Getting Water
The ability to find drinkable water is one of the most
important survival skills you can learn. Once you start
getting thirsty it can weaken your ability to think
clearly. Dehydration is one of the most common problems
associated with extreme survival situations. Dehydration
can weaken, and kill! Lack of water affects your body’s
ability to keep warm, and cool. Drink plenty of water
when it is available and avoid eating too much food
when water is not available.
Unpurified water can contain many harmful organisms
that can make you sick, or even kill you. Other contaminant
such as chemical waste can have a verity of effects,
including death. If at all possible purify your water
before drinking it.
If you’re faced with dehydration and no immediate
means to purify your water source, then drink it; it
is better to take a chance on contaminated water, than
to die of dehydration (tell your
doctor about the water as soon as possible).
No matter how thirsty you are, DO NOT
drink the following for hydration:
Alcoholic Beverages
Urine
Blood
Sea Water
Any water source that is known to be contaminated with
a toxic chemical, or biological contaminate should be
avoided. If you have to drink from this type of contaminated
water source, follow the instructions for purifying
contaminated water (this does not
guarantee the safety of the water).
Obtaining Water
If you do not have a cup, or canteen, you can improvise
by using plastic, cloth, etc.
Cloth rags can be used for absorbing water & condensation.
A straw can help to extract water from crevices in rocks,
trees, etc.
A large piece of plastic can be an invaluable tool for
catching rain water and condensation.
Finding a Water Source
Look for areas that can collect water, such
as:
- Low areas
- River beds
- Depressions and holes in rocks
- Areas of unusually green vegetation
- Behind first sand dune of dry desert lakes
Look for animal activity:
- Trails (go the direction that
two trails converge)
- Look for flocks of birds that may be circling over
water holes
Vegetation
(Use caution, do not use if you’re
unsure of the vegetation) (DO NOT drink if the water
is milky, sticky, or bitter) (Do not keep water from
plants for longer than 24 hours [fermentation can occur])
(Always purify your water if at all possible, even water
obtained from vegetation!!!)
- Leaf surface (can use a rag
to absorb the water if needed)
- Crevices between limbs
- Air plants (American Tropics)
(Strain in rag to filter & remove water)
- The American Barrel Cactus (Suck
on the pulp to obtain the juices, but DO NOT eat the
pulp!)
- Green Bamboo
Cut the top off, and tie down low. Place a container
to catch the drip.
- Green Coconut (to much milk
from a mature coconut will act as a laxative thus
increasing dehydration)
- Roots (Cut roots in pieces,
and suck out the juices)
- Vines
Cut a notch in the vine as high as you can reach,
then sever the bottom of the vine for the water. (The
notch will help the vine to drain quicker) (DO NOT
drink if the water is milky, sticky, or bitter)
- Fruits
- Banana trees
Chop down, and carve out a bowl shape in the stump.
Water will be collected from the roots.
Other
- Snow & Ice (snow
& Ice can be a plentiful source of water) (melt
before drinking; avoid eating snow or ice before melting,
because they can cause a drop in body temperature,
and lead to further dehydration)
- Salt Water
You can extract clean water from salt water using
a Water Still, or a Water Still designed for polluted
water. If you’re on a beach you can dig a hole
in the sand, and let it fill with water. Start a fire
and heat rocks (use caution, heating
some rocks can cause them to explode like grenades).
Drop the rocks in the hole, and use plastic to catch
the evaporated water (similar
to the water still method).
- Condensation
Condensation is a great way to get clean drinking
water, but it can often take hours for a small amount
of water. Using a large tarp, or sheet of plastic
can help to collect large amounts of water from condensation.
You can also use blankets or clothing to absorb moister.
Another method is to tie rags to grass stalks to absorb
morning/evening dew (use lots of them). You can use
a rag to wipe condensation off of leaves, metal etc.
Then wring out the rag, or suck on it to remove the
water.
