Category: Water Sourcing

Lessons from Flint, How to Stay Safe when the Water is Contaminated

2/8/2016

By Dennis Diaz

You may have heard this before, “Water is Life”. I certainly have and I think that it’s a statement that even thou it presents “survival” in an ultra-simplistic manner, it carries a great amount of truth. Water IS critical to sustain life and without clean drinking water, you will certainly perish. It sounds harsh, but it is the cold hard truth.

As the world watches how the water crisis in Flint, Michigan develops, it’s hard not to take note of the very real possibility, maybe even probability, of something similar happening elsewhere. In fact, some of our Bugout Network members live in areas near Flint, so we’ve all been watching the situation closely. It is hard to imagine the water coming out of your faucet could be hurting you, but it can happen and in many places it will.

The water in Flint is loaded with lead which as we know, can be extremely dangerous for humans, even fatal in some cases. High levels of lead in the water can cause high blood pressure, anemia, kidney problems and reproductive problems. Children are more susceptible to developing problems from high levels of lead simply because their smaller bodies can tolerate less lead than an adult.

The people in Flint never expected their water to be contaminated. They assumed their city officials were protecting them. Sadly, they were wrong and now, there is a major water crisis. Water is being shipped in while the city figures out how to remedy the problem. It is going to be extremely costly and as you can imagine, there is a lot of red tape and loopholes that must be jumped through. In the meantime, residents are stuck without safe drinking water.

If you suspect your water is contaminated whether it comes from your private well or the city, you should have it tested. In fact, it wouldn't hurt to periodically test the water just to be on the safe side. You can pay for testing by a lab, which will give you an in-depth analysis or buy a simple water test kit at the hardware store. Many metals are not detectable by smell or taste.

If you discover your water is contaminated, don't drink it. The following tips will help you stay safe when you are dealing with contaminated drinking water today or after a major disaster.

Filters

Filters are a quick, easy and effective way to remove some contaminants from the water. Depending on the concentration of contaminants in the water, you may go through filters pretty quick. A whole house filter or a filter reserved for running water through before drinking can be purchased. They range in price. However, it is best to make a purchase based on the filter replacement cost and not the cost of the actual unit.

You could attach a filter to the kitchen sink only if you are not worried about bathing in water with high lead concentrations. These faucet filters are fairly inexpensive and you won't be wasting any water. A countertop filter system is yet another option. Basically, the unit sits on the counter and you either attach a hose from the faucet to the filter or pour the water through the unit.

Please note that water softeners are not the same as a filter. They are not effective at removing the lead from the water.

Reverse Osmosis

These units are effective at removing lead and other contaminants from the water, but they are not ideal if water is in short supply. The units basically run the water through a tight membrane. Only a portion of the water makes it through and is safe to drink. About three gallons of water is forced down the drain for every gallon of clean water that makes it through the system. The units can also be quite costly. They are generally installed under the sink. The water comes in from the main water line, runs through the filter and then out to the tap.

Distillation

The process of distilling water is effective, but it is extremely time consuming. In a survival situation it would not be ideal. The amount of fuel it takes to heat the water to get it to go through the distillation process is usually a deterrent. You would also only be getting a very small amount of safe water. In today's world, distillers are typically electric. You plug it in, fill it with water and wait for the steam to rise, condense and flow into a small catchment container. A distiller is much less expensive to purchase than a reverse osmosis unit, but the electricity you would use to run it makes the cost very similar.

Bottled Water

Bottled water is an option, but it is very expensive and isn't practical for long term use. The situation in Flint will take weeks or months to resolve. It would be much easier and more cost effective to purchase a filter or one of the other cleaning methods mentioned above. Please note that water softeners are not the same as a filter.

It is important to point out that what happened in Flint can happen anywhere. It may not necessarily be lead that is poisoning your drinking water, but some other contaminant. Chemicals, bacteria and viruses can all make your water unsafe to drink. It is a good idea to have a filtration system in your home, just in case the water is contaminated and you don't know it.

Unfortunately, you cannot always rely on your government officials to look out for you. Flint residents have learned that lesson the hard way. They were being poisoned without them knowing any different. Don't trust or assume your water source is clean and safe. Take your health and the health of your family into your own hands and do what you can to ensure your water is safe.

For more updates of the situation in Flint visit flintwaterstudy.org

About the Author

Dennis Diaz is the Chief Editor of Survival Ready Blog. He is passionate about learning and teaching survival and preparedness strategies. He is the author of the "The 12 Month Prepper & Survivalist Playbook" & Co-creator of many resources offered at Survival Ready Blog and The Bugout Network.
He doesn't consider himself an expert, but a facilitator and he works hard to provide a platform to those with valuable expertise to share their knowledge with as many people as possible.

