In the hierarchy of survival needs, water stands second only to oxygen. Whether you're stranded in remote wilderness or facing an urban disaster, understanding water acquisition, purification, and conservation could be your lifeline.
The human body is approximately 60% water. This crucial fluid regulates body temperature, lubricates joints, delivers oxygen throughout the body, flushes waste, and enables cellular function. Without adequate hydration, your physical and cognitive abilities deteriorate rapidly.
In moderate conditions, the average adult loses about 2-3 liters of water daily through breathing, sweating, and waste elimination. This loss accelerates dramatically in hot environments, during physical exertion, at high altitudes, or when suffering from illness. Severe dehydration leads to organ failure and, ultimately, death—typically within just 3-4 days.
Finding Water in Wilderness Environments
Surface Water Sources
Moving Water: Rivers, streams, and brooks often provide the most accessible wilderness water sources. Moving water generally contains less contamination than stagnant sources, though it still requires treatment. Look for clear water moving over rocky surfaces, which provides natural aeration and filtration.
Standing Water: Lakes, ponds, and springs can offer substantial water quantities. Spring water emerging directly from underground may be safer than surface water, though never assume any wild water source is safe without treatment.
Precipitation Collection: In rainy environments, setting up rainwater collection systems using tarps, ponchos, or containers can yield clean water requiring minimal treatment. A square meter of collection surface can gather approximately one liter of water from just 1mm of rainfall.
Hidden Water Sources
Plant Transpiration: By securing a clear plastic bag around a leafy tree branch, you can collect up to 500ml of clean water daily through transpiration. This technique works best with non-toxic trees like maple, birch, or oak.
Morning Dew: In humid environments, collecting dew from plant surfaces in early morning using absorbent cloth can yield surprising amounts of water.
Snow and Ice: While abundant in winter environments, remember that eating snow or ice directly lowers your core temperature and increases dehydration. Always melt snow or ice before consumption, which also allows time for settlement of some contaminants.
Natural Earth Depressions: Look for depressions in rocks that may collect rainwater, or dig into dry riverbeds where subsurface water may still be accessible.
Plant Sources: Some plants store significant water. The barrel cactus, certain tropical vines, and palm trees can provide emergency water when properly accessed.
Finding Water in Urban Disasters
Home Water Sources
When disaster strikes urban environments, many overlooked water sources exist within modern homes:
Water Heaters: The average residential water heater contains 30-80 gallons of potentially potable water. Locate the drain valve at the bottom of the tank, but be cautious of sediment in older tanks.
Toilet Tanks: The upper tank (not bowl) of toilets typically contains 2-3 gallons of clean water, provided you haven't used chemical cleaners.
Pipes: By opening the highest faucet in your home to allow air in, then drawing from the lowest point, you can access water trapped in pipes—potentially several gallons.
Ice Makers and Refrigerator Reservoirs: These can contain 1-2 gallons of clean water.
Community Water Sources
Fire Hydrants: In municipal emergencies, authorities may open hydrants for public water access points.
Water Towers and Municipal Reserves: These often continue functioning through gravity feed even during power outages.
Commercial Buildings: Many commercial buildings maintain water pressure through rooftop tanks even when municipal systems fail.
Rainwater Collection: Urban environments offer excellent rainwater collection opportunities from roofs, awnings, and other structures. A typical roof can collect over 600 gallons from just one inch of rainfall.
Swimming Pools: While not ideal for drinking without treatment, pool water can serve many non-potable needs and, when properly filtered and purified, becomes drinkable.
Water Purification Technologies and Techniques
Biological Contaminants
Wild water sources may harbor numerous potentially dangerous microorganisms:
- Bacteria (E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter)
- Viruses (Hepatitis A, Norovirus, Rotavirus)
- Parasites (Giardia, Cryptosporidium)
These pathogens can cause illnesses ranging from uncomfortable to life-threatening, especially in survival situations where medical care is unavailable.
Physical Purification Methods
Boiling: The most reliable method for killing biological contaminants. Water must reach a rolling boil for at least 1 minute at sea level, and an additional minute for every 1,000 meters above sea level. This kills virtually all bacteria, viruses, and parasites, though it doesn't remove chemical contaminants or improve clarity.
Filtration Systems: Physical filtration removes contaminants based on size. The LifeStraw water filter (LifeStraw Link), part of Surv's equipment line, employs hollow fiber membrane technology that:
- Filters particles down to 0.2 microns, removing 99.9999% of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoan parasites
- Processes up to 1,000 gallons (4,000 liters) of water through its lifetime
- Requires no batteries, chemicals, or moving parts
- Weighs just 2 ounces and fits easily in any survival kit
- Allows direct drinking from water sources or filtering into containers
The LifeStraw's technology creates a physical barrier too small for dangerous pathogens to pass through while allowing water molecules to flow. This makes it ideal for both wilderness expeditions and urban emergency situations where tap water safety becomes questionable.
Improvised Filtration: When commercial filters aren't available, multilayer filtration using sand, charcoal, grass, and cloth can remove larger contaminants and improve water clarity. While not effective against viruses or chemicals, this method reduces particulate matter and some bacterial contaminants.
Chemical Purification
Surv's water purification tablets, which come in every survival bag (3 Day Survival Bag), represent the gold standard in chemical water treatment. They provide a portable option for purifying large amounts of water quickly, as well as;
- Utilize chlorine dioxide, effective against bacteria, viruses, and even cryptosporidium cysts (which resist many other treatments)
- Work in 30-60 minutes depending on water temperature and clarity
- Leave minimal aftertaste compared to iodine-based treatments
- Remain stable for up to 5 years when properly stored
- Treat one liter of water per tablet
Our tablets work through oxidation, destroying the cellular structures of pathogens. They're particularly valuable when boiling isn't practical or when moving through environments where carrying filtered water isn't feasible.
