Water is absolutely essential in a survival situation. If you are just lounging around in a moderate climate you can make it about three days before you die of dehydration. However, if you are doing a bunch of work or it is hot outside you might only make it a day. I learned this lesson on my first survival challenge.
I started first thing in the morning and searched the area for a shelter location. I had an idea of the structure that I wanted, so I started cutting down small maples for the frame. After framing out my shelter, I needed a waterproof roof due to rain in the forecast for that night. I started cutting grasses to thatch the roof. It would get cold enough that night that wet clothes could mean hypothermia. After cutting grasses for most of the day, I was feeling spent. It was 80F and dehydration was starting to set in. My hands and arms cramped up making them worthless. I needed water right away.
I had intentionally chosen a location for my shelter that had a pond nearby. I gathered some water and dropped in some iodine tablets for purification. My heart was beating out of my chest and my head was pounding. After the tablets did their job, I was able to drink enough water to feel better and finish my thatching. If I hadn’t had water close by, I do not know if I would have made it. In survival situation, dehydration is the number two cause of death.
There have been two other times that I nearly died due to dehydration. In 2017 I visited the high desert of Western Colorado. I scouted the area in advance and spoke to the area expert. I was pointed to a canyon that typically had pools of water remaining from recent rains. However, I was told that they were short handed with zero rescue personnel. I was going to get no help if I got into trouble.
I drove 23 hours without stopping and arrived at the canyon. Once looking it over I decided that it was too steep to drop into the canyon with a 50 lb pack on my back. There was another canyon close by that had a more reasonable grade. I dropped in but found no water after hiking for miles. Dehydration set in and I stopped to rest for the night.
In the morning I had to decide if I wanted to keep looking for water or head back to my vehicle. I had almost no energy between the dehydration and hunger. Without any help coming, I thought about my family and decided to head back to the vehicle. After miles of hiking back to the lip of the canyon, I was spent. I was stopping every few minutes to rest in the shade. I seriously considered leaving my pack in the canyon because I didn’t think I could climb out with it on my back. I dug deep and pulled my way back up the steep cliffside finding a bottle of water in the cupholder of my car.
In spring of 2018 I completed a survival challenge in Southern Indiana. This challenge included another survival expert, but I still had issues. We had hiked for miles along the shoreline of a lake to get to our shelter location. I started building our shelter and was careful to stay hydrated. The lake water looked okay, so I just make a makeshift filter to clean it up a bit. By the following morning I was sick to my stomach with diarrhea. Again, dehydration set in. I did not make it too much longer before I knew I needed to start hiking back. At this point I was light headed and had a pounding headache. I couldn’t make it more than about 100 yards without lying down. I actually had to crawl the last 50 yards, but I made it back to my vehicle. I was lucky enough to have chilled water waiting at the car.
Finding Water
In order to purify water for consumption, you must find the water first. This may sound simple, but not always. When you do find water, it is a good idea to set up your camp close by. However, do not get too close. Between flooding, insects, and predators, you are best to set up about 100 yards away. It is also smart to hike alongside of a water source so you can hydrate whenever needed.
When looking for water, heading downhill is always a good idea. When it rains, the water will always run downhill and end up in hollers, canyons, and valleys. Typically, small water runs into big water so head downstream to find larger bodies of water.
If you can get to a hill or peak to look out across a large area, look for spots where the plants are taller and greener. That is a good sign of a water source. Even an old, dry creek bed could provide water if you find a good spot and dig a well. Game trails are another good way to find water. Most animals are creatures of habit and follow the same path to water every day. Follow the game trail downhill and you will likely end up at a water source.
Water Purification
Typically, you can plan on getting sick if you drink unpurified water. Most fresh water has waterborne pathogens such as parasites, amoebas, and bacteria. These can cause fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and can sometimes be fatal. These effects cause severe dehydration, so drinking tainted water can actually kill you faster.
You will find a handful of water sources that are safe to drink without purification. You should still purify if possible, just to be safe. When water comes from a spring, it has been purified by the earth. Do be sure to check for a nasty smell or taste. These can be signs of mineral content that can still make you sick.
You can also hydrate with rainwater, ice, or snow as long as it has not had contact with the ground. Ice is always better than snow because ice is 90% water and 10% air. Snow is 10% water and 90% air. If you are going to melt snow, always pack it into a tight ball to push out some of the air. You also never want to eat ice or snow if you can avoid it. This can cause you to become hypothermic in cold weather.
Certain plants can provide water if you are desperate. In most rain forests you will find long vines running from the ground to the canopy called water vines. Cut out about a three-foot section and water should run out of one end. Coconut milk can be a good source of water, but too much will give you diarrhea. Prickly pear cactus is another plant with water inside, but it too can give you diarrhea.
