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Water Procurement Methods for Emergency Situations

Quick Summary​

Water is critical for readiness situations - you need at least 2 liters (0.5 gallons) daily to maintain basic function. This guide covers proven techniques for finding and collecting water from your environment when regular sources aren't available.

Why This Matters​

Your body is over 75% water, and you lose fluids constantly through breathing, sweating, and normal body functions. In emergency situations like:

  • Extended power outages affecting water pumps
  • Being stranded while hiking or camping
  • Natural disasters disrupting water infrastructure
  • Vehicle breakdowns in remote areas

Knowing how to procure water from your environment can be the difference between staying healthy and facing serious dehydration.

The Basics​

Water exists in almost every environment - you just need to know where to look and how to collect it safely. The key is understanding that procurement (finding and collecting) is different from purification (making it safe to drink).

Important: Always purify water from natural sources before drinking, even if it looks clean.

Environment-Specific Water Sources​

Cold Weather Areas​

Snow and Ice

  • How to collect: Melt snow or ice using fire or body heat
  • Important: Never eat snow or ice directly - it lowers body temperature and increases dehydration
  • Quality indicator: Clear, crystalline ice (bluish color) has less salt than gray, opaque ice

Coastal Areas​

Beach Wells

  • Where to dig: Behind the first line of sand dunes
  • Method: Dig 2-3 feet deep until water seeps in
  • Why it works: Fresh rainwater floats on top of heavier saltwater

Rainwater

  • Collection: Use tarps, large leaves, or containers
  • Tip: If your collection surface has salt residue, rinse it with seawater first

Desert Environments​

Underground Water Signs:

  • Valleys and low-lying areas
  • Dry riverbeds (dig at outside bends)
  • Base of cliffs or rock formations
  • Green vegetation patches
  • Animal trails (they lead to water)
  • Bird flight patterns at dawn/dusk

Rock Sources:

  • Natural depressions after rainfall
  • Rock crevices and fissures
  • Porous rock formations

Plant Sources:

  • Barrel cactus: Cut top, mash pulp, extract juice (don't swallow pulp)
  • Prickly pear: Fruits and pads contain water

Forest and Jungle Areas​

Tree Sources:

  • Green bamboo: Bend stalk, tie down, cut top - water drips overnight
  • Banana/plantain stumps: Cut tree leaving 12-inch stump, hollow out center bowl-shaped. First 3 fillings are bitter, then drinkable for up to 4 days
  • Coconut palms: Young green coconuts have drinkable milk (mature brown ones are laxative)

Vine Water:

  1. Cut notch as high as you can reach
  2. Cut vine at ground level
  3. Catch dripping liquid
  4. Caution: Ensure vine isn't poisonous - avoid milky or sticky sap

Other Sources:

  • Tree trunk hollows after rain
  • Air plants in tropical trees
  • Morning dew collection

Dew Collection Technique​

This method can collect up to 1 liter per hour in ideal conditions:

  1. Materials needed: Absorbent cloth, container
  2. Best time: Before sunrise
  3. Method: Tie rags around ankles, walk through dew-covered grass
  4. Collection: Wring water from saturated cloth into container
  5. Repeat: Until dew evaporates or you have enough water

Water Collection Stills​

Vegetation Bag Still​

Materials needed:

  • Clear plastic bag
  • Green leafy vegetation (non-poisonous)
  • Small rock
  • Optional: tubing for drainage

Setup:

  1. Fill bag 1/2 to 3/4 full with green vegetation
  2. Remove any sharp sticks that could puncture bag
  3. Add small rock to create low point
  4. Inflate bag with air, tie securely
  5. Place on sunny slope, mouth slightly uphill
  6. Position so rock settles at lowest point

Yield: Up to 1 liter in 24 hours

Transpiration Bag Still​

Easier method:

  1. Tie clear plastic bag around living tree branch
  2. Seal bag tightly around branch
  3. Ensure branch end hangs below bag opening
  4. Water collects at low point

Duration: Same branch works 3-5 days without harm

Below-Ground Still​

Materials needed:

  • Digging tool
  • Clear plastic sheet (6x6 feet minimum)
  • Collection container
  • Drinking tube
  • Rock for weight

Construction:

  1. Dig bowl-shaped hole 3 feet across, 2 feet deep
  2. Dig smaller sump in center for container
  3. Place container in sump with tube extending outside hole
  4. Cover hole with plastic sheet
  5. Seal edges with soil
  6. Place rock in center to create inverted cone shape
  7. Ensure plastic doesn't touch hole sides

Output: 0.5-1 liter per 24 hours Best locations: Dry streambeds, low spots where water collects

What NOT to Drink​

Never substitute these for water:

  • Alcoholic beverages - Cause dehydration
  • Urine - Contains body waste, 2% salt
  • Blood - Requires body fluids to digest
  • Seawater - Takes 2 liters of body fluid to process 1 liter of seawater

Safety Considerations​

Critical Safety Rules
  • Always purify collected water before drinking
  • Avoid plants with milky, sticky, or bitter-tasting sap
  • Don't keep plant sap longer than 24 hours - it ferments
  • Test small amounts of unfamiliar plant water first
Important Notes
  • Change vegetation in bag stills after extracting water
  • Cover plant-based water sources to prevent insect contamination
  • In desert areas, work during cooler parts of day to conserve energy

When to Seek Help​

Get professional assistance if:

  • You haven't had water for more than 24 hours in hot weather

  • Signs of severe dehydration appear (dizziness, dark urine, confusion)

  • You're in an area with no visible water sources after 48 hours

  • Next step: Water Purification Basics - Make collected water safe to drink

  • Keep water safe long-term

  • Foundation: Recognizing Dehydration Signs - Know when you need water urgently

Quick Reference​

Daily water needs:

  • Minimum: 2 liters (0.5 gallons) per day
  • Hot weather: 3-4 liters (1 gallon) per day
  • Physical activity: Add 1 liter per hour of exertion

Best procurement methods by environment:

  • Forest: Tree sources, dew collection
  • Desert: Underground sources, stills
  • Coast: Beach wells, rainwater
  • Cold areas: Melted snow/ice
Source

Adapted from Field Manual FM-3-05.70

Last updated: January 18, 2026