The water that infiltrates the rock through fractures and joints emerges from springs at various levels of the cliff.

The water that runs off the surface forms the waterfalls.

The water that accumulates in summit pools creates the habitats for the endemic aquatic and semi-aquatic communities of the summit.

The hydrological contribution of the tepuis to the surrounding lowland rivers is not trivial.

The tepui plateaus collectively act as enormous elevated water towers, capturing precipitation and releasing it into river systems in a way that stabilizes river flow through dry periods.

The health of the tepui ecosystems — the persistence of their vegetation and soil, the integrity of their water-processing functions — is directly connected to the health of some of the largest river systems in South America.