How To Find Water In Emergency Situations

The body might be able to go for up to a month without food, but it won’t last more than a few days without water. The liquid is easily our world’s most precious resource, and finding it during an emergency situation is essential. Let’s review where to find water in emergency situations, both in the home and out.

In The Home

There’s actually quite a few water sources within your own home. Your water heater is one example; it requires turning off the circuit breaker or closing the gas valve before emptying the tank. Keep in mind your heater will sustain serious damage if you leave it on with no water.

Draining pipes in your home is another way to procure water. It requires shutting off the water lines in your house, then using the lowest faucet in your house to drain the pipes. Other options include melting ice cubes, using the liquid from canned goods if you’re really desperate, or the water in your toilet tank. Use the water in your tank, not the bowl, and only if it has not been chemically treated.

Boil or otherwise treat all water before you use it to avoid making yourself and friends/family members sick. Additionally, steer clear of the water in your waterbed if applicable, as such products generally contain additives so mold and mildew don’t flourish.

Outside The Home

Rainwater is one of your best options when looking for water outside the home, and it is easily contained in buckets and bins. Melting snow is also an option, as are garden ponds. Water is available in green bamboo shoots; simply cut them at their base to drain. Another possibility is tying tufts of grass together with clean rags, then squeezing the dew out of the rags after sunrise. Wells, springs, and other non-salt bodies of water also work in emergencies.

 As with water in the home, it’s essential to boil outside water sources or use water purifying drops or tablets.

 What are your best sources of water in an emergency? Share your tips in the comments section!