While water molecules can move across the cell membranes through passive transport processes such as osmosis, they generally do not enter the cell through active transport mechanisms. Active transport is a process that utilizes energy, usually in the form of ATP, to move substances against a concentration gradient. This means that the substance being transported is moving from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration, requiring an input of energy.

Water follows a concentration gradient and moves by osmosis from an area of high water concentration (low solute concentration) to an area of low water concentration (high solute concentration). Since the concentration of water is typically higher outside the cell than inside, water enters the cell through osmosis without requiring the input of energy.