He enjoys helping others prepare themselves for multiple dangerous scenarios, by coaching them on how develop their own customized survival & preparedness plans and develop their survival skills. He promotes the core concept of making preparedness and survival knowledge part of their daily lives.

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How to find water sources in virtually any outdoor environment

5/26/2015

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By Dennis Diaz

In most outdoor situations water will be a priority right after shelter. Knowing how to find it is something you must learn. Here are a couple tips on where to look.

Ravines

The obvious place to look is in places where water flows in wet weather. Many times you will be able to find pockets of standing or even flowing water.

If there is no water on the surface you may be able to dig in a low spot and hit water without too much effort.

Beaches

I have never had to find fresh water on a beach, but I did read a survival manual written in the 40’s or 50’s that insisted that there was fresh water on almost every beach.

The instructions went something like this. Walk on the beach away from the water to the edge of the sand. Then dig down until you hit water. This according to the book is usually fresh water.

The theory is, rain water runs off and hits the sand and immediately sinks down to the level of the salt water. This builds up since it takes quite a while to become mixed with the salt water.

Wet Areas

If you are in an area with no obvious places to look, keep an eye out for water loving plants like cattails, or willows. Cottonwood trees usually grow near water also.

If you can find a muddy, or wet looking area just dig down until you have water in your hole.

Solar Still

We’ve all seen how to make a solar still, but if you have somehow missed it. Dig a three foot wide and up to three foot deep hole. Place a container in the bottom and cover the top with plastic. Place a small stone in the center of the plastic to create a low spot.

When the sun hits the plastic it will heat up in the hole and cause water to evaporate, which in turn condenses on the plastic and drips into the container below the spot where you placed the stone.

Transpiration bags

Clear plastic bags can be tied to tree branches, and the sun will “cook” some water out of them. Slip the end of a leafy branch into the bag and tie the neck around the branch. It is a good idea to set up several of these if you plan on using it for your water supply.

As with most wild water sources it is always a good idea to treat your found water.

PS: Here's the resource I've put together to take a lot of the guesswork of this whole water sourcing and treatment during an emergency subjects

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Filtering & Purifying Water

12/21/2014

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By Survival Ready Blog Team

With a few exceptions, like rain water and water collected through a solar still, the water collected from most water sources in a survival situation will need to be treated before it is safe to consume.

Filtering Water

If you don’t have a device that filter and disinfects the water, you will have to accomplish the same task in two stages. Before purifying the water, you will have to filter it to remove any debris.

Filter Frame or Tripod Filter

If you are not carrying a filtration system with you such as a “Lifestraw Personal Filter”, you could construct an improvised water filter. A water filter frame or tripod filter uses pouches of contrasting natural materials to remove unwanted particles from natural water. Pour the water into the uppermost pouch, and allow it to filter slowly down into a container at the bottom.

This water filter is a three tier system. The first layer, or grass layer, removes the larger impurities. The second layer, or sand layer, removes the smaller impurities. The final layer or charcoal layer (not the ash but charcoal from a fire), bonds and holds the toxins. All layers are placed on some type of straining device and the charcoal layer should be at least 5-6 inches thick. Layers should be changed frequently and straining material should be boiled. Remember, this is not a disinfecting method, cysts can possibly move through this system.

Hanging water filter

A hanging water filter works in the same manner as the filter frame or tripod filter, by allowing the water to pass through the layers of filtration. The contrasting layers of rock and sand inside the cloth bag or bottle will each strip particle of debris from the water, leaving in clean enough to be bottled for purification.

To make a hanging water filter you can either use a piece of cloth as a pouch or a bottle to stack the layers and hang it from a tree. Fill the pouch or bottle with layers of different materials working from coarse to fine as you go your way down the container. Pour the water into the top end of the pouch or bottle and allow it to work its way down through the layers

Disinfecting Water

If you consume untreated water, you run the risk of becoming infected with a water-borne disease, so it’s vital that you treat any water first. If you have the ability to start a fire, the most effective way of making water safe to drink is by boiling it from at least 10 minutes. However if you are unable to make a fire, there are several devices available that are capable of filtering and purifying water to make it safe for drinking.

Mini Portable Water Purifiers

These are specially designed units that filter the water and then purify it, by pumping the contaminated water through either micro filters, chemicals or a combination of both. Sized vary in these devices from small pumps able t purify 10 gallons to units capable of purifying large quantities of water.

