Water Cycle

The water cycle is often taught as a simple circular cycle of evaporation,

condensation, and precipitation. Although this can be a useful model, the reality

is much more complicated. The paths and influences of water through Earth’s

ecosystems are extremely complex and not completely understood. NOAA

is striving to expand understanding of the water cycle at global to local scales to

improve our ability to forecast weather, climate, water resources, and ecosystem

health.
Water is essential to life on Earth. In its three phases (solid, liquid, and gas),

water ties together the major parts of the Earth’s climate system — air, clouds,

the ocean, lakes, vegetation, snowpack, and glaciersoffsite link.

The water cycle shows the continuous movement of water within the Earth and

atmosphere. It is a complex system that includes many different processes.

Liquid water evaporates into water vapor, condenses to form clouds, and

precipitates back to earth in the form of rain and snow. Water in different phases

moves through the atmosphere (transportation). Liquid water flows across land

(runoff), into the ground (infiltration and percolation), and through the ground

(groundwater). Groundwater moves into plants (plant uptake) and evaporates

from plants into the atmosphere (transpiration). Solid ice and snow can turn

directly into gas (sublimation). The opposite can also take place when water

vapor becomes solid (deposition). Water influences the intensity of climate

variability and change. It is the key part of extreme events such

as drought and floods. Its abundance and timely delivery are critical for meeting

the needs of society and ecosystems.

Humans use water for drinking, industrial applications, irrigating agriculture,

hydropower, waste disposal, and recreation. It is important that water sources

are protected both for human uses and ecosystem health. In many areas, water

supplies are being depleted because of population growth, pollution, and

development. These stresses have been made worse by climate variations and

changes that affect the hydrologic cycle.

Climate change is affecting where, when, and how much water is available.

Extreme weather events such as droughts and heavy precipitation, which are

expected to increase as climate changes, can impact water resources. A lack of

adequate water supplies, flooding, or degraded water quality impacts civilization

— now and throughout history. These challenges can affect the economy, energy

production and use, human health, transportation, agriculture, national

security, natural ecosystems, and recreation. The water cycle impacts

ecosystems, economies, and our daily lives. The resources in this collection help

teachers guide their students beyond the classic water cycle diagram and

through the complex social and environmental issues that surround water. The

water cycle provides the opportunity to explore the nature of science using

models and empirical evidence.

Sources:
https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/freshwater-education-
resources/water-cycle
DENR Standard For Surface Water

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has classified 21 new

water bodies for their best uses, including four rivers and lakes that have been identified

as potential sources of potable water in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. Secretary of

Environment and Natural Resources Ramon J. P. Paje said that Lake Danao in Ormoc

City, the upper reaches of Paypayan and Langaran rivers in Misamis Occidental, and

Lake Lanao in Lanao del Sur have been recently categorized as “Class A” or whose

waters require complete treatment to meet the national standards for drinking water. Paje

said that apart from these potential drinking water sources, 17 other fresh surface and

marine waters were classified by the DENR through a memorandum circular issued

pursuant to Republic Act No. 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, bringing

the total number of duly classified water bodies nationwide to 691. The law mandates the

DENR to categorize water bodies—whether freshwater or coastal—according to their

quality, area, purpose and vulnerability to pollution. Fresh surface waters, which include

lakes, rivers and reservoirs, are classified as “AA,” “A,” “B,” “C,” and “D.” Coastal and

marine waters, on the other hand, are classified as “SA,” “SB,” “SC,” and “SD.” The

environment chief said the classification helps water managers and planners to develop

proper water quality management programs and provide the standards to protect aquatic

life and human use of specific water bodies. “With these classifications, we are able to
determine the programs and activities to implement so that we can optimize the use of

our water resources and make them beneficial to our welfare and health,” Paje said.

Also in DENR Memorandum Circular No. 2014-01, the waters of Bancal River in

Zambales and the upper reach of Carigara River in Leyte were classified as “Class B” or

safe for primary contact recreation or tourism purposes such as bathing, swimming, and

skin diving. The Linao River in Cagayan; Lamunan/Hinay-an River System in Iloilo; Anilao

River, Pagbanganan River and lower reach of Carigara River, all in Leyte; and the lower

reaches of Paypayan and Langaran Rivers; Kematu and Sefali Rivers in South Cotabato;

and upper reach of Guiahao-an River in Agusan del Norte were categorized as “Class C”

or safe for propagation of fish, recreation and post-treatment manufacturing processes.

The lower reach of Guiahao-an River was classified as “D” or may be sourced for

agriculture and irrigation, or for limited use as industrial water supply. As regards marine

waters, the DENR has identified water bodies in the Visayas that fall under “Class SA” or

those suitable for commercial propagation and harvesting of shellfishes, and cover

national marine reserves and coral reef parks. These include the coastal waters of

Barangays 3, Dalipe and Madraca in San Jose, Iloilo; and waters three kilometers beyond

the Toledo-Balamban shoreline in Toledo City, Cebu. Coastal waters that fall under

“Class SB” or allowed for recreational activities like bathing, swimming and skin diving

include those surrounding Maniwaya Island in Marinduque; Barangays 4, San Pedro,

Mojon, Magcalon, San Fernando, Malaiba, Maybato Norte and Maybato Sur in San Jose,

Iloilo; Albay Gulf in Albay and Sorsogon; and waters within three kilometers of Toledo-

Balamban shoreline in Cebu.

Sources:

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2014/03/13/denr-classifies-21-more-water-bodies/