In any circumstance, water is by far the most crucial resource. You can go without food, shelter can wait unless you are in hard weather conditions, but without water, you have around 24 hours before your mental clarity and physical strength go down rapidly. After just three days without any hydration, your body will most likely shut down. So to avoid this, check our tips below on how to find water in the wild.
Most importantly, make sure to always treat your water regardless of what source it was taken from. The assumption should always be if it hasn't been treated, you might get sick. Treatment can include boiling, using a filter, chemical water treatments, UV treatment.
Start with the most obvious water resources - streams, rivers, and lakes. Flowing water will be your best bet, as the movement doesn't allow bacteria to grow. Small streams are ideal, but rivers are also a good option. Just remember that larger ones have a bigger chance of being polluted. Lakes can be a good option as well, however they are often stagnant, so there is an increased chance of bacteria.
The easiest way of finding water sources is by listening closely. Running water can usually be heard from a fair distance. You can also search for animal tracks, which eventually may lead to a water source. Birds are another great indicator. Following the flight path can lead you to the much-needed water source. Lastly, if you find insect swarms, this can signal that water is nearby.
Even though you would need to be patient, rainwater is one of the safest options. The risk of getting sick is lower, but as we already mentioned, all untreated water can still cause problems. Therefore, make sure to filter all collected water unless it is a life or death situation.
Moving forward, there are mainly two methods of collecting water. Firstly, you can simply use all of your containers at once. The second option is to tie some kind of tarp around nearby trees a few feet off the ground, put a small rock in the center, and let the water flow to your container.
Want an easy way to collect up to a liter of water per hour? Tie some clothing around your legs and take a pre-sunrise walk through tall grass. When your ready, squeeze the clothing, and the water will collect into your container. Just double-check that you are not strolling through any poisonous plants.
Lastly, many fruits, vegetables, or even roots contain a lot of water. When you collect some of these items, simply place them into your container, and smash them into a pulp. It might not be much, but in a critical situation, it might make all the difference.
All in all, water is the most crucial resource, which can make or break a trip. Knowing these tips will help you in your journey, and if you ever find yourself in a critical situation, this knowledge might even save your life. Most importantly, when you find a source of water, especially if it is still, it is necessary to filter the water as best you can. Therefore, check out our water treatment products below and prepare for your next adventure!
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MSR Guardian Purifier Pump |
Katadyn Gravity BeFree Microfilter 3.0L |
MSR MiniWorks EX |
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