Water: Finding, Purifying, and Storing

Water is your second priority after shelter in harsh conditions, and your first in hot climates. You can survive 3 days without it, but you'll be incapacitated long before then.

Why Water Is Critical

What Happens Without Water

In hot conditions or with exertion: Timeline accelerates dramatically.

Daily Water Needs

Rule of thumb: If urine is dark yellow, you need more water.

Finding Water Sources

Natural Water Sources (Ranked by Safety)

1. Rain, snow, dew. Generally safe (cleanest)
2. Springs. Usually safe (flowing underground source)
3. Flowing streams/rivers. Purify before drinking
4. Lakes/ponds. Purify before drinking
5. Swamps/stagnant water. Last resort, always purify

Urban Water Sources

• Water heater tanks (50+ gallons)
• Toilet tanks (NOT bowls), if no chemicals added
• Pipes (drain from lowest point)
• Swimming pools (if no shock treatment recent)
• Ice in freezers
• Canned goods (drain liquid)

Indicators of Water Nearby

Animal tracks: Converging trails often lead to water Birds: Especially in morning/evening, flying toward water Insects: Swarms indicate water nearby Lush vegetation: Green patches in dry areas Valleys: Water flows downhill Rock formations: Crevices and north-facing slopes hold moisture

Finding Water by Terrain

Mountains:

• Follow drainage routes downhill
• Check north-facing slopes for springs
• Look for green patches indicating underground water

Desert:

• Check canyon floors after rain
• Dig at base of cliffs
• Look for cottonwood, willow, palm trees
• Follow animal tracks at dawn/dusk

Forest:

• Streams in valleys
• Collect dew from grass with cloth
• Tree crotches may hold rainwater

Beach/Coastal:

• Never drink seawater
• Dig well above high tide line (lens of fresh water floats on salt)
• Collect rain

Collecting Water

Rain Collection

Simple Method:

• Spread tarp/poncho at angle
• Weight corners
• Channel to container
• Can collect 5-10 liters in good rain

Improvised:

• Large leaves
• Plastic bags
• Hollowed logs
• Any waterproof surface

Dew Collection

Cloth Method:

• Tie cloth around ankles
• Walk through grass at dawn
• Wring into container
• Can collect 1 liter in good conditions

Grass Bundle:

• Tie grass into bundle
• Place absorbent cloth around it overnight
• Wring out at dawn

Solar Still

Ground Still:

1. Dig hole 3 feet wide, 2 feet deep
2. Place container in center
3. Cover with plastic sheet
4. Seal edges with dirt/sand
5. Place rock in center to create cone
6. Condensation drips into container

Yield: 0.5-1 liter per day (hot, sunny conditions) Energy cost: HIGH. Only worth it if staying put long-term

Transpiration Bag

1. Tie clear plastic bag over leafy branch
2. Seal at tree end
3. Weight low corner
4. Water condenses in bag

Yield: 50-200ml per bag per day Setup multiple bags

Snow and Ice

Important Rules:

• Always melt before consuming (eating snow causes hypothermia)
• Melt in layers (don't pack full)
• Ice yields more water than snow
• Add small amount of water first to prevent burning container

Ratio: Snow is 90% air, ice is denser

• 10 cups snow = ~1 cup water
• 2 cups ice = ~1.5 cups water

Water Purification Methods

Boiling (Most Reliable)

Process:

• Rolling boil for 1 minute (sea level)
• Rolling boil for 3 minutes (high altitude)
• Kills all pathogens

Pros: 100% effective, no equipment needed Cons: Requires fire/fuel, doesn't remove chemicals/particles

Chemical Purification

Iodine Tablets:

• 2 tablets per liter
• Wait 30 minutes (1 hour if water is cold/cloudy)
• Kills most pathogens
• Don't use if pregnant

Chlorine (bleach):

• 2 drops per liter (clear water)
• 4 drops per liter (cloudy water)
• Use unscented bleach (5-6% sodium hypochlorite)
• Wait 30 minutes
• Should have slight chlorine smell

Water Purification Tablets:

• Follow package directions
• Carry as backup
• Limited shelf life

Filtration

Commercial Filters:

• Sawyer Mini, LifeStraw, etc.
• Remove bacteria and protozoa
• Don't remove viruses (less concern in wilderness)
• Don't remove chemicals

Improvised Filter:

Layers from top to bottom:

1. Cloth (removes large debris)
2. Sand (fine filtration)
3. Crushed charcoal (removes odors, some chemicals)
4. Small stones
5. Large stones

Important: Filtration alone doesn't purify. You still need to boil/treat

UV Purification

SteriPEN or similar:

