A process and system for making a water resistant cable component and water resistant cable components are provided. The water resistant cable includes a cable body including an inner surface defining a channel within the cable body and an elongate cable component located within the channel of the cable body. The cable also includes a contiguous layer of crosslinked super absorbent polymer surrounding the elongate cable component. The layer of crosslinked super absorbent polymer is formed by applying a liquid layer including a carrier material and an uncrosslinked super absorbent polymer pre-polymer material onto an outer surface of a component of the cable and then by crosslinking the super absorbent polymer pre-polymer while on the cable component to form a layer of crosslinked super absorbent polymer surrounding the cable component.