We Need Water!

Every living thing needs water to live. People need clean, fresh water for drinking and washing. People also need water for transportation and farming. How do you use water?

The Water Cycle

Water is everywhere. It is in the ground we walk on. Water is in the air we breathe. Water moves from land to sky and back again every day. That journey is called the water cycle.

Learn the Steps

The sun warms the water in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Soon the warm water changes into a gas. That change is called evaporation. The gas floats up and forms clouds in the sky.
The gas in the clouds cools. Soon the cool gas turns back into water. That change is called condensation.
Water falls from the clouds to Earth as raindrops or snowflakes. That process is called precipitation.
Rain soaks into the ground. The water flows back into the rivers, lakes, and oceans. That process is called collection. Soon the water cycle starts all over again.

How the Water Cycle Affects You

The water cycle affects the water levels in bodies of water. Transportation systems that rely on waterways—such as ferries, grain ships, tugboats, barges, and freight transports—need normal levels of water.

Long dry spells can cause more evaporation than collection. Water levels can drop. If the water level falls too low in a lake or river, boats cannot move through water that is too shallow. On the other hand, too much precipitation that forms more water than can be evaporated or collected, can cause high water levels. If water is too high and a river or lake spills over its banks, boats cannot move because of the danger.

Another important effect of the water cycle is how climate changes by the amount of precipitation that falls. A desert climate receives very little precipitation. A tropical climate receives a large amount of precipitation.

Protect Water!

Here are some tips you can follow to protect Earth's water.

Pick up trash and do not litter. Trash can let harmful chemicals flow into the water.
Don't waste water. Save water by turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth.