Water is, after oxygen, the most precious resource a human body – or any living thing, for that matter – needs to survive. H2O is a simple compound that is crucial for the survival of an organism, mainly because of its role on the cellular level. Essentially, water is the transportation material that allows parts of the cells to work with one another, as well as cells to work as a wider group.
On a larger level, a similar thing is also observable and in humans, it takes the form of blood – it, like the whole body for that matter, is primarily comprised of water. All this makes water the key element of life in this shape to even exist and with that, also an important element in the mindset of any one of a prepper mentality. This means that having the knowledge and experience related to finding water in almost any kind of a survival situation should be a top prepper priority.
To some, this process might seem like it is either very easy, with access to open bodies of water like rivers or lakes, or almost impossible in case there are no around. However, the combined wisdom of many generations of people all over the world shows that finding water in the wild is almost always possible with the right know-how. The same applies to even incredibly arid places like deserts or tundra. With that in mind, here is the overview of the most important tips to find a water source in the wild.
Finding Water Sources
Firstly, any prepper should have the basic knowledge needed for finding existing water sources. This means that the same information will help in simply locating a place where water can be found. There, no tools or additional skills would be needed to get the same water. In other words, these tips to find a water source in the wild are almost like a process of tracking down a location with water access.
1. Go Downhill
The simple physics of water dynamic shows that it has the universal tendency of the following gravity. In layman terms, this means that water always flows towards the lowest point and the same applies to the terrain. With that idea, having the ability to track down water often includes nothing more than going downhill. If the terrain is followed gradually lower and lower, it will eventually reveal a stream, pond or some other body of water.
2. Follow Animal Tracks
Unlike humans, many animal species have the additional sensory abilities that allow them to track and find water. If they did not have this, they would simply die of thirst. This is the reason why tracking down an animal or a herd will likely lead to a watering hole of some sorts.
3. Watch for Birds
Birds, unlike land animals, do not have the need to travel in any other way than straight lines – no terrain, except for the very high mountain tops, hampers their movement. Yet, birds by their basic nature converge on the sports where there is easy water access. Some do this because of their access to fruits and vegetables, others because of insects or worms, all of which are inhabitants of the spaces that are in proximity to water. Ever since ancient times, mariners watched out for bids as a sign of oncoming land mass. This is why a prepper should always be ready to follow their general direction and this way reach some type of water access as well.
4. Look for Bees or other Insects
Insects, especially bees, are also a good indicator of water presence. Bees like areas that are rich with plants that have abundant flowers so that they collect pollen. To do this, a plant needs to be able to attain a lot of water. This makes bees and many other insects a good indicator of the presence of water, while their absence shows its most likely missing.
Getting Water if you can’t find an open Water Source
Sometimes, water will be present in an area, but it will not be attainable directly from open sources. This means that it will not be impossible to get water for a prepper – instead, the same person will need to undertake some actions to get the same H2O. Unlike tracking down a water source, this means some kind of building or construction process that usually comes with a waiting period. This might result in water after more time and effort, but it can provide a prepper with secure access to water that can be used day in and day out.
5. Dig a Well
Water has the tendency of accumulating below ground. This includes deep reservoirs that are completely cut off from the outside environment, but these are extremely deep and accessible by special digging equipment. However, there is the second type of underground water that is much closer to the surface. It can be accessed by a prepper in a survival situation by the simple act of digging. A low-lying spot that has plenty of vegetation should be picked and a wide hole dug there. After a bit of digging, the same well will hit some type of water, either a small underground stream or an arterial water presence that will slowly allow water to build up in the well.
6. Build a Solar Still
A solar still employs the principle of condensation and evaporation that takes humidity and slowly transforms it into liquid water. There are many ways to build a complex or a simplified solar still, including adding a tarp with condensation collectors that can purify dirty water into a clean form. Solar stills can be improved to a varying degree, but all of them will provide water for a survivalist when there are no other sources. The same principle works for the desalination devices that are used by sailors marooned on the high seas and they are very effective. Sometimes, survivalist will be able to make very durable and complex stills while at others they will have very limited resources that make up a barely working structure. Yet, in any of these possibilities, the solar still is a tried and tested means to find water in the wild.
7. Capturing Condensation from Plants
The principle of getting to the water that is produced by plant condensation is similar to the solar still, but it works on an even more basic and DIY level. With a simple clear plastic bag and direct sunlight to a plant, anyone can attain fresh water. The idea is to capture condensed material, which is water, in a bag that is placed over a leafy branch or some other part of the plant. It sounds too simple to be true, but it works perfectly well. This is the main reason why every prepper has to have a robust plastic bag in their kit – this item is beyond useful and the ability to gather water is just one of the numerous things it can accomplish.
8. Eat Fruits and Cactus Meat
It was already established that plants have access to water. The same is in particular true for fruits, which have to provide hydration and nutrition to the seeds they carry. Eating fruits would, in theory, be enough to provide for the basic water intake for most people who try to conserve their movements. But do not eat any fruits or cacti, some of them might be poisonous, only eat it if you are sure that you identified it properly and that it is edible. Of course, not all fruit comes with an equal amount of water, but they do contain a lot of it, along with plenty of nutrients and vitamins. Cactus, abundant in arid and desert locations, does not hold a lot of these, but it comes with much water, being that the nature of the plant includes such an inhospitable environment. Eating or messing cactus meat, or the mater underneath a thick and dry cactus skin will provide water that has often been the thin line between dying from thirst in the desert of coming out of it alive. Both fruits and cactus must be on the radar of any person looking for water in a dry environment.
9. Catching Rain
People often overlook one of the biggest natural providers of water – the sky. Rain can come only once in a survival situation and still provide enough water for not just an individual, but an entire group to survive. The key rule in the water catching scenario is being prepared. This means making sure that there are enough containers, either artificial or natural, that can hold the water coming down for the sky. Making these can be done by either improving or finding junk in the wilderness, but in any case, it is a paramount addition to the list of tips to find a water source in the wild.
10. Tree Forks or Rock Crevices
The idea behind these places is that they are naturally cool and shaded spots where water can be held for a prolonged time period. Their concave shape means that water left from morning dew or rain will not quickly evaporate, but stay there, ready to be used. Practically, this makes them the nature’s water coolers and they are present in any type of terrain. They can be easily recognized and more than once can be used to collect water – they can also be reused after every rain or damp morning. A person only needs to use some kind of cloth to pick up the water and use or store it.
With these tips to find a water source in the wild, any prepper can make sure they have all the knowledge and tools needed to survive in a situation where water might not be immediately accessible.
