How to Find Water in an Emergency Situation? | Survival Hacks

How to find water anywhere in the world during emergency survival situation? Do you know any survival hacks to find water?

We cannot know when a disaster will strike, or if the disaster will force us to stay in our homes or to seek refuge elsewhere.

Just imagine a situation in which you desperately need to drink water, where getting clean water seems to be impossible. What would you do? Would you just die searching for it or act smart to quench your thirst?

Fortunately, there are many simple survival techniques to achieve the impossible. Hence, it’s always better to know these hacks to quench your thirst when it’s absolutely necessary.

So, let’s have a look at some effective ways to find water when there is none to be found.

In This Article:

How To…

1. Extract Water From The Plants Without Killing Them?
2. Get Potable Water From The Moist Ground?
3. Get Clean Water Just By Walking On The Grass?
4. Find Sweet Water Near Salty Sea?
5. Find And Drink Water Stored In The Plants?
6. Purify The Dirty Water With Simple Techniques?

Quick Recap- How To Get Water And Avoid Dehydration In Survival Situation?

 

 

1. How to extract water from the plants without killing them?

 

Transpiration bag:

This method is really simple. If you find yourself in a survival situation where water is not accessible, transpiration bag could be your ticket to survival.

 

How it works?

1. Find plants:

• Find a source of fresh green vegetation like grass, bush or any nice green tree etc. (Any green plant is likely to contain water for you to use.)

 

2. Setup a transpiration bag:

• Take a clean plastic bag (preferably a transparent one)
• Place a small rock at the bottom corner of the bag to create a low point for the water to collect.
• Take a piece of string and tie the bag around a leafy green tree branch or shrub
• Only one bag won’t be able to give you lot of water. Hence, always make a series of these bags and place them all over the tree/ plant.

 

3. Wait till the water gets produced:

• Within few hours, the plant will transpire and produce moisture that will accumulate inside the bag
• The amount of water yielded by this method depends upon the climate and species of the plants available.

 

4. Drink it:

• You can drink the collected water by either using a straw slid through the top of the bag, or by cutting a hole in the corner where your water accumulates.
• Once you are done, retie the hole with a strong piece of string to prevent any water from escaping before your next collection cycle or to reuse the bag.
• Later, Same plastic bag can be reused by placing it on another fresh branch.
• The water won’t have a clear taste. It will taste like whatever plant you choose, but it’s definitely better than nothing.

 

Pros:

• It’s simple:
  The setup is really simple and can be done with very basic materials available.

 

• It’s energy saver:
  Finding a potable water could be really exhausting. Saving your valuable energy is very important in a survival situation.This method reduces your efforts of digging a pit or walking for miles in search of water.

 

• You don’t have to harm/ kill the tree:
  In this method, you are not cutting / slicing or poking any part of the tree/bushes. It gives an inner satisfaction of getting what you want without damaging the nature.

 

Cons:

• May not work everywhere:
  This technique can work effectively only in the areas that have fresh green vegetation.So, it may not work very efficiently in a desert or if the leaves of the tree are dead.

 

• The process is very slow:
  It will take many hours to produce and collect sufficient water.

 

• Extreme caution is required:
  Using poisonous plants for this method may create poisonous liquid. Hence, you need to have a basic knowledge of various plants.

 

Conclusion:

If you are in a no hurry to drink water and have a basic knowledge of plants, you can definitely try transpiration bag method to collect water without putting in much effort.

This way, you can utilize your time and energy for some other important tasks like building a shelter or searching for a food etc.

 

 

2. How to get potable water from the moist ground?

 

Evaporation trap

 

The concept of evaporation trap is similar to the Solar Still/distilling used for the purification of water.

It uses the moisture from the ground and converts it into the potable water.

How it works?

• Start digging:
  Dig a few feet deep pit in the ground (approx. 4’ wide and 2’ deep). If you are near beach, then dig a hole in sand till you get water.

 

• Make the soil moist:
  Usually, the soil contains some moisture that can be extracted with this method. But you can improve the efficiency of your evaporation trap further to collect more water with these simple additions.

