Outdoor Adventure USA

Water For Camping And Emergencies

Considering the massive amounts of rain we have received this year, it would seem to be the right time to bring up the topic of water, again. One would think that with all this water, our drought worries would be over. Not so!!!! In a state that has seen decades of low rain levels, with resulting severe drought, common sense would seem to demand that we take advantage of high rainfall years to store as much water as possible. Common sense apparently has left town. I've seen estimates recently that 80% to 95% of our recent rain went right back to the ocean.

While I hoped that our drought restrictions would end following record levels of rain, I fear that it will not happen. This is bad in so many ways, not the least of which is the inevitable limits on water for our farmers, livestock ranchers, and others whose business it is to produce food.

Aside from this self-inflicted disaster, we also want to discuss water as it relates to our outdoor camping and exploration adventures. The good news, at least for the moment, is that water related products will most likely be available, and at non panic buying prices.

Many of the aspects of our water discussion are equally applicable to both camping and emergency uses. Our experiences with water, for either camping or emergency uses, is not meant to be complete, and we welcome your input.

Topics For Discussion

• water storage containers

• water filtration devices

• water storage at home

• water treatment

• water storage

• ways to secure water cans for transport

• how much water to store/carry

• means to find water in the wilderness

• water dispensers for camping

• tips for keeping your stored water safe from theft

• comfort suggestions for water while camping

• water conservation while camping

Finding Water In The Wilderness

When it comes to planning on your water needs for camping, there are a lot of things to consider, including the length of the trip, the availability of alternate water sources to replenish your supply, the types of contaminants you expect to encounter, the purposes for which water will be needed, how much extra water to carry for emergencies, how much your vehicle can carry, and back up plans if your supply runs short.

In remote and sometimes hot locations, running out of water can be more than just a mere inconvenience. Initially, one of the ways to prepare for water shortage is to make sure that each member of the group brings enough water, including extra for unforeseen needs. An essential backup however involves the ability to find alternate sources of water, near your location. Often, this will mean a spring, a stream, a well, or even a seep.

All public lands in this great country are managed by some governmental agency. With this management responsibility comes the need for these agencies to have a certain familiarity with the land, and, In many cases, these "rangers" (or what ever they are called) have much more current knowledge of the area under their control than is contained in any website or literature. This often includes alternate water sources, such as piped in potable water that is not well known. Remember, springs, seeps and streams are often seasonal, and getting the most current information can be critical. Don't overlook this important source of information.

While reliance on land manager's knowledge is important, don't make the mistake of believing that they are "all knowing." Do yourself a favor and go one step further by getting a good USGS Topo map of the entire area you intend to visit. Although these maps were created years ago, a great many of the land features listed are still there today, including springs, water wells, and other possible sources of water. At the very least, use the information on the maps to question the rangers. Below is a sample of what you can find on these maps. This was a randomly selected portion of our recent trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and on this map are listed 10 different springs and one water well. Given the vast amount of land in this area, there are literally hundreds more.



How To Secure Water Cans For Transport

The containers we use are designed to safely carry water in less than ideal conditions. They are rugged, well built, long lasting, and reasonably priced. Here are three that we have used very successfully:


Each can holds 5 gallons, and depending on the style of container, the total weight for each one is about 45 pounds (and more if the container is made of steel.) Regardless of where the water cans are stored in the vehicle, it is essential to secure them well. Mounting options abound, and in many cases, securing the cans will be a DIY solution. Given their weight, mounting them low is helpful to keep your center of gravity low. My solution for mounting involved fabricating a platform which was secured to the vehicle floor, and slotted in order to fit ratchet straps, which are used in turn to secure the water cans.

Water Purifying And Filtration Devices

GENERAL

Water filters and water purifiers are different. That difference to some extent is a matter of degree, meaning that one removes more of the same thing than the other. The other difference is that one removes things that the other cannot. The one that does the most is regarded as a purifier.

The function of a filter is to separate impurities from the water by using different filters or barriers. The degree to which a filter can remove these impurities is the size of the openings, or pores, in the filter. Substances which are larger than these openings are removed, but those which are smaller are passed through. These filters can remove the smallest physical and biological particles, including bacteria and microbial cysts.

A water purifier, like a filter, removes impurities from water by means of filtration, but the primary benefit is their ability to kill biological contaminates, such as, protozoa, bacteria and viruses, using several processes, including UV treatment. The combined effect of a water purifier is to remove all impurities from water (or nearly everything.)


WATER TREATMENT OPTIONS

Because of the superior ability of a purifier to clean your water, they are more expensive. While this is not always true, there is no getting around the axiom that, "you get just what you pay for." You will not get a Ferrari for the price of a Yugo.

