Difference between revisions of "Find Water in the Desert"

#Slow your rate of water loss. Exercise and sun exposure will speed up dehydration. Be smart about when you search for water. If possible, spend the hottest parts of the day in a shady location away from wind. Keep your skin covered to reduce water loss from sweat evaporation.<ref name="rf1">http://www.theactivetimes.com/how-survive-finding-water-desert</ref>

#Follow wildlife. A group of animals almost always means water is nearby. Look for the following signs:<ref name="rf2">https://books.google.com/books?id=W41DCgAAQBAJ</ref>

#*If you are unfamiliar with local vegetation, aim for the greenest plants you can see. Deciduous and wide-leafed trees are typically a better sign than pine trees, as they tend to require more water.<ref name="rf3">https://www.shelbycountytn.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1084</ref><ref name="rf1" /> If you can identify local plants, see below for species to look for.

#*In North America, look for cottonwoods, willows, sycamores, hackberry, salt cedar, arrow weed, and cattails.<ref name="rf4">http://www.apathways.com/Subjects/Articles/the-articles/find-water-in-desert.htm</ref><ref name="rf2" />

#*In Australia, look for desert kurrajong, needle-bush, desert oak, or water bush. Keep an eye out for mallee eucalypts, or eucalypts that grow with multiple stems emerging outward from the same underground tuber.<ref name="rf5">http://www.rswa.org.au/publications/Journal/82%281%29/82%281%29bayly.pdf</ref>

#Search up canyons and valleys. Your best bet is a canyon that stays shaded during the hot afternoon, upstream of the mouth. This means a north-facing canyon if you are in the Northern Hemisphere, or a south-facing canyon in the Southern Hemisphere. Find these with a topographical map if you have one, or eyeball the surrounding landscape.<ref name="rf1" />

#Find dry stream or river beds. Sometimes you can find water just under the surface. The best place to look is at a bend in the river, on the outside edge. The flowing water may have eroded this area down, creating a depression that catches the last dregs of water.<ref name="rf2" />

#Identify promising rock features. Groundwater tends to collect at the dividing lines of a landscape, at the foot of mountains or large rock outcrops. Ideally, dig where a hard, impenetrable rock slopes beneath the surface.<ref name="rf6">http://www.mountaineersbooks.org/Assets/ClientPages/zz_FindingWater.aspx</ref><ref name="rf5" />

#*Softer stone such as sandstone can develop pockets that hold water for a while after a rainstorm. If it's rained fairly recently, search along level expanses of these stones, or at the top of boulders and isolated domed outcrops.<ref name="rf5" />

#Find sand dunes near the beach. If you're near the ocean, the sand dunes along the beach may trap and filter the seawater. Digging above the high tide mark may reveal a thin layer of fresh water, sitting on top of heavier saltwater.<ref name="rf2" />

#Find high ground if you see no other options. A hike to the high ground gives you the best vantage point to look for the features mentioned above.<ref name="rf1" /> Try this as a last resort, since the exercise will dehydrate you — and you likely won't find water at the top of a hill.

#*When the sun is low in the sky, look for the glare of a reflection on the ground. This may be a body of water. If you are in an area used for cattle, you may see artificial water collection features at the base of gently sloping ground.<ref name="rf6" />

#*Anywhere the surface soil feels damp, or at least more clay-like than sandy.<ref name="rf7">https://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_desert_soils.php</ref>

#*Groundwater tends to be closest to the surface in the early morning, especially in areas with vegetation.<ref name="rf8">http://snr.unl.edu/szilagyi/jh10.pdf</ref>

#Enlarge the hole. Expand the hole until it is about 1 ft (30 cm) in diameter.<ref name="rf2" /> You may notice water seeping in from the sides, but finish digging even if you don't.

#Collect dew. Look for dew drops on vegetation before dawn. To gather it, pass an absorbent cloth over the dew, then squeeze it into a container.<ref name="rf5" />

#Search in tree hollows. Decaying or dead trees may contain water inside the trunk. To reach into small holes, tie a cloth around a stick and fit it through the hole to absorb water.<ref name="rf5" />

#Eat cactus fruit. These juicy fruits are safe to eat and contain enough moisture to supplement other sources. Collect the fruit carefully to avoid injury, then roast them in a [[Build-a-Fire|fire]] for 30–60 seconds to burn off the spines and hairs.<ref name="rf1" />

#*You can [[Eat Prickly Pear Cactus|eat prickly pear cactus]] pads as well. They are best when gathered young in the spring, then cooked. During other seasons they may be tough and hard to eat.<ref name="rf9">https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2013/06/05/cactus-water-will-make-you-sick/</ref>

#Collect water from eucalyptus roots (Australia). In Australian deserts, the mallee eucalyptus is a traditional source of water, though it can be difficult to access for an untrained person. Each eucalyptus looks like a grove of small to medium trees, growing outward from a single underground plant. If you see a eucalyptus that matches this description, try to get its water as follows:<ref name="rf5" />

#Drink barrel cactus water only as a last resort (North America). Most barrel cacti are poisonous. Drinking the liquid inside them can cause vomiting, pain, or even temporary paralysis. Only one type of barrel cactus contains drinkable water, and even that is a last resort. Here's how to access it:<ref name="rf10">https://www.desertmuseum.org/kids/oz/long-fact-sheets/Fishook%20Barrel%20Cactus.php</ref><ref name="rf4" /><ref name="rf9" /><ref name="rf11">https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=yEAWAAAAYAAJ</ref>

#Wrap plastic bags around plants. Shake the plant to reduce possible contaminants, then tie a plastic bag around it, sealing it shut around the stem. Weigh down the closed end of the bag with a rock to form a collection point for water to flow. Return at the end of the day to see if water has collected, due to the plant releasing vapor.<ref name="rf2" />

#[[Test if a Plant Is Edible|Test an unknown plant with extreme caution]]. If you have run out of options, you may need to search for fluid in plants you can't identify. Follow these precautions whenever possible:<ref name="rf2" />

*If water is contaminated or risky, use it to soak your clothes so you can stay cool.<ref name="rf12">http://www.pbs.org/lawrenceofarabia/revolt/water.html</ref>

*High elevation deserts may be cold enough to support snow or ice. If you encounter any, put it in a container and melt it by wrapping it in clothing, or placing it near (not over) a fire. Do not eat snow or ice without melting it.<ref name="rf13">http://www.equipped.com/primer.htm</ref>

*Maps can be very useful, but don't blindly trust them. Rivers and streams are often dry for most of the year.<ref name="rf4" />

*Digging can sometimes make you lose more water in sweat than you'll gain, even if you find water. Only dig in promising locations. Do not attempt a "solar still" to collect water from dry ground. In desert conditions, the still can take days to make up for the water lost by diggin.<ref name="rf2" />

*Do not drink urine. The high salt and mineral content can increase thirst.<ref name="rf14">http://www.equipped.com/primer.htm#NoSubstitute</ref>