 

1. • Vegetation:
     Put some fresh leaves and foliage at the base of the pit

 

1. • Impure water:
     You can also pour unclean water in the pit to make the soil moist. (Don’t worry. The processed water will be safe for drinking. So, don’t care about the source of water unless it’s really dirty and contains harmful chemicals.)

 

1. • Urine:
     If you can’t find any of the above, you can even pee in the pit. It may sound gross, but it’s going to be distilled anyway.

 

• Place container:
  Place a clean cup/ bucket/ any container in the center of the pit (that’s where the clean water will get collected).You can also insert a tube/straw in the container to drink the collected water directly without disturbing the setup.

 

• Cover the pit:
  Cover the pit with a clear plastic sheet and secure it tightly by placing dirt or rocks on the edges of the plastic cover. This way, no moisture will escape.Place a small rock exactly above the container to create a dip in a plastic sheet.Make sure that this plastic sheet doesn’t touch the container’s opening.

 

• Wait for the water to get collected:
  Within few hours due to the greenhouse effect, moisture from the ground/vegetation will evaporate and get condensed on the plastic sheet.The condensed water will drip down into the container.

 

• Drink it:
  You can either remove the plastic sheet to get the collected water or you can use the already inserted straw/tube to drink it without disturbing the setup.

 

Pros:

• The quality of the water is really good:
  This method requires patience but it works without question. The water gets purified naturally. Collected water doesn’t taste flat as the PH level of the water remains balanced.

 

Cons:

• Not very convenient:
  The amount of water you will get through this method is, quite literally, a drop in the bucket as compared to the amount of energy you will spend in digging the pit and setting everything up.

 

Conclusion:

The process may be the slowest and very boring, but it can play a critical role for survival in emergency situations where there are no alternatives for obtaining potable water.

 

3. How to get clean water just by walking on the grass?

 

Dew collection:

 

If you’re stuck in a place where your source of water is polluted and you have no filtration system available nearby; collecting dew is the simplest and hassle-free solution to get clean water really quick.

 

How it works?

 

There are many ways to collect the dew. Let’s have a look at some of the easiest ones.

 

a) Wipe Up The Dew

• Go to the nearby field, untreated lawn or find the plants with large leaves (like banana, colocasia etc.) in the early morning, before the sun gets hotter.
• Take a clean absorbent cloth such as a cotton t-shirt, towel or a sponge etc. and wipe it over grass, large leaves, leafy bushes or other objects to absorb all the dew accumulated on their surface.
• You can also tie the cloth to your leg and walk through dew covered grass / coverings.
• Wring out the dew into some container or your mouth (if you are really desperate)

 

b) Hang The Cloth:

• Some deserts become humid at night. This humidity can be collected in the form of dew.
• Just hang a clean cloth (Absorbent bandanas, towel or shirt etc.) on a rope/ branch / stick before sunrise.
• It will become wet in a short amount of time due to the accumulation & absorption of the morning dew.
• Simply wring out the cloth into some container (or your mouth) and it’s done!

 

Pros:

• Saves energy:
  Collecting dew is a very simple and smart survival trick that conserves your energy levels (which is very important in survival situation).

 

• Gives quick results:
  Depending upon the weather conditions, you can even collect approx. 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of water in just 30 minutes!

 

Cons:

• Dew gets evaporated as the sun becomes hotter. Hence, you will be able to collect the dew only in the morning and not throughout the day.

 

Important notes:

Do not collect the dew:

• Near roadside (to avoid pollution and dust)
• On or near poisonous plants
• From the chemically treated/ sprayed plants or objects
• In areas where obvious animal defecation has taken place (to avoid infection and sicknesses)

 

Although dew is distilled water, it may get contaminated due to surface on which it accumulates or while collecting.

Hence, it’s always advisable to purify the collected water with various DIY water purification techniques before drinking in order to prevent water borne illnesses.

 

4. How to find sweet water near salty sea?

 

Beach Well:

If you are deserted on an island or near the coastline, a beach well is an excellent way to get drinkable water.

How it works?