Gravity/Pressure Filters

These devices are incorporated within drinking bottles. The water is either allowed to flow naturally through the system via gravity, or is squeezed through by the operator. All bottles of this type typically employ: a filter to remove sediments and organic contaminants; a micron filter to remove protozoa; and a chemical that kills water-borne bacteria and viruses.

Survival Straws

Compact emergency water filters, survival straws usually contain a filter system and employ either carbon or iodine resign systems to eliminate water-borne diseases and harmful chemicals. You need to get the water at the point where you can reach it with your straw. If you want to draw a supply of water to carry with you, you’ll have to draw water into your mouth and decant it into a container.

Larger units, that provide safe water to multiple people and that use the same technology, are now commercially available.

Other Methods

If you can’t boil water, or if you don’t have a water purification device, you’ll have to rely on non-mechanical methods. The concentration and contact time required for some of these methods is dictated by the quality and temperature of the water being treated.

Iodine (Liquid and Tables)

Iodine, which destroys bacteria, viruses and cysts, can be used to disinfect water effectively and conveniently. Its action is dependent on concentration, the water temperature, and the duration of the contact. A concentration of 8mgs per liter at 68 F will destroy pathogens if left for 10 minutes.

Chlorine Tablets

Chlorine based tablets will destroy most bacteria but are less effective for viruses and cysts. They are more effective when used in combination with phosphoric acid and will destroy both Giardiasis and Cryptosporidium.

Potassium Permanganate

Potassium permanganate can be bought at most pharmacies. Mix a few granules with your water until it turns light pink. Leave for at least 30 minutes before drinking

Bleach

Adding unscented household bleach is the cheapest way to add chlorine to water. Be careful to just add one drop of leach per liter of water, two if the water is cloudy, and leave for at least 30 minutes before drinking. This method is not always effective against Giardiasis and Cryptosporidium.

Note: Before employing any commercial device for water treatment, you should do your own research to ensure you are using appropriate devices to achieve the necessary level of treatment.

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Water Sourcing: Finding Water Outdoors

12/12/2014

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By Survival Ready Blog Team

Finding water is at the top of your priorities in any survival situation, ranking well above food. The reason is simple, you can survival far longer without food than without water. Without water, there’s a high chance of dying in just a few days.

The regular intake of water essential to life is about 2 to 3 liters a day. This is the minimum required to keep your water balance and prevent dehydration. In a survival situation, you should always filter and purify. In this post we’ll cover different ways to source and procure water. We’ll cover filtering and purification methods and gear in a separate post.

Here are a few method to find water:

Dew Collector

Dew collectors can be improvised from sheets of plastic, but commercial version are far more efficient. Condensation gathers on the sides of the collector, eventually running down into the central reservoir. Dew collectors are especially useful as the fluids collected can be safely drunk without the need of filtration or purification.

Harvesting Dew

In areas with moderate to heavy dew, dew can be collected by tying rags or tuffs of fine grass around your ankles. While walking through dewy grass before sunrise, the rags or grass will saturate and can be rung out into a container. The rags or grass can be replaced and the process is repeated.

Rain Collector

If you are in an area where rainfall is scarce, you want to maximize the amount of water you collect every time it does rain. A simple tarp rain collector, like the one shown in the image below, will channel large volumes of rainwater down into a bucket or container. This will type of collector will obviously need to be constructed in advance of the rain. Looks for signs of gathering clouds and pick and area with minimal obstructions to maximize the amount of rainwater collected.

Solar Still

Solar stills are designed to supplement water reserves. Contrary to belief, they will not provide enough water to meet the daily requirement for water.

Below-Ground Solar Still. Materials consist of a digging stick, clear plastic sheet, container, rock, and a drinking tube. Selecting a site where you believe the soil will contain. The soil should be easy to dig, and will be exposed to sunlight. See our post solar still construction for more details.

Transpiration Bags.

The mechanism a transpiration bag employs to source/collect water is the same as the solar still. That is why they are also known as “Above-Ground Solar Stills”. This device allows the survivor to make water from vegetation. To make the aboveground solar still, locate a sunny slope on which to place the still, a clear plastic bag, green leafy vegetation, and a small rock. See our post solar still construction for more details.

Digging for water

Digging down into damp earth can often lead to significant water deposits. Create a hole several feet deep and about 1 ft wide and allow water to seep in through the earth, collecting in the hole. ALWAYS filter ad purify such fluids before you drink them. In flat agricultural land, look for irrigation ditches between fields

Melting Snow & Ice

The environment may sometimes provide you with opportunities to acquire water. In a cold water can generally be located in the following:

Snow. Snow can be melted for potable water. Melting snow will result in a higher fuel usage. Uncontaminated snow does not need to be disinfected.

