Water

Close to the top of survival needs is WATER. Topics we’ll cover:

• where to find
• filtering
• boiling
• distillation
• chemical treatment
• expiration

Collecting Dew and Water Drops

When there is no body of water to be found, you might be able to collect water droplets from foliage. You can tilt the leaves into your mouth and tap gently to loosen the droplets - or - you can obsorb the droplets into a cloth which in turn can be wrung out directly into your mouth - or - you can fashion a cup to hold water using a broad leaf such as found on a deciduous tree. Basically, a leaf can be pinched on one side and then folded off to the back side. This single fold creates a cone shaped reservoir that holds the water. A big enough leaf might enable additional folds to create an even lipped rim or even a handle.

Pasteurize Water Using Solar Cooking

Water can be made safe for drinking by pasteurization which kills germs and disease-carrying organisms. To achieve this, heat the water to at least 150 degrees F. (65 degrees C.) and keep it at that temperature or above for at least 30 minutes. This can be accomplished using solar cooking which requires no fuel or flames. Heat is collected from the sun’s rays and enhanced by reflection, magnification, insulation, and absorption. There are many solar products being developed in today’s market and can be found on-line from various sources. Alternately, you can use items that can be found in the trash. I used a silverized bag from a snack food and an empty soda can. First, I cut open the bag and formed a reflective bowl, and then, in the center, I placed a dark, heat absorptive soda can in which to heat water. This set-up reached a temperature over 150 degrees F. in about an hour. Remember to keep reflectors focused while the sun changes position, and if possible, insulate the setup from wind or other cooling effects.