• Dig a hole in the depression (low point) behind the first sand dune (approx. 100 feet away from the waterline) with hands / shovel.
• Keep digging till the sand begins to look dark and moist (approx. till 3-5 feet depth)
• Put small rocks in the bottom of the hole to prevent sand from Stirring up.
• If possible, line the sides with wood to prevent the walls from caving in and refilling the hole with sand.
• Within few hours, water will seep into it and you could have up to 5 gallons (approx. 19 liters) of filtered water.
• If it tastes too salty, move further back behind the second sand dune.
• Purify the collected water to make it safer for drinking

 

Note:

This technique works almost near any body of water. You can use the same idea near swamps and lakes by digging wells closer to the water than the beach version (just a few feet away from swamp).

 

Fun fact:

The dunes and the sandy ground acts like a natural filter to make the sea water drinkable. Try digging a hole before the 1^st sand dune and it will taste terrible!

 

 

5. How to find and drink water stored in the plants?

 

Although transpiration bag is the best way to get sufficient amount of water without hurting the plants and losing lesser energy; sometimes you may need a quicker solution in survival situations.

We all know that trees also need water just like us. We drink water, whereas trees suck it from the ground with the help of roots.

Do you know how much water human body contains?

The average adult human body contains approx. 50-65% water, while infants have around 75-78% of water.

Similarly, trees and plants also use and store a large amount of fluids in them.

Many plants have hollow portions which can collect rainfall, dew, etc. Sometimes the water gets collected in the hollow section of Y-shaped plants (where the stems or the leaves meet the trunk).

This water can play a crucial role in your survival. So, let’s have a look at some basic techniques.

 

a) From green bamboo:

 

Water could be trapped within sections of green bamboo. If you find any such bamboo,

• Shake the bamboo. Sloshing sound can be heard if it contains the water.
• Collect the water by either cutting the bamboo or by bending it over, and stacking it to the ground.
• Examine inside of the bamboo and quality of the water before drinking.
• The inside walls of the bamboo should be clean and white.
• Don’t drink water if inside of the bamboo has brown / black spots or any signs of fungal growth and water has any discoloration.

 

b) From vines:

 

Vines are soft and easy to bend / cut. They are usually heavy because of the water content in them. So if you find any such vines, great! But beware… drinking fluids from the vines could be tricky.

• Nick the vine and watch for sap coming from the cut.
• Discard the vine if cloudy/ milky sap is seen.
• If it is clear and colourless, let some of the liquid flow into the palm of hand.
• Observe it carefully- If it doesn’t change colour, taste the liquid slightly.
• If it has a sour or bitter taste, don’t drink it.
• Or, if it tastes like a water or has a woody / sweet taste; it could be safe for drinking (preferably post basic purification).

 

Note:

If you are really desperate or have no other option but to drink directly from the vine; do not touch the mouth. The bark may contain irritants which could affect the lips and mouth.

 

c) From coconuts:

 

What could be better than drinking refreshing tender coconut water?

If you are near coastal area, coconuts could be available in abundance.

• The fluids from the mature coconut contain oil, which can cause diarrhea if consumed in excess (especially on an empty stomach).
• Hence, it’s preferable to drink water from the green unripe coconuts, as they not only taste great but also contain more fluid and less oils.

 

d) From cactus:

 

If you are ever lost and dehydrated in a desert and there is no other way to find water, drinking water stored in a cactus may sound like a nice idea. But is it that easy? Well, not really. Do you want to know why?

 

1) Cactus has spines

Cacti don’t have normal leaves like other plants. Instead, they are equipped with modified leaves in the form of intimidating spines.

 

Why are cacti covered in spines?

 

• To prevent the water loss:
  Spines prevent the loss of stored water Which enables the cactus to survive and grow in the harsh, dry desert environment for years.

 

• To provide protection:
  Spines protect cactus from most of the predators (except Javelina-wild pigs, camel, pack rats, desert tortoises and bighorn sheep etc.)

 

• To provide shade for the cactus itself:
  It’s difficult to imagine how much shade these tiny cactus spines can offer under intense, desert sun. But when thousands of spines come together, they can actually play a significant role in protecting the surface of cactus by providing some shade.