• 90 seconds per liter
• Effective against all pathogens
• Needs batteries
• Water must be clear

Testing Water Quality

Visual Assessment

Avoid if:

• Oily sheen on surface
• Dead animals nearby/upstream
• Strong chemical smell
• Unusual color (except tannins from leaves)
• Heavy algae bloom
• Near industrial/agricultural areas

Smell Test

Safe: Earthy, slight plant smell Unsafe: Chemical, sewage, sulfur, petroleum

Risk Hierarchy

Lowest risk:

1. Rain/snow (collected cleanly)
2. Fast-moving springs
3. Cold mountain streams

Moderate risk: 4. Streams/rivers 5. Large lakes 6. Collected dew

High risk: 7. Ponds 8. Slow rivers 9. Groundwater in settled areas

Highest risk: 10. Stagnant pools 11. Swamps 12. Water near human/animal activity

Water Storage

Containers

Priority Order:

1. Purpose-built water bottles/containers
2. Clean plastic bottles
3. Cleaned food containers
4. Plastic bags (double-bag)
5. Improvised containers (bark, bamboo)

Keeping Water Clean

• Cover containers to prevent contamination
• Use clean hands/tools when accessing
• Pour rather than dip
• Store off ground
• Keep in shade (prevents algae growth)
• Rotate stock regularly

Long-Term Storage (Apocalyptic)

Preparing for storage:

1. Clean containers thoroughly
2. Add water purification tablet or:
   • 1/8 tsp bleach per gallon
3. Seal tightly
4. Label with date
5. Store in cool, dark place

Shelf life:

• Commercially bottled: 2 years
• Home stored (treated): 6 months
• Rotate regularly

Storage calculations:

• 1 gallon per person per day (drinking/cooking)
• 2 gallons per person per day (sanitation included)
• Store minimum 2-week supply
• Better: 30-day supply

Water Conservation

In Hot Climates

• Travel at night/early morning
• Rest in shade during day
• Breathe through nose
• Don't talk unnecessarily
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine
• Don't eat if low on water (digestion uses water)
• Wear loose, light clothing
• Cover head and neck

Making Water Last

• Sip, don't gulp
• Wet cloth for cooling instead of drinking
• Ration by maintaining minimum intake, not by skipping
• Rest more to reduce sweating
• Avoid salty foods

Recycling Water

• Gray water (washing) can water plants
• Urine can be distilled (only in desperate situations)
• Cooking water can be reused

Emergency Hydration

Signs of Dehydration

Mild:

• Thirst
• Dry mouth
• Dark urine
• Reduced urination

Moderate:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Rapid heartbeat

Severe:

• Confusion
• No urination
• Sunken eyes
• Cold extremities
• Unconsciousness

Rehydration Strategy

If dehydrated:

• Don't chug, sip slowly
• Add pinch of salt if available
• Add sugar if available (electrolyte balance)
• Rest while rehydrating

Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS):

• 1 liter clean water
• 6 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Mix well

Desperate Measures (Last Resort)

Water from Plants

Vines:

• Cut high, then low
• Let water drip into container
• Only from non-toxic vines
• Test: Clear liquid, no milky substance

Bamboo:

• Shake segments (water sounds?)
• Bend top, cut, catch water

Banana/plantain trees:

• Cut tree, hollow out stump
• Water seeps into hollow
• Scoop out with cloth

Cacti:

• Barrel cactus in desert
• Mash pulp, squeeze liquid
• Tastes bad, may cause diarrhea
• Only if no other option

Ground Water

Seepage Well:

1. Dig in lowest point of dry stream bed
2. Dig until damp sand
3. Wait for water to seep
4. Bail out, let refill
5. Purify before drinking

Water and Diseases

Common Waterborne Threats

If You Drank Untreated Water

• Monitor for symptoms (6-48 hours)
• Stay hydrated (ironic but critical)
• Rest
• Have oral rehydration solution ready
• If diarrhea: double water intake

Key Takeaways

1. Find water early. Don't wait until desperate
2. Always purify. Even clear mountain streams can have pathogens
3. Boiling is best. Most reliable purification method
4. Multiple sources. Set up multiple collection methods
5. Conserve and ration. Maintain minimum intake consistently
6. Test before committing. Smell and visually inspect before collecting large quantities
7. Storage matters. Protect collected water from contamination
8. Know your indicators. Learn to read landscape for water signs
9. Priority over food. Water is more urgent than eating
10. Stay calm. Panic increases dehydration

Remember: Water is life. Prioritize finding and purifying water over almost everything except immediate shelter needs.