On the other hand, most water filters are available at prices the average consumer can afford (or are willing to pay.)

I list 3 products below that will give you cleaner water. They not only vary in price, but in performance. As critical as water is, it is wise to buy the best that your wallet can afford.

1. Water purifier by Partner Steel (https://partnersteel.com/camp-site)

The Unit


The Specs

This water purifier uses a 0.5 micron filter with a charcoal block and U.V. light to purify your drinking water. Tests show that all bacteria, virus and harmful chemicals are removed, when the purifier is used according to instructions. The internal battery charge is good for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours use. A solar panel is available to keep the battery charged, but for trips "on the go" a second battery is a better idea. The purifier will produce about 3 quarts per minute, 1 battery will will give you at least 60 gallons of water.

These Portable, Solar Battery / 12-volt Powered Water Purification Systems pull the water from the source and through a Sediment Pre-Filter. The water is then pushed through a Carbon Block Polishing Filter that has the capabilities of removing Giardia and Cryptosporidium Cysts, Entamoeba and Toxoplasma Cysts, Schistosomiasis, Herbicides, Pesticides, Trihalomethanes (THMs), certain Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs), Chlorine and Chlorine By-Products, Sediment, Bad Taste, Odors, Color, Smell, and many other Harmful Chemicals and Contaminants down to a 0.5 micron. The polished filtered water is then channeled past an Ultraviolet Light Disinfecting Process that has the ability to kill Bacteria, Viruses, Typhoid Fever, Coliform, Dysentery, Cholera, Infectious Jaundice, Hepatitis and Influenza Virus, E-coli, Enteric Fever and many other unwanted microorganisms to a 99.999% purity.

Independent test results here:

2. Water filter by Katadyn Pocket Water Filter[ (https://www.katadyngroup.com/us/en/2010 ... lter~p6695)

The Pocket Filter has become a classic, and for many good reasons. It comes with a 20 year warranty, it's made with extremely durable and robust components, and can filter 13,000 gallons of water on a single filter. It contains a cleanable ceramic 0.2 micron filter and is advertised as effective against bacteria and protozoa. In terms of its ruggedness and capabilities, it is one of the best.

From the Katadyn website:

The tried and tested ceramic depth filter Katadyn Pocket removes bacteria, protozoa and other disease-causing agents. The microorganisms cannot pass through the pores of the filter ceramic (0.2 microns) because of their size (greater than 0.2 microns = 0.0002 mm).

Unlike disposable filters, the ceramic can be cleaned several times - even in the field.

Quickness counts too with an output of 1 liter/minute through our silver-impregnated ceramic filter. The capacity is up to 50'000 liters, depending on the water quality.

Made from top-quality, durable materials and with a 20-year warranty.

The Pocket is suitable for the toughest of conditions and is the first choice for extreme adventurers. Decades of military and emergency professionals around the world have put their trust in the Pocket's ability to deliver water free of bacteria and protozoa

3. Water Filter SAYCHELLE PUMP TO PURE ( https://www.seychelle.com/collections/filter-pumps )

This filter delivers great capabilities and a great price. I carry this filter (with a spare cartridge) in the Hummer at all times. The Pump to Pure unit comes with some impressive performance stats (from their website).

Filters 200 gallons
Can be used with chlorinated water.
Can be used with outside water sources such as lakes, rivers, natural disasters, traveling around the world and used for water of unknown quality. (Not to be used with salt water.)
This unit is designed to work with any non-plumbed available water source.
Increases pH balance up to 9.5
Quick disconnect fittings are installed to allow quick adaptation.
The pump can also be used as shown with the Inline Supreme Filter.
Water that has passed through the system is potable to drink.
Pocket Pump 2 Pure Carrying Case included

The Pocket Pump 2 Pure uses Seychelle’s Exclusive (RAD/ADV/PH) Ionic-Adsorption Micro-Filtration Technology to eliminate or reduce up to 99.9999% of waterborne contamination such as:

Aesthetic - Unpleasant taste, odors, cloudiness, silt, sediment, Chlorine
Bacteriologicals - Harmful Virus, Bacteriological Pathogens, Cryptosporidium, Giardia
Chemicals - Toxic chemicals, Trihalomethanes, PCBs, PCEs, detergents, and pesticides (DDT).
Dissolved Solids - Heavy Metals, Aluminum, Asbestos, Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium 6, Copper, Lead, and Mercury.
Reduces up to 90% of Fluoride.
Radiological – Gross Beta, Radon 222, Alpha Radium 226, Uranium, Plutonium, Cesium 134 and 137.
pH - Increases the alkalinity (pH) of drinking water

WATER STORAGE

Since we have previously discussed the different types of containers suitable for home water storage, we refer everyone to our past net previews for that information. Without covering those areas in detail again, I can only emphasize the need to buy quality containers, carefully assess your water needs, and buy enough to supply all your needs, for every member of your household. Also, make sure to anticipate the length of time for which you may need to supply your own water.

