Water? how to carry/get

[Joe Brainard]

Been reading through some of the threads in this forum. Started me thinking about water, and how to secure/carry clean water. Wondering what your methods/ideas are.

When camping I've boiled, used iodine tablets, and the last two times we brought Katadyn charcoal filters. They gave the best tasting water with much less time consumed. (You have to wait a given time with the tablets. I don't remember how long.) We would each carry two one quart nalgene bottles, and every time we were down a bottle we'd start looking for a source to top 'em off.

Anybody here in a desert situation? All the places that I've hiked there's been enough water that we'd never hike more that a couple of hours without coming across some supply.

[LiveToShoot]

As part of our emergency packs, we carry three bladders: two smaller ones for use throughout the day and a larger one for filling/use at location. For water filtration, we carry a MSR WaterWorks EX (MSR WaterWorks EX MicroFilter - Rock Creek Outfitters), and a small container of bleach. CAUTION should be used when selecting a water bladder, to ensure buying a high quality one that will not cause the water to taste like the bladder material. We use Kelty bladders, which have the same sized refill mouth as the MSR WaterWorks outlet. They cost more, are very durable and easy to clean, and don't taint the water with a plastic/rubber taste. CamelBack also offer a selection of tasteless bladders.

This combination of bladders and water filtration works well for us in this part of the country, where we have easy access to streams, rivers and lakes. It would also work well in a situation where access to water was somewhat limited...because of the larger storage bladder we carry.

[AKHunter]

Access to water is rarely a concern where i am at also. I have two 1 liter bottles and a 3 liter cameback. Also a Pur water filter that works quite well. Depending on my needs I carry either the bottles or the bladder; the tablets or the water filter, although we usualy always have the tablets for backup-emergency.

[SwedeSteve]

^+1!

[Deep13]

Our SHTF contingency is a hand pump with ceramic filter (MSR I think). The problem here in N.E. Ohio is not just microbes, but also industrial pollution. Boiling, iodine or bleach is not enough.

[nathangdad]

I would advise spending time on the internet continuously updating my information as to breaking technologies in water purification. Realistically, there is only so much water a human can carry at any one time either on their person or in a vehicle. Therefore, the quest to purify new found water becomes paramount. Remember, if a true breakdown of society occurs for whatever reason, you cannot expect people to man the water treatment plants. Safe drinking water will quickly become a major, if not the, major quest for those wishing to survive a catastrophic ordeal.


Once purified drinking water is obtained I would consider the suggestions brought forth by others responding to your post as to carrying the water.

[AKHunter]

Distiling water in an emergency is very simple with only a few basic items. In a dire emergency one can distill the water from urine if that is the only moisture available. It requires solar energy (heat) a hole in the ground, a piece of plastic or tarp etc, a container to catch the water. Place the container at the bottom of the hole, place the plastic above the container and covering the hole, secure the corners/outer edge of the plastic, put a small stone or something to form a depression in the center of the plastic ,and in some time the moisture placed in the hole ,be it whatever source or the existing moisture in the soil, will evaporate then condensate on the underside of the plastic and run down and drip into the container.

Something good to know if it really gets tough.

[LiveToShoot]

Here's a helpful web site for emergency water collection and purification: Water Procurement for Survival, and the main page: Navbar. Caution...watch out for the bear.

[AKHunter]

That is a helpful webpage to be sure.

[Deersniper]

Berkey makes a sport filtration unit [69.00] that will convert pond water into pure water, then fill up your camel back and off you go. Set the water in the sun for an hour. The UV rays will help kill impurities.

[CrazyIvan]

if you are really concerned with the contamination factor you can boil water and capture the steam, directing it into a bottle. Can't get much cleaner than that without a treatment plant.

[damage855]

I use a water pump/filter when back packing and carry bladders and cantenns to fill them up. keeps weight down and gives you and endless amount of water. Now in the desert you can cut up cactus plants and exsctac the water out of them with a sun still but that the only way I know of with out finding a stream or something.

[Cyrano]

I carry two 1-quart US Army canteens (one filled with survival food tablets, that can be decanted into a bag in the emergency pack after I kit up for the trek) and a MSR Miniworks EX filter unit. I'd fill the canteens before I set out and replenish using the MSR filter enroute. Water is seldom a problem here in the Northeast, but contamination is something to worry about, hence the filter. And if I'm feeling really dubious about the water I have to filter, a bottle of water purification tablets lives in the outer pocket of one of the canteen covers.

[josh55]

this and a camal pack is all you should need. I bess you should keep some water purification tablets on hand you neve know when something may break.
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