How to Tell If Water Is Drinkable in the Wild | House Grail (2023)

Water, food, fire, and shelter are the cornerstones of any outdoor adventure. One quart of water weighs 2 pounds, which is a lot of extra weight to carry on a hiking trip or wilderness excursion. It may be more convenient to find a source of potable water in the wild. There’s also the possibility that daytrippers, hikers, campers, and even experienced outdoorsmen can find themselves in an unplanned situation with no safe water. You may locate a source with little effort, but the question remains: how can you tell if water is drinkable?

How to Tell If Water Is Drinkable in the Wild | House Grail (1)

The Need for Drinkable Water

We can survive for weeks without food but only for a day or two without a source of water. Not only does a lack of water lead to dehydration, but our water intake regulates body temperature, improves physical and cognitive performance, and prevents hypothermia and hyperthermia. Whether you find yourself unprepared in the wild or hunkering down for a survival trip, one of your priorities should be to find a water source.

Unfortunately, most water found in the wilderness is unsafe for drinking. At best, it will leave you with a gut ache and diarrhea, but since diarrhea also depletes the fluid in your body, it can be extremely dangerous. Water can contain microscopic pathogens, and just because a stretch of the river appears free from contaminants does not mean the same is true a few hundred yards upstream.

Visual Inspection

Many of the dangerous pathogens found in wilderness water are microscopic, which means that you cannot see them with the naked eye. No matter how clear a water source looks, it could be harboring invisible bacteria.

However, while flowing water that looks crystal clear and has no surface scum may not be guaranteed to be safe, it will be safer than standing water that is murky and cloudy. The following visual cues will help you determine if the water is drinkable.

Scan Your Surroundings

Always look for signs of contaminants in the surrounding area. Dead animals will decompose and leak bacteria into the water. Look for signs of animal carcasses, and remember that bacteria like cryptosporidium can be spread through animal fecal matter, so look for signs of poop.

Avoid Sources Near Urban Areas

(Video) Bacteria and Chemicals | Ultrapress | Grayl #shorts

If water passes through built-up areas or under roads, it is likely to have picked up contaminants and should be avoided. This is also true if the water passes factories or industrial complexes. The water could contain chemicals, and even boiling this water may not prove effective in making it safe.

Carry a Testing Kit

You can buy water testing kits. Typically, they contain small strips of pH paper. You wet the paper, wait the required time, and compare the color of the paper to a color chart on the package. This will help identify common bacteria like salmonella but won’t necessarily catch every contaminant that you would find in wilderness water supplies.

Good Water Sources

Streams, rivers, and lakes are the most obvious sources of wilderness water. Remember that clear, flowing water is your best option. Movement minimizes the chance of bacteria being able to breed and grow, but it doesn’t completely eliminate this risk. Small streams are your best bet. They move fast and do not usually pass through towns and cities, so they should have minimal pollution.

Rivers can suffer from increased pollution because they are more likely to pass through large towns. Lakes and ponds should be your final option. They will provide water, but because they are stagnant, it means that there is a much higher risk of bacteria and other contaminants.

Is Rainwater Safe?

Rainwater is relatively safe, but it may become polluted if you are near a city or busy area. If you have any kind of container, place it in an open area and allow the rainwater to collect.

Alternatively, you can attach a tarp or another waterproof cover to a nearby tree. Allow one end to sag to create a river of rainwater that drips or runs down into your water bottle or another container below.

(Video) High Quality Water Filter #Shorts

Other Natural Sources

Morning dew is also safe. It can be more challenging to collect, but you can tie absorbent materials, like cotton towels, around your ankles and walk through the long grass. Wring out the water when the clothes are fully soaked and repeat. You can collect as much as a quart of water every hour with this technique.

Water from Plants

Plants release water through their leaves in a process called transpiration. Tie a bag around the foliage of a large leafy bush or tree. Place a small rock in the bottom of the bag so that the water has somewhere to collect, and then make a small hole in the bottom. Place your container underneath and leave your tree bag to collect water over the course of the day. You may need several of these to get a decent amount of water, but every little bit counts.

Make an Underground Still

You can also make an underground still. The sun warms the moisture under the ground to produce condensation, which is then collected in plastic. The condensation then drips into your container, producing up to one quart per still per day.

(Video) Indiana Jones 3 Holy Grail Scene

Snow and ice can make good water sources. Look for clean-looking snow, and always melt it before consuming. Ice can lower your body temperature and dehydrate you rather than replenish your water supply. Also, do not use sea ice.

How to Treat Water

Regardless of your collection technique, you should treat any water you gather before consuming it. If this isn’t possible, and your option is dehydration, you are better off drinking the suspect water rather than doing without.

Boil It

The simplest and one of the most effective ways of treating wateris to boil it. Ideally, you will have a metal pan or water container, but that won’t always be the case. Use a metal tin if you have one. Alternatively, a large shell can be used to boil small amounts of water. A glass jar or other glass container will also work. Even a plastic bottle can be used. Ensure that your plastic bottle is filled with water before replacing the lid and heating it over hot coals. The lack of air should prevent the plastic from melting and leave you with potable water.

Also, you can use a fire starter like a ferro rod. It will work in any weather conditions and does not require a fuel source to work. If you don’t have any method of making a fire to boil your water, place it in a clear container and leave it in direct sunlight to at least kill off some bacteria.

