The water cycle describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface, driven by energy from the sun. Water can exist in three states: liquid, gas, and solid. The main stages are evaporation, transpiration, condensation, and precipitation. While a critical process for all life, human activities like wasteful water usage and pollution can negatively impact the water cycle. Personal choices around conserving water and reducing pollution are important to help sustain this essential cycle.