back into atmospheric moisture and
precipitation.
As a general rule, in natural watersheds, approximately:
 | 60% of the precipitation evaporates or | |
| transpirates back into the atmosphere, | ||
| 30% infiltrates the soil | |
| and 10% runs off into surface water bodies. |
Click on the diagram on your left for a view of the water
The water balance for the water cycle determines the amount of water available for water
ecosystem functioning and the amount available for human uses.
The two water cycle processes responsible for moving the greatest quantities of water are
precipitation and evaporation, globally transporting approximately 505,000 km³ of water
each year. Think of it as two cycles: the ocean cycle and the land cycle. The
significance of the latter increases the further the land is from the ocean.
It is necessary to understand this "water balance" in order to maintain the resource and its
environmental and human connections in the water cycle.
ecosystem functioning and the amount available for human uses.
The two water cycle processes responsible for moving the greatest quantities of water are
precipitation and evaporation, globally transporting approximately 505,000 km³ of water
each year. Think of it as two cycles: the ocean cycle and the land cycle. The
significance of the latter increases the further the land is from the ocean.
It is necessary to understand this "water balance" in order to maintain the resource and its
environmental and human connections in the water cycle.
Reversing the negative
effects of the Water Cycle
The understanding of the water cycle is
important for developing water
management policies and procedures for
homes, gardens, villages, farming, towns
for the country and for the region.
KEY:
effects of the Water Cycle
The understanding of the water cycle is
important for developing water
management policies and procedures for
homes, gardens, villages, farming, towns
for the country and for the region.
KEY:
 | Considering our impacts on the | |
| water cycle, ensuring that our impacts do not affect our ability to provide services into the future. | ||
| That no one being uses water at the | |
| expense of the other. The three kingdoms of humans, animals and plants learn to co-exist harmoniously. | ||
| Watch this co-existence at ALL | |
| times. Do not let one's (self) guard down at any time. | ||
| When humans or any of the other | |
| two live at the expense of the others for personal gains, the water cycle shifts into its default behaviour, that is it starts to run (increasingly) negative. Reverse the effects. | ||
| Recognising that the water business | |
| requires interaction with different parts of the water cycle and managing water supply, treatment and use, sewage disposal, flood risk management, surface water drainage as a part of the water cycle. |
| AFFECTS AVAILABILITY TO THE COUNTRY AND SUPPLY BY DWA |