Water Stills
With a water still you can obtain clean drinkable water
from vegetation or moister from the ground. With a water
still it will take time to obtain water; as long as
24 hours for one pint. The best way to insure that you
have plenty of drinkable water is by using several stills,
and various other methods to procure water.
The Above Ground Water Still
What you will need:
- A sunny slope
- Non-Poisonous green vegetation
- A clear plastic bag
- A straw, or improvised straw (not
a necessity, but it will allow you to remove the water
without untying the bag).
- A rock or similar weight
Fill the bag half full of green vegetation.
Place a small rock/weight into the bag.
Tie the end of the bag securely, while leaving it as
full of air as possible.
Place the bag on a slope, allowing the rock/weight to
settle in the lowest spot.
Once you have depleted the vegetation of most of its
water, untie the bag to collect the water, or use the
straw.
The Below Ground Water Still
What you will need:
- A digging tool
- A sheet of clear plastic (at
least 4 feet square)
- A rock or similar weight
- A clean container with a wide mouth for catching
your purified water
- A long piece of tubing/straw
(not a necessity, but it will allow you to remove
the water without disturbing your still).
- Non-Poisonous green vegetation
(not necessary if you are extracting water from the
soil, but it will help to add to your supply of drinkable
water)
Dig a hole 3 feet in diameter by 2 feet deep in an
area that is sunny, and has damp/wet soil (low lying
areas such as a dry creek bed may have wet soil). If
you are using vegetation then dig your hole with a slope
and shelves for the vegetation.
Dig a hole the size of your water container in the
center of your water still.
Place your container in the hole, add any vegetation,
place your tubing into your container tying a lose knot
in the end to hold it inside of the container, and cover
the hole with plastic, allowing your tubing to stick
out.
Use a weight (rock/soil) to hold down the outside edge
of the plastic, and place a rock in the center.
Let the plastic dip into the hole about 15 inches below
ground level, and center it over your clean container.
Cover the outside edges of the plastic with sand/soil,
and plug/tie your tubing to prevent evaporation.
Using straw/tubing will give you the ability to sip
water throughout the day without disturbing your water
still.
Filtering & Purifying
your water supply
Filtering
Filtering water does not purify it, but only removes
the debris!
You can filter out debris from your water by
straining it through cloth, or you can make a
water filter.
Using bamboo, a hollow log, pants leg, or compression
bag you can layer sand, gravel, cloth, and crushed
rocks to create a water filter. You can also add
charcoal from your fire to remove any fowl odors.
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Purifying
You can purify water by boiling it, or use a commercial
product like iodine tablets. Boiling water does not
remove all microorganisms, but it does kill the majority
of organisms that can harm you. Iodine tables are a
great way to get drinkable water fast, but some people
have allergic reactions to iodine (if your allergic
to shellfish do not use iodine tablets). Iodine tablets
should be used for emergency survival only, and should
not be used over an extended period of time.
You can boil water by placing hot rocks in it and changing
them out as they cool. This may not get the water to
an adequate temperature for the length of time needed
to kill as many organisms as conventional boiling, but
it is one way to boil water when a non-fireproof pot
is your only means to hold water (example: hat, hard
plastic bowl, etc).
Most water obtained from condensation, or a Water Still
does not need to be purified.
Purifying Polluted Water
Build an underground Water Still.
Dig a trench 3 inches wide, and 10 inches deep around
your still (10 inches away from your still).
Pour the polluted water into the trench and wait for
the still to collect the filtered evaporated water.
Don’t Forget
Unpurified water can contain many harmful organisms.
BUT……
If you’re faced with dehydration and no immediate
means to purify your water source, then drink it; it
is better to take a chance on contaminated water, than
to die of dehydration (tell your doctor about the water
as soon as possible).
Lack of water can also impair your judgment, and will
to survive.
Don’t forget that our ancestors drank out of
rivers and ponds for thousands of years!!!
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