Finding Water In The Wild

Finding water in the wild when the obvious sources such as a lake, river, or stream are not readily available is possible using several different methods. These methods of finding water in the wild and making it safe for drinking should be implemented before your current supply is depleted.

A collapsible canvas water bucket would be ideal for carrying your collected water back to your campsite to be purified then transferred to your water canteens.

A few ways of finding water in the wild are:

1. Observe the flight path of
    birds at dawn and dusk.
    They will usually point you
    to water.
2. Swarming insects; indicate a
    nearby water source.
3. Animals are adept at finding
    water in the wild. Pay close
    attention to the local wildlife.
4. Lush green vegetation is a sign that water is near.

Remember, water always flows downhill so look in rock crevices and other natural declivities where it may pool. Moving water can be heard from great distances in the quiet woods, so listen.

Finding water in the wild may entail several collection methods to obtain enough for your needs. You can collect water from a tree branch or shrub (avoid poisonous ve Nelson Creek

getation) by tying a plastic bag around the end of a green leafy tree branch or shrub. (This is one type of an aboveground water still.) Weight the inside with a stone or something to create a low point for the water to pool. The water will taste like whatever foliage you chose and it will take about a day to collect water like this so be sure to implement other collection methods as well.

Another method of finding water in the wild is to tie a rag or a piece of clothing around your ankle or leg and walk through the foliage in the early morning. The fabric will soak up the dew that has formed during the night. You can then wring it out into a container and repeat the process until you have enough water or the dew has gone for the day.

After finding water in the wild, you will need to boil it to rid it of any harmful organisms and bacteria before you can drink it unless you have a survival water filter straw or a handheld water purifier. However, boiling for ten minutes will make it safe wherever you are in relation to sea level.

If your water tastes flat after purifying it, aeration by pouring it back and forth between two containers will make it more palatable. If you don’t have another container, just try stirring it. Some water, such as that from a swamp, may taste unpleasant even after purifying it. This can be sweetened and purified in one step by dropping a few fragments of charred hardwood from your campfire into the boiling water. Let it boil for at least fifteen minutes then allow any foreign matter to settle or skim it off or strain it through a clean cloth. A supply of Military Water Purification Tablets would ensure safe drinking water without all the fuss, however, you may still need to strain it to remove the debris.
Water runs downhill.

Finding water in the wild can also be done by digging out plant roots or cutting off a section of the plant and smashing the pulp to get moisture.

In some areas of the world you could build an underground water still to draw moisture from the earth. This will take about twenty four hours to obtain a quart of water so add it to your other methods of finding water in the wild.

___________________