Summer Water Procurement Methods
Summer Water Procurement Methods- Water is vital for life. A person may be able to survive for days without food, as their body is able to use stored fats and protein, but a person can only survive without water for three to four days at the most. While a heavier person with a lot of fat stores is able to live longer than a thin person with very little fat without food, the size of the body does not matter when it comes to the requirement for water.
Because of this it is incredibly important that a person who is going camping or that could possibly be in a survival situation bring along adequate water, although it is heavy and this is especially true during the summer months. In the summer, a person perspires more than in the winter so this is very important. The heat of the sun can cause a person to become dehydrated much more quickly and this means that the body is going to require much more water. If you find yourself in a survival situation in which you need to gather water from various sources, then there are several techniques that you can use to gather the water you need while in the wilderness.
There are several methods that you can use to procure water while in the wilderness. Many will work, but the success of each is variable. Also, most methods can typically be used by utilizing items that you may already have with you while camping or in your survival kit, and others may require a few small, lightweight supplies such as a plastic drinking cup or small diameter plastic tubing. You may also need a small shovel or trowel, as this will allow you to dig a seep hole. This is a handy technique that will allow you to procure water from rock seeps. Knowing how to procure water during all the seasons is very important to your survival.
A solar still is a traditional method for procuring water in the summer. You dig a hole that is a few feet in diameter and a foot or two deep. Cover the hole with clear plastic and the groundwater will condense and drip into a container at the bottom of the hole. You can then use the tubing or straw to suck up the water without disturbing the solar still. The production of water can be increased by placing vegetation or urinating at the bottom of the hole. You will then want to place a light rock on the plastic right above your container, as this will cause the water to run down the plastic and drip into the container. The solar still works well if the soil is moist. It is important to remember that to dig the hole you will use some energy and your body’s water stores as you work. It is recommended that the hole digging be done in the evening when it is cool so that you do not perspire too much. During a survival situation perspiring can lead to hypothermia and hypothermia can cause death, YES! Even in summer.
Another method to gather water in the summer is through the use of a transpiration bag. This method works anywhere you can find green, leafy vegetation, such as trees or bushes. Wrap a clear or semi-clear plastic bag around the foliage of the plant and then tie it tight. The bag will trap the moisture that is transpired by the plant and the solar heat caused by the bag increases the water that is put out. By weighing down the corner of the bag, you will allow the water to collect in the corner of a bag. If you intend to use this method while camping then you will want to carry multiple plastic bags, three or four, per person. A lightweight and semi-transparent garbage bag will allow you to gather large amounts of water, but they are easily torn by branches.
If you find yourself in a situation where you have plenty of water accessible remember you shouldn’t just drink any of it. You should purify the water if you are in the wilderness, and if you are not and are near the ocean then you are going to need to know how to purify salt water through salt water desalination. You can achieve salt water desalination by heating the water to convert it into steam. The steam can then be collected by placing a towel or clothing over the water and wringing out the clean water into a container. This method is very time consuming however. Freezing water can also be used to purify water, but if you are camping in the summer then you probably have no way of freezing it and your best bet is to collect the steam from the water. There are also salt water desalination devices that can be purchased and brought a long on a camping trip so that you can drink the salt water that may be around you.
These methods can be successfully used as a source of water if you find yourself in a survival situation or just want to impress your friends. The best and easiest way to procure water during summer is from rivers, lakes and streams. Remember that even if the water looks clear you should still purify and/or filter the water because there can be bacteria, viruses, and protozoan in the water.
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