How To Find Water No Matter Where You Are

 Finding water sources in the wild and in an urban environment during a SHTF situation is a crucial skill for survival. Water is essential for life, and without it, dehydration, illness, and death can occur quickly. In this article, we will explore some of the ways to locate and purify water in different scenarios.

Water Sources in the Wild

In a wilderness setting, there are several possible sources of water, such as:

• Rain: Rainwater is one of the cleanest and easiest sources of water in the wild. You can collect rainwater by using containers, tarps, or plastic sheets to catch the falling drops. You can also use plants with large leaves or hollow stems to funnel the water into your container. Rainwater is usually safe to drink without purification, unless it is contaminated by pollution or chemicals in the air.
• Rivers, lakes, streams, or any other body of water: These are your most obvious sources of water in the wild. Clear, flowing water is your best option, as the movement doesn’t allow bacteria to fester. This means that small streams should be what you look for first. Rivers are acceptable, but larger ones often have a lot of pollution from upstream. Lakes and ponds can be stagnant and full of parasites, so they should be your last resort. You can also look for lush green vegetation, swarming insects, and wildlife or animal tracks as signs that water is nearby1.
• Morning dew: Dew is the moisture that forms on plants and grasses at night or early morning. You can collect dew by using a cloth or a sponge to wipe the wet surfaces and then wring it out into a container. You can also tie a cloth around your ankles and walk through the grass before sunrise, then squeeze the water out of the cloth. Dew is usually safe to drink without purification, unless the plants are poisonous or contaminated by pesticides2.
• Fruits and vegetation: Some plants and fruits contain a lot of water that you can extract by crushing, squeezing, or cutting them. For example, cacti, coconuts, bamboo, vines, and berries are good sources of water in the wild. However, you need to be careful not to eat or drink any plants that you are not familiar with, as some of them can be poisonous or cause allergic reactions3.
• Plant transpiration: Transpiration is the process by which plants release water vapor through their leaves. You can capture this water by tying a plastic bag around a leafy branch and leaving it in the sun for a few hours. The water vapor will condense inside the bag and drip to the bottom. You can then cut a small hole in the bag and collect the water4.
• Digging a solar still: A solar still is a device that uses the sun’s heat to evaporate and condense water from the soil or vegetation. To make a solar still, you need a digging tool, a container, a plastic sheet, a rock, and a drinking tube. First, dig a hole about 3 feet wide and 2 feet deep in an area where the soil is moist or where there is some vegetation. Next, place your container in the center of the hole and fill it with any vegetation or fruit that you have. Then cover the hole with the plastic sheet and secure it with rocks or dirt around the edges. Place a rock in the center of the sheet above the container to create a low point. Finally, insert one end of your drinking tube under the sheet and into the container, and leave the other end outside for drinking5. The sun will heat up the soil and vegetation under the sheet and cause water to evaporate and condense on the underside of the sheet. The condensed water will run down to the low point and drip into your container.

Water Sources in an Urban Environment

In an urban environment, finding water sources can be more challenging than in the wild, especially during a SHTF situation when public utilities may be disrupted or contaminated. However, there are still some places where you can look for water, such as:

• Fire hydrants: Fire hydrants are connected to underground pipes that carry pressurized water from municipal reservoirs or wells. You can access this water by using a wrench or a crowbar to open the valve on the side of the hydrant. However, you need to be careful not to damage the hydrant or cause flooding in the streets. You also need to check if the water is safe to drink by looking at its color, smell, and taste6.
• Water heaters: Water heaters are appliances that store hot water for domestic use. They usually have a capacity of 40 to 80 gallons of water that can be drained from a valve at the bottom of the tank. You need to turn off the power supply and gas supply to the heater before draining it. You also need to open a faucet on a higher level than the heater to release any pressure in the pipes7.
• Toilet tanks: Toilet tanks are the upper part of the toilet that hold water for flushing. They usually contain about 2 to 5 gallons of clean water that can be accessed by removing the lid and scooping it out with a cup or a ladle. However, you should avoid using the water from the toilet bowl, as it may be contaminated by bacteria or chemicals8.
• Rain barrels: Rain barrels are containers that collect rainwater from rooftops or gutters. They can be a good source of water in an urban environment, especially if you have installed them before a SHTF situation. However, you need to filter and purify the rainwater before drinking it, as it may contain dirt, debris, or pollutants from the air9.
• Swimming pools: Swimming pools are large basins that hold water for recreational purposes. They can provide a lot of water in an urban environment, but they may not be very clean or safe to drink. Swimming pool water is usually treated with chlorine or other chemicals to kill bacteria and algae, but these chemicals can also be harmful to human health if consumed in large quantities. Moreover, swimming pool water can become contaminated by dirt, debris, or human waste over time10.

Water Purification Methods

Regardless of where you find water in a SHTF situation, you should always purify it before drinking it, unless you are absolutely sure that it is clean and safe. Water purification is the process of removing harmful substances from water, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, chemicals, and metals. There are several methods of water purification that you can use, depending on the resources and equipment that you have available. Some of the most common methods are:

• Boiling: Boiling is the simplest and most effective method of water purification. It kills most microorganisms that cause diseases by exposing them to high temperatures. To boil water, you need a heat source, such as a fire or a stove, and a pot or a metal container. You need to bring the water to a rolling boil and keep it boiling for at least one minute. If you are at a high altitude, you need to boil the water for longer, as water boils at lower temperatures at higher elevations11.
• Filtering: Filtering is the method of water purification that removes solid particles and some microorganisms from water by passing it through a porous material. To filter water, you need a filter device, such as a commercial filter, a homemade filter, or a piece of cloth. You need to pour the water through the filter and collect it in another container. However, filtering alone may not remove all contaminants from water, so you may need to combine it with another method, such as boiling or disinfecting12.
• Disinfecting: Disinfecting is the method of water purification that kills or inactivates microorganisms in water by using chemicals or ultraviolet light. To disinfect water, you need a disinfectant agent, such as chlorine bleach, iodine tablets, or UV light. You need to follow the instructions on the label or package of the disinfectant agent and add the correct amount to the water. You also need to wait for the required contact time before drinking the water13.
• Distilling: Distilling is the method of water purification that removes all contaminants from water by evaporating and condensing it. To distill water, you need a heat source, a pot with a lid, a smaller pot or a cup, and some tubing or a hose. You need to fill the larger pot with water and place the smaller pot or cup inside it. You also need to attach one end of the tubing or hose to the lid of the larger pot and run the other end outside or into another container. You need to bring the water to a boil and let the steam escape through the tubing or hose. The steam will condense into pure water in the smaller pot or cup or in the other container14.

Conclusion

Water is vital for survival in any SHTF situation, whether in the wild or in an urban environment. However, finding and purifying water can be challenging and risky in such scenarios. Therefore, it is important to know how to locate and identify potential sources of water and how to purify them using different methods. By following these tips and techniques, you can increase your chances of staying hydrated and healthy in a SHTF situation.