Water is able to soak up against the force of gravity all thanks to a little help from capillary action. Water is wet. ... A towel has thousands of tiny fibres that provide lots of surface area to draw the water upwards.

Can water travel up?

The answer is yes, if the parameters are right. For instance, a wave on a beach can flow uphill, even if it's for just a moment. Water in a siphon can flow uphill too, as can a puddle of water if it's moving up a dry paper towel dipped in it.

Can water travel up a wall?

Water that enters a room from ground level will cover the floor and floor covering. It will then begin to “wick” up the wall because of capillary action in porous materials. ... While water damage is sometimes visible, at other times, the wall does not show signs of this moisture.