Filter It

It is possible to filter out large debris and contaminants using a sock or other item of clothing, but it will not remove microscopic contaminants. Fill your sock with sand or grass, run your water through it, collect it in your water bottle, and drink. It might not taste great, but it could minimize the risk of illness and slightly improve your water quality.

Purify It

(Video) Jay-Z & Kanye West - No Church In The Wild ft. Frank Ocean, The-Dream

When exploring the wilderness, you can use water purification tablets to kill bacteria and other contaminants. Ideally, you should strain any large pieces of debris from the water before purifying it using the tablets. Depending on the water’s condition, it may take more than one tablet, and purification tablets usually take half an hour to be effective. You should also ensure that the cap and rim of the bottle have been purified.

Whatever method of purification or treatment you choose, filter the water from one container to another and back again. Keep doing this. It doesn’t improve the purity of the water, but it adds oxygen to the water supply and improves its taste.

Harness the Power of the Sun

The last and most time-intensive way to treat water in the wildis to use the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. This process, also known as solar water disinfection, will require clear plastic or a glass bottle. The water should also be clear and free of debris, so you’ll need to filter itbefore trying this method.

Collect up to 2 quarts of water in a jar or bottle and leave it in an area with full sun exposure for at least one day. If you’re in a survival situation, you may not have the tools or the time for this method, but it is effective under the right conditions. Be advised that solar water disinfection only works for quantities up to 2 quarts.

How to Tell If Water Is Drinkable in the Wild | House Grail (2)

How to Tell If Water Is Drinkable in the Wild

If you have a chance to prepare before being left in the wilderness to fend for yourself, you should be able to make a fire and gather water. In that case, finding the cleanest and best possible source of water and then boiling it and letting it cool will yield the safest water. If you’re stuck and have no chance to prepare, you should remove large pieces of debris before leaving water in the sun or gather rainwater and plant water to survive. You can get away with drinking urine, but this will only help you for a day or two before it makes you sick.

See Also

Contents

(Video) Why don't they eat wild rabbits in Australia? They have millions of them! The reason is surprising…

FAQs

How can you tell if water is drinkable in the wild? ›

“Life wants water, and if even algae can't grow in it, it's probably not good to drink.” Look for animal tracks, swarms of bugs, and green vegetation nearby—if other living things are drinking from it, you probably can, too. Most of what makes water dangerous isn't visible, and that's true of taps as well as streams.

How do you get drinkable water in the wilderness? ›

Finding a fresh water supply from a mountain stream or underground water reservoir is preferable. These water sources might be safer than many alternatives; however, it's a wise precaution to always purify water before drinking it when you find a source in the wilderness.

Can you boil lake water and drink it? ›

If you don't have safe bottled water, you should boil your water to make it safe to drink. Boiling is the surest method to kill disease-causing germs, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. adding a pinch of salt for each quart or liter of boiled water.

How do you find and purify water in the wild? ›

How to Purify Water in the Wild
  1. Gather your materials. First, you'll need a container like a coffee can, glass bottle, stainless-steel pot, or water bottle. ...
  2. Dig your hole. ...
  3. Place your container. ...
  4. Cover the hole with plastic. ...
  5. Place a pebble on top of the plastic. ...
  6. Remove the container from the hole. ...
  7. Filter your water.
Jan 25, 2022

How do you purify water in woods? ›

Boiling is the surest method to kill disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes), then allow it to cool before use.

How do you purify water in survival? ›

Boiling. Boiling water is one of the best wilderness water purification methods. Boiling clear water is the most efficient way to make it safe to drink. Most bacteria and microorganisms can't survive in boiling water, and they will likely die off during the heating process.

Can you boil sea water to drink survival? ›

Can you drink boiled seawater? No. Boiling seawater does not make it safe to drink because it doesn't remove the salt. Freshwater on the other hand - say from a river - can be boiled to make it safe enough to drink.

Can you drink rain water in the wild? ›

Rainwater can carry bacteria, parasites, viruses, and chemicals that could make you sick, and it has been linked to disease outbreaks.

Is boiling water in the wild safe to drink? ›

The Wilderness Medical Society also came out with a great recommendation that breaks it down even more. In the time that it takes for water to reach the boiling point (212 ℉) all pathogens will be killed at any elevation level. The moment your water reaches a rolling boil, the water has already become safe to drink.

Can you boil water in the wild? ›

Hot rocks.

This is the easiest method when in a survival situation because you can use a wood container, clay, mud or even a thick leaf container, or bark, to hold the water while it is being heated to boiling by placing egg sized hot rocks in it.

Videos

1. Justin Timberlake - Say Something (Official Video) ft. Chris Stapleton
(Justin Timberlake)
2. Jay-Z - F**kWithMeYouKnowIGotIt (Feat. Rick Ross)
(Bailey Music Unedited)
3. FAMILY GUY WHALE FORKLIFT
(DinosaurClub)
4. 5 Ways to Filter and Purify Water! The Basics
(StoneAgeMan)
5. Did you know that in BAO...
(Allen Tsai)
6. Monty Python - Constitutional Peasants Scene (HD)
(Browningate)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Prof. Nancy Dach

Last Updated: 09/10/2023

Views: 6176

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Prof. Nancy Dach

Birthday: 1993-08-23

Address: 569 Waelchi Ports, South Blainebury, LA 11589

Phone: +9958996486049

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Web surfing, Scuba diving, Mountaineering, Writing, Sailing, Dance, Blacksmithing

Introduction: My name is Prof. Nancy Dach, I am a lively, joyous, courageous, lovely, tender, charming, open person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.