Try reading this column while listening to Whitney’s “Rain.” Its soft chords evoke the continuous cycle and vital connection that water brings.
Returning to writing, I thought of this title for this op-ed: “You Are My Sun, You Are My Water,” a brief dialogue between two lovers evoking the deep meaning and strength each brings into the other’s life.
This phrase aptly introduces the five forces that move water, reflecting the essence, meaning, and power of both the natural and artificial water cycles—forces of the universe, of the Earth, and those in territories shaped by collective effort or individual interest.
Imagine, dear reader, that “You Are My Sun” is spoken by Earth to its guiding star, while “You Are My Water” is whispered inward to its blue heart—or perhaps by those who depend on and cherish water.
Water travels a long journey from its origin—in oceans, rivers, lakes, aquifers, reservoirs—until it reaches our homes and businesses. Have you ever wondered how all that water moves to reach your shower, or as you slip into a bath or pool? Here, I’ll explain why I consider that five forces move it.
First, water begins its terrestrial phase in the hydrological cycle, originating in oceans and seas through evaporation, a “natural desalination” driven by the sun's energy, the “soul that initiates” water’s movement. The planet, in constant motion, exposes its regions to sunlight differently according to tilt, latitude, and season, causing evapotranspiration to vary greatly across landscapes.
Great masses of moist air move through the atmosphere thanks to the second force: the winds, distributing moisture unevenly across the planet as “rivers of evaporated water” in the sky.
The third force is gravity, that invisible constant driving water’s flow within the hydrological cycle. Gravity allows condensed water particles in clouds, once large enough, to fall as rain. Gravity guides water across soils and streams, always seeking the lowest points until it returns to the ocean—or sometimes remains as fossil water in the deepest aquifers.
Can humanity, or its prayers, control these forces of the sun, winds, or gravity? No.
The fourth force, however, is closer to us: the drive to sustain life, a natural, biological, or artificial motor driven by human thirst. From the transpiration of leaves and the migration of species drawn to water bodies, to artificial hydraulic systems channeling water to cities and homes, this force is the energy and biophysics of living beings and their cycles, the hydraulic energy, or even the power for pumping stations that carry water to your home.
In our economy, water also becomes a valuable commodity, motivating the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of systems for its treatment, transport, and disposal. This brings us to the fifth force: money, where water acquires economic value that fuels investments to keep its supply constant. Agricultural, industrial, technological, food and beverage, construction, and hydroelectric sectors all rely on water as an essential input or for cooling systems or for daily operations.
Image generated by DALL-E, an AI image generation model within OpenAI's GPT-4 architecture, using ChatGPT on October 27, 2024
So, dear reader, the complexity of water's movement goes far beyond nature. Water users demand the greatest quantity and quality possible for their needs, driving society to disrupt the natural hydrological cycle through hydraulic systems to create artificial water cycles.
The constant tension between sustaining life and economic productivity generates an artificial water cycle, designed to meet human and industrial needs.
Locally, efficient hydraulic systems can meet the water needs of one user. But when there are multiple users sharing a single water source, the situation becomes complex, requiring larger, more sophisticated systems, agreements among users, and regulations and water laws that help consolidate an effective management and governance system—a foundation of water security, equipped to address the complex forces that move water.
Some countries and regions globally have achieved impressive socioeconomic progress based on solid green and gray water security systems. Among those I know and have studied, I can mention Vienna, Austria’s water systems; Singapore’s international water treaty with Malaysia; and the advancements and challenges in the Colorado River Basin in the United States.
Sadly, many territories and countries face immense water insecurity, lacking the minimum conditions (legal, cultural, or moral) to even begin solidifying water management and governance. Does any example come to mind?
The first three forces are natural and beyond our control. What we can do is adapt and protect green spaces, forests, and water sources that regulate the cycle. For hydraulic systems, on the other hand, we need human cooperation, energy, and investments in engineering and water technologies.
Dedicate time and energy to water. Think of water. And if there’s someone you think of, share this thought: “Let your love just fall like raindrops”.
For more information:
Water Co.: https://www.water-co.com/
NASA | Earth’s Water Cycle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaDkph9yQBs
This column was originally published in Spanish on October 26, 2024, in Diario La Hora: https://lahora.gt/opinion/marco-morales/2024/10/26/las-5-fuerzas-que-mueven-el-agua/
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