Photo by Good Free Photos on Unsplash
Water is the number one resource (aside from oxygen) that we really can’t live without.
If you are out bush and running low on water, these are three methods you can use to find some sweet, sweet hyrdration.
Method 1: Go Down Down
Go down! Way down. Water trickles downwards and forms rivers, springs, or even just small pools of water. If you head this way you are much more likely to come across water, and if you are lost, you also have a better chance of surviving and being found. Water, in most cases, leads to people. And peole leads to safety. Hooray!
Method 2: Get Cracked
Maybe you have found a water source but it is dripping from a crack or crevice in a great big wall of rock. Dip your neck buff or other piece of absorbent material (bandana, tshirt, clean bandage) into the crevice and wring it out into your bottle or other water container. You could also in some cases wring it straight into your mouth or suck on it, as the rock, silt and soil formations will have purified and filtered the water.
Method 3: Let there be light!
Use the sunlight! And a tree. Transpiration method can take a while and garners different results as it depends on some variables – the availability of sunlight, type of tree and also plain ol’ luck. Sometimes a sapling will yield more water than a huuge, decades-old tree. You need to have a clear plastic bag for this method – a dark one won’t work. Basically, you tie a plastic bag over a ‘hug’ worth of branches and leaves. Ensure you are not sourcing from a tree that could be toxic (more on this another time). The key is to do this as early in the day as possible and to choose a north-facing portion of the tree (if you are in the southern hemisphere) to provide leaves maximum exposure to the suns rays. The leaves will begin to sweat (or transpire), as the tree draws up water from its roots and this will poool in a corner of the plastic bag. Sometimes you can get a cup or two worth of water in a few hours! Be sure to change spots after a couple of goes so you don’t accidentally kill off that section of your chosen tree.
A word of caution
Please ensure you always carry enough water with you whether you are going for just a ‘short’ hike or a few days camping. Many people who end up needing rescuing only ever intended to go for just ‘a couple of hours’. If you become lost or injured you can see how vital being prepared and bringing adequate supplies with you can be.
The above are just a few methods of water collection, and do not go into the details of water purification. Always assume your water source is contaminated unless you have it on very, very good knowledge that the source is pure. And even then, consumption is at your own risk.
The methods outlined are just examples of how you can collect water in the natural environment, but none are substitutes for learning the details and putting it into practice in a safe environment, such as on a bushcraft survival course. This is a great blog that goes into a lot more detail on water collection and purification, and you can also book a course to learn more.