 

• To help with propagation:
  In some species, spines get attached to whatever walks by (animal or human), enjoy the ride and then fall on the ground to take root in the soil and grow a new cactus.

 

If you dare to go too close, these spines can easily get stuck to your body, clothes or even shoes. Removing these spines from your body can be really painful.

 

2) Cactus also contains other scary stuff

Apart from these scary spines, most cactus species further protect their spongy flesh with acids and potent alkaloids.

These chemicals are usually too harsh for most humans to tolerate and can invite many undesired results like vomiting, diarrhea, or even temporary paralysis etc.

Some species are so toxic that the milky sap of these plants can burn the skin and mucous membranes and can cause permanent blindness if it gets in your eyes.

Still, there is a hope.

All cacti are not the same. There are some good ones too. Prickly pear and the fishhook barrel (Ferocactus wislizeni) have less-concentrated levels of the harmful chemicals.

They may taste fairly unpleasant to eat raw, but could definitely give you a bit of hydration in a pinch. There is a special technique to extract water from them without getting hurt.

So, it’s better not to touch any cactus unless you are familiar with their species and know the technique to handle them carefully.

 

 

6. How to purify the dirty water with simple techniques?

 

Can you make the swamp water drinkable?

There are many traditional and low cost DIY solutions like Tripod Filter, Sand Charcoal Filter, Siphon Method, Solar still, SODIS etc. for water purification in the various emergency survival situations.

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Read 18+ Easy And Low Cost DIY Water Purification Methods for more details.

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Quick Recap:

 

What is dehydration?

Dehydration simply means the excessive loss or removal of water from the body that can cause serious health issues.

Our body generally loses water by:

• Urine
• Sweat
• Feces
• Breathing process
• Vomiting etc.

 

Effects of dehydration:

• Loss of appetite
• Lagging pace
• Impatience
• Sleepiness
• Apathy
• Emotional instability
• Indistinct speech
• Mental confusion

 

Useful tips to prevent dehydration:

• Avoid direct exposure to heat by:
• Wear full clothes
• Walk in the shade
• In hot climates, conduct essential activities at night or during the cooler part of the day.
• Avoid cold exposure in cold climates by covering your nose and mouth. Or else, it can increase water loss by evaporation through the lungs.
• Drink small quantities of water at frequent intervals to replenish the body’s fluid volume.
• Stay calm. The rise in respiration rate causes increased water loss by evaporation through the lungs.
• Save your energy as much as you can and limit the physical activity to reduce the loss of water from the body.
• Take rest whenever you feel tired and sleep as much as possible.
• Don’t waste your time and energy in digging for water unless there are signs of availability of water.

 

How to find water in the desert?

 

Look for the following signs to increase your chances of finding groundwater underneath:

• Moist soil
• Vegetation
• Animal presence (Swarming insects, animal feces etc.)
• Bird flights can indicate direction to or from water source.

Dig at the low point between dunes, near vegetation or in the moist soil in dry river beds.

 

How to get water and avoid dehydration in survival situation?

• You can extract water from the plants without killing them by using transpiration bag.
• Evaporation trap can be used to get potable water from the moist ground.
• Collecting dew is one of the simplest methods to get water
• You can also get sweet water near salty sea by digging a beach well
• If you are stuck in a forest or a desert, you can find and drink water stored in the plants like bamboo, cactus, vines etc.
• If you have a contaminated water source, you can purify the dirty water with simple DIY techniques

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Hi! Did you find these survival hacks to find the water useful? I would love to hear your feedback in the comments section below. Also, please don’t forget to share your creative ideas and experiences related to this topic.

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References:

• https://www.scribd.com/doc/4442666/AF-Manual-64-4-Survival-USAF-July-1985
• https://www.britannica.com/story/can-you-drink-water-from-a-cactus
• https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/survival/wilderness/how-to-find-water3.htm
• https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/survival/wilderness/how-to-find-water3.htm
• http://survival-mastery.com/skills/water-purifying/survival-water-purification.html