Any other water source needs to be purified. You want to try to find a running water source like a stream or river. These sources are less likely to be tainted than standing water. Often animals will urinate, defecate, or even die in standing water. This causes an abundance of bacteria in the water. There are several ways to purify water, and each is a little different:
Commercial Filters – You can purchase several different kinds of filters that are ideal to carry in a bug out bag or everyday carry kit. Most quality filters will remove 99.999% of waterborne pathogens in water. You can use a straw style filter which is small enough to put in your pocket. However, it does require you to get down on your stomach to drink if you do not have a cup or bottle for the water.
My personal favorite is the bottle style filter. This is a basic water bottle with a filter built into the lid. I own three of these and use them all the time. They are perfect for an EDC kit because they look like a normal water bottle to most people. You can take it to the gym or to work and nobody knows the difference. I love that I can find a water source, fill up the bottle, clip it on my belt, and then take a drink whenever I need to. Just be sure to blow out the filter when you are finished so it does not get clogged.
Bladder style gravity filters have large plastic or rubber bladders that will hold several gallons. The bladder is filled and hung in a tree with a tube and filter below. Gravity will push water down through the tube and filter so it can be poured in a cup or bottle. These are really designed for stationary camps where you will be hydrating for several days. They are also ideal for groups of people to stay hydrated.
Boiling – The oldest form of water purification is boiling. When you bring water to 212F, pathogens like bacteria, amoebas, and parasites are killed. If you have a fire and have no filter, this is probably your best option. Be aware that boiling does not remove chemicals or debris, so be cautious about where you get your water. This is one of the reasons it is so important that you know how to build and start a fire in the wild. When I grew up, we were told that water must boil for 10 minutes for it to be purified. We now know that water must only be brought to a roaring boil for it to be safe to drink. Combining a filter and boiling is the perfect combination.
Chemical Purification – One product that I always carry in my BOB and EDC kit is a vial of iodine tablets. This is one form of chemical purification. There are two primary chemicals that will purify water. These are bleach and iodine. A few drops of either product in a bottle of water will kill harmful pathogens. I’m not a fan of carrying liquids in my pack, so iodine tablets are the solid version. You get 50 tablets in a tiny vial that fits in the palm of your hand. Drop one tablet in a bottle of water and wait 30 minutes. This is the only downside. I can say that 30 minutes can feel like days when you are severely dehydrated. Be aware that chemical purification is designed for short term consumption. Even a few weeks is fine, but consuming chemicals for months at a time could lead to health problems. Also, chemical purification does not eliminate debris or other chemicals.
DIY Filters – You can build a filter if you have no fire, no iodine tablets, and no commercial filters. Start with a plastic bottle and cut off the bottom. Invert the bottle and fill with layers of sand, gravel, charcoal, and fabric. You want a lot of layers to ensure quality purification. The charcoal absorbs the harmful pathogens and chemicals while the other layers remove debris. Finally, remove the cap and stretch fabric across the opening. Pour in water and enjoy.
UV Light – If you are really desperate but have a clear glass bottle, you can use ultraviolet light to purify water. For this you need a bright, sunny day. You also need clear water. Murky water will not work. Fill up your bottles and set them in the direct sunlight for at least six hours. The longer they sit in the light, the better chance you have of getting safe water. Do not try to use colored glass or plastic bottles. This will not remove debris or chemicals.
Seep Wells – If you are dehydrated and cannot even find a bottle, you can dig a seep well. This process is designed to use the earth to filter your water. However, it is a bit risky. Ideally you want to find a fairly clean water source for a seep well. Start by digging a hole about three feet from the edge of the water. Make sure it is deeper than the water line. You should see water start to slowly seep into the bottom of the well. If it seeps in quickly, this will not filter your water. In this case, move further away and try again. After the hole fills with water, it will likely be muddy. Give it about 30 minutes for the sediment to settle to the bottom before drinking.
Keep in mind that wilderness survival is all about priorities. Your goal is to stay alive as many days as you can to hopefully be rescued. Most waterborne pathogens will take a week or longer to really cause an issue. However, you may die of dehydration in a day or two. In this case, dehydration is the more immediate issue. Do the best you can to purify the water and get hydrated. You may get sick a week from now, but at least you have a week. That is often enough time to get you to a hospital and get treated.
Dehydration is a serious threat and not to be taken lightly. In addition to potentially killing you, it can make other survival tasks impossible. If you are severely dehydrated, forget about working on a shelter, building a fire, or looking for food. When I have been severely dehydrated, all I can do is sit in the shade and think about how to get water. You really do feel the life draining out of you. Do not wait until you are thirsty or experiencing dehydration symptoms before you hydrate. In a survival scenario, you need to hydrate as often as possible. I recall a long-distance survival challenge on which I hiked 37 miles in 3.5 days on zero food. I was drinking three gallons of water a day and was still dehydrated. However, in most cases you will be fine if you make hydration and purification your top priorities.
Ryan Dotson is a survivalist, writer, photographer and prepper. Mr. Dotson was raised in the Ozark Mountains. His interest in survivalism began with the Boy Scouts. His father, uncle and grandfather continued to teach him how to hunt and fish. Currently living in Mid-Missouri, Mr. Dotson has begun to write about his experiences of survival here at SurvivalistWarrior.com.