Running water never stales: A new perspective on hydrodynamic-driven water self-purification.

Water movement activates a hidden hydrogen-driven energy pathway that converts hydrodynamic forces into electrons and reactive oxygen species, directly powering microbial metabolism while simultaneously driving abiotic pollutant degradation. This hydro-electric mechanism reveals a previously overlooked engine of natural water purification that operates beyond sunlight or chemical inputs. Recognizing and harnessing this intrinsic energy flow is essential for protecting water quality at its source, reinforcing ecosystem resilience, and safeguarding human health-pointing toward a new frontier of nature-based sustainable environmental management strategy.