Advanced Purification Techniques
UV Purification: Ultraviolet light disrupts the DNA of microorganisms, rendering them unable to reproduce. Portable UV purifiers can treat one liter in 90 seconds and are especially effective against viruses.
Distillation: By evaporating and recondensing water, distillation removes nearly all contaminants, including chemicals many other methods miss. Simple solar stills can be constructed from plastic sheeting in survival situations.
Reverse Osmosis: While typically not available in field situations, some portable emergency systems use pressure to force water through semi-permeable membranes, removing virtually all contaminants.
Water Safety in Urban Disasters
Urban water contamination risks differ significantly from wilderness concerns. During disasters, municipal water systems may be compromised by:
Infrastructure Damage: Broken pipes allow contaminants to enter the water supply.
Treatment Facility Failures: Power outages or damage can halt water treatment.
Chemical Contamination: Industrial spills, firefighting runoff, or deliberate contamination become significant risks.
Cross-Contamination: Sewage systems may mix with drinking water supplies.
When urban disasters strike, local authorities typically issue one of three water advisories:
- Boil Water Advisory: Water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute before use.
- Do Not Drink Advisory: Water contains contaminants not removed by boiling. Bottled water or purified water must be used for consumption.
- Do Not Use Advisory: Water contains dangerous chemicals or radiological materials. No contact with the water is safe.
In urban scenarios, our LifeStraw filters and purification tablets provide crucial protection against many biological contaminants, though chemical contamination presents additional challenges requiring activated carbon filtration or distillation.
Water Storage and Transportation
Container Considerations
Short-term Emergency Storage:
- Hard plastic containers (food-grade, BPA-free)
- Glass containers (protected from breakage)
- Stainless steel (non-corrosive, though may impart slight taste)
Long-term Storage:
- HDPE plastic containers (food-grade with proper sealing)
- Water bricks and stackable containers designed for efficient space usage
- Underground cisterns for large-scale storage
Improvised Containers:
- Bathtubs with liners (potential for 100+ gallons)
- Plastic bags in cardboard boxes
- Cleaned plastic bottles and jugs
Water should be stored away from direct sunlight, chemicals, and extreme temperatures. Rotation every six months is recommended for untreated stored water.
Transportation Challenges
Water's weight (approximately 8.3 pounds per gallon) makes transportation challenging. Surv recommends:
- Distributing water weight among team members
- Using collapsible containers that reduce empty weight/volume
- Establishing base camps near water sources when possible
- Planning routes along waterways in wilderness scenarios
Water Conservation Techniques
Physiological Water Conservation
Activity Management: Reducing physical exertion during peak heat hours can cut water needs significantly.
Breathing Techniques: Nasal breathing reduces respiratory water loss compared to mouth breathing.
Shade Utilization: Body temperature regulation requires less water when direct sun exposure is minimized.
Appropriate Clothing: Light-colored, loose-fitting clothing reduces sweating and water loss.
Physical Conservation Methods
Gray Water Reuse: Water used for cleaning or hygiene can be repurposed for toilet flushing or plant irrigation.
Condensation Collection: Capturing condensation from breathing or cooking provides small but valuable water amounts.
Evaporation Prevention: Keeping water containers sealed and in shade reduces loss.
Minimal Cleaning Techniques: Using wipes for personal hygiene instead of washing conserves significant water.
Special Considerations
Desert Survival
Desert environments present extreme water challenges. Special techniques include:
Solar Stills: A hole dug in the ground with a container, covered by plastic sheeting with a central weight, can produce 1-2 cups of water daily through condensation.
Vegetation Indicators: Certain plants like cottonwoods, willows, and sycamores indicate underground water sources.
Flash Flood Awareness: Deserts paradoxically present flash flood dangers. These events provide water collection opportunities but also significant hazards.
Water and Electrolytes
Water alone isn't sufficient for prolonged survival. Electrolyte balance—particularly sodium, potassium, and magnesium—is crucial for proper hydration. Symptoms of electrolyte imbalance include muscle cramps, dizziness, and cardiac irregularities.
Simple electrolyte sources include:
- Salt (¼ teaspoon per liter of water)
- Food sources (coconut water, bananas)
- Commercial electrolyte powders or tablets
Recognizing and Treating Dehydration
Dehydration Stages
Mild (1-2% body weight loss):
- Thirst
- Dry mouth
- Darker urine
- Slight fatigue
Moderate (3-5% body weight loss):
- Extreme thirst
- Very dry mouth
- Minimal or dark urine
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Muscle cramps
- Decreased skin elasticity
Severe (6-9% body weight loss):
- No urination
- Extreme dizziness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Rapid breathing
- Confusion
- Lethargy
- Sunken eyes
Critical (10%+ body weight loss):
- Delirium
- Unconsciousness
- Organ failure
- Death risk
Rehydration Protocol
For mild to moderate dehydration, slow rehydration is crucial. Drinking too quickly can cause vomiting and water loss. Aim for:
- Initial consumption: ½ cup every 15 minutes
- Inclusion of electrolytes
- Gradual increase as tolerated
For severe dehydration, medical attention is essential. In its absence, oral rehydration solutions become critical:
- 6 teaspoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 liter of purified water
Conclusion
At Surv, we believe water is a crucial step in survival planning. Our comprehensive approach includes:
- Education: Understanding water sources, purification methods, and conservation techniques
- Equipment: Stocking reliable and functional tools like LifeStraw filters and water purification tablets
- Planning: Developing customized water strategies for your specific emergency scenarios
Water challenges vary dramatically between environments and emergency types, but the fundamental principle remains: preparation certainly helps when it comes to survival.
Stay hydrated out there! Let us know what you think and connect on X.
Surv—Prepare with Purpose