WATER. Water is one of your most urgent needs in a survival situation.

WATER. Water is one of your most urgent needs in a survival situation. You
can’t live long without it, especially in hot areas where you lose so much through
sweating. Even in cold areas, you need a minimum of 2 quarts of water a day to
maintain efficiency. More than three-fourths of your body is composed of fluids. Your
body loses fluid as a result of heat, cold, stress, and exertion. The fluid your body
loses must be replaced for you to function effectively. So, one of your first objectives
is to obtain an adequate supply of water.
a. Purification. Purify all water before drinking, either (1) by boiling for at least one
minute (plus 1 minute for each additional 1,000 feet above sea level) or boil for 10
minutes no matter where you are; (2) by using water purification tablets or (3) by
adding 8 drops of 2-1/2% solution of iodine to a quart  of water and
letting it stand for 10 minutes before drinking. Rain water collected directly in clean
containers or on plants is generally safe to drink without purifying. Don’t drink urine
or sea water -- the salt content is too high -- Old bluish sea ice can be used, but
new, gray ice may be salty. Glacier ice is safe to melt and drink.
b. Desert Environment. In a desert environment water has a tremendous
physiological effect . If  you don'y plan properly your water supply could run out. There are four indicators or signs of
water that you should look for in the desert. They are, animal trails, vegetation,
birds, and civilization.  Adequate water supply is critical in a hot desert
environment if you are to survive and maintain your physical condition
necessary to accomplish getting rescued. You must enforce water discipline.

c. Survival water still. For the below ground still  you will need a digging
tool.
(1) You should select a site where you believe the soil will contain moisture (such
as a dry stream bed or a spot where rain water has collected), where the soil is
easy to dig, and where sunlight hits most of the day. Proceed as follows:
(a) Dig a bowl-shaped hole approximately 3 feet across and 2 feet deep.
(b) Dig a sump in center of the hole. The depth and the perimeter of the sump
will depend on the size of the container that you have to set in it. The
bottom of the sump should allow the container to stand upright.
(c) Anchor the tubing to the bottom of  the container by forming a loose
overhand knot in the tubing.
(d) Place the container upright in the sump.

(e) Extend the unanchored end of the tubing up, over, and beyond the lip of the
hole.
(f) Place plastic sheeting over the hole covering the edge with soil to hold it in
place.
(g) Place a rock in the center of the plastic.
(h) Allow the plastic to lower into the hole until it is about 15 inches below
ground level. The plastic now forms an inverted cone with the rock at its
apex.  Make sure that the apex of the cone is directly over your container.
Also make sure the plastic cone does not touch the sides of the hole
because the earth will absorb the condensed water.

(i) Put more soil on the edges of the plastic to hold it securely in place and to
prevent loss of moisture.
(j) Plug the tube when not being used so that moisture will not evaporate.
d. You can drink water without disturbing the still by using the tube as a straw. You
may want to use plants in the hole as a moisture source.  If so, when you dig the
hole you should dig out additional soil from the sides of the hole to form a slope on
which to place the plants. Then proceed as above.

BE SAFE MY FRIENDS!