Ice. Ice can be melted for potable water. Melting ice is preferable to melting snow due to the higher concentration of water per volume. However, since ice is frozen water it needs to be disinfected.

Sea Ice. In time, sea ice loses its salinity. You can identify this ice by its rounded corners and bluish color. Gray ice has not yet lost its salt content.

Here are some general considerations when using snow and ice for water.

(1) Never melt snow or ice inside your mouth. This removes body heat and increases the chance of cold weather injuries.
(2) When on the move, use body heat to melt snow. Place snow or ice in a water bag and place the bag between your layers of clothing, not directly on the skin.
(3) Do not waste fuel to melt snow or ice when drinkable water (i.e., stream) is available.
(4) If melting snow in a container by a fire, utilize a hot rock to speed up the process and conserving fuel.

With very few exceptions, like rainwater or water immediately collected after water vapor condensation, most water sources that are procured in a survival situation should be treated before it is safe to drink. We will discuss the topics of water treatment, filtering and purifying in a separate post.

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Solar Still Construction

12/12/2014

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Solar stills are designed to supplement water reserves. Contrary to belief, they will not provide enough water to meet the daily requirement for water.

Below-Ground Solar Still. Materials consist of a digging stick, clear plastic sheet, container, rock, and a drinking tube.

(1) Construction.

(a) Select a site where you believe the soil will contain moisture (such as a dry streambed or a low spot where rainwater has collected). The soil should be easy to dig, and will be exposed to sunlight.
(b) Dig a bowl-shaped hole about 1 meter across and 24 inches deep.
(c) Dig a sump in the center of the hole. The sump depth and perimeter will depend on the size of the container you have to place in it. The bottom of the sump should allow the container to stand upright.
(d) Anchor the tubing to the container's bottom by forming a loose overhand knot in the tubing. Extend the unanchored end of the tubing up, over, and beyond the lip of the hole.
(e) Place the plastic sheet over the hole, covering its edges with soil to hold in place. Place a rock in the center of the plastic sheet.
(f) Lower the plastic sheet into the hole until it is about 18 inches below ground level. Make sure the cone's apex is directly over the container. Ensure the plastic does not touch the sides of the hole because the earth will absorb the moisture.
(g) Put more soil on the edges of the plastic to hold it securely and prevent the loss of moisture.
(h) Plug the tube when not in use so that moisture will not evaporate.
(i) Plants can be placed in the hole as a moisture source. If so, dig out additional soil from the sides.
(j) If polluted water is the only moisture source, dig a small trough outside the hole about 10 inches from the still's lip. Dig the trough about 10 inches deep and 3 inches wide. Pour the polluted water in the trough. Ensure you do not spill any polluted water around the rim of the hole where the plastic touches the soil. The trough holds the polluted water and the soil filters it as the still draws it. This process works well when the only water source is salt water.

Transpiration Bags. The mechanism a transpiration bag employs to source/collect water is the same as the solar still. That is why they are also known as “Above-Ground Solar Stills”. This device allows the survivor to make water from vegetation. To make the above ground solar still, locate a sunny slope on which to place the still, a clear plastic bag, green leafy vegetation, and a small rock.

(1) Construction.

(a) Fill the bag with air by turning the opening into the breeze or by "scooping" air into the bag.
(b) Fill the bag half to three-quarters full of green leafy vegetation. Be sure to remove all hard sticks or sharp spines that might puncture the bag.
CAUTION Do not use poisonous vegetation. It will provide poisonous liquid.
(c) Place a small rock or similar item in the bag.
(d) Close the bag and tie the mouth securely as close to the end of the bag as possible to keep the maximum amount of air space. If you have a small piece of tubing, small straw, or hollow reed, insert one end in the mouth of the bag before tying it securely. Tie off or plug the tubing so that air will not escape. This tubing will allow you to drain out condensed water without untying the bag.
(e) Place the bag, mouth downhill, on a slope in full sunlight. Position the mouth of the bag slightly higher than the low point in the bag. The bag can also be wrapped around leaves still on a tree as show in the video below
(f) Settle the bag in place so that the rock works itself into the low point in the bag.
(g) To get the condensed water from the still, loosen the tie and tip the bag so that the collected water will drain out. Retie the mouth and reposition the still to allow further condensation.
(h) Change vegetation in the bag after extracting most of the water from it.
(i) Using 1 gallon zip-loc bag instead of trash bags is a more efficient means of construction.

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Lessons from Flint, How to Stay Safe when the Water is Contaminated

How to find water sources in virtually any outdoor environment

Filtering & Purifying Water

Water Sourcing: Finding Water Outdoors

Solar Still Construction

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