Which type of water moves fastest through soil?

The fastest-moving water through the soil is typically that which contains excluded anions. This phenomenon is largely due to the concept of soil chemistry and hydrodynamics. When water contains excluded anions, it tends to be less influenced by the soil particles themselves, allowing it to flow more freely. This property enables it to pass through the soil matrix more rapidly than other types of water.

Water that has high organic content, on the other hand, often holds particles and nutrients, which can increase its viscosity and hinder its movement through the soil. Water containing nutrients may also interact more with soil particles, slowing it down. Furthermore, surface runoff is a process where water moves over the soil surface rather than penetrating through the soil layers, which can be influenced by slope, vegetation, and soil structure. As a result, surface runoff typically does not travel through the soil, making it a less relevant comparison. Thus, water with excluded anions indeed exemplifies the characteristics that contribute to its faster movement through soil.