Aside from these considerations, there are others that will be important in making sure that the water is safe and remains available.

Types of containers

• food grade material (preferably new, but if not, nothing previously used for anything toxic or having an unpleasant odor.

• rugged

• adequate sealing

Storage conditions

• covered

• platform

• away from heat sources

• away from sunlight

• keep your water preps to yourself

• avoid close proximity to toxic substances or products with strong odors.

Maintenance

• water treatment

• rotation

Equipment

• pump w/ backup

• food grade hose and bibs

Special considerations

• weight

WATER DISPENSERS

This is mostly a camping discussion. On the trail, we carry a finite amount of water which we expect to last for the entire trip. Conserving water is the best way to accomplish this. We have found that the best equipment for this purpose includes the following:

Wishy Washy


Controlled release faucets


Low flow showers

IMPORTANT HEALTH NOTICE

The FDA has announced a recall of three epinephrine lots, used to treat severe allergic reactions, following consumer complaints. The full article appears in the Epoch Times of January 18, 2023, and can be found here: https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/fd ... 94463.html

The article is too long to post, so here is a brief synopsis:

According to an announcement on Jan. 9, manufacturer Spectrum Laboratory Products said it voluntarily recalled the lots after the product was found to be discolored.

Epinephrine is placed in autoinjectors, the most common of which are sold under the EpiPen brand name. They’re often used for people who have severe food allergies or asthma.

Epinephrine, known as L-adrenaline USP, is a bulk active pharmaceutical ingredient that can “treat a variety of medical conditions including anaphylaxis and other severe immediate hypersensitivity reactions, asthma, bronchospasm, airway edema, nasal congestion, dilation during intraocular surgery, vasoconstrictor with local anesthetics, hypotension or shock, heart failure, bradycardia or atrioventricular block, and sudden cardiac arrest,” the announcement said.

Heating Water in Camp

Heated water is virtually a necessity outdoors. Much of what you do with water requires heated water, whether it be for morning coffee, afternoon tea, cleaning out your Dutch oven, or rehydrating a quick freeze-dried meal.


Kettle over the Campfire

For millennia the typical way of heating water in camp was using a kettle over a campfire. While I've never heated water this way, I presume it takes a substantial amount of time, especially including time to get and keep the campfire going.


Stove

White gas, propane, and butane stoves brought convenience to cooking and heating water.


JetBoil

The JetBoil stove became a preeminent camping accessory simply due to its ability to quickly bring water to a boil, obviously reflected in its name. Who really wants to wait around for their morning coffee? Its unique difference was the "FluxRing" (visible underneath the container), which more efficiently transferred heat from the flame into the bottom of the container, instead of being blown away by the wind. The FluxRung is now copied by many manufacturers. Who doesn't have at least one?


Electrical Heating

Getting a little off the water track but keeping with the theme of heating water ...

We've talked about the relative efficiency of propane heating compared to electrical heating outdoors during previous nets. To refresh, one pound of propane can provide 21,580 British thermal units (BTUs) while one kilowatt hour (kWh) of electrical heat can provide 3,413 BTUs **. By my eye, an 11-pound propane tank (237,380 BTUs) is very roughly the same size as a 1kWh EcoFlow Delta 2 (3,413 BTUs), providing about 70x more BTUs.

** Information acquired by Internet searches.


11-Pound Propane Tank (17 1/2" H x 8" diameter = 880 cu in)
EcoFlow Delta 2 (1kWh capacity; 11" H x 12" L ** x 8" W = 1056 cu in) ** Not including handles.
There seems little comparison, but some advantages of electricity are:

• instant availability,
• no flame, and
• ability to replenish using solar panels, wind turbine, or alternator.

Assuming you already have a battery that you are going to keep charged to, for example, keep a refrigerator running and your various electronic devices charged, is using some of that replenishable energy for additional purposes too far fetched? This is especially true for people who are already bringing power stations with built-in inverters for camp electricity, the caveat being that the output of your power station must be sufficient to power fairly hungry electrical devices.

For example, an electric kettle fairly efficiently heats water about as fast as a JetBoil.


There are "overlanders" who are experimenting with trying to go electric outdoors, mainly with induction cooktops.

INDUCTION COOKING & Camping | Is it sustainable | Electric vs Gas


An induction cooktop works by generating an electromagnetic field underneath your cookware, turning the cookware itself into the heating element instead of relying on conduction to transfer heat from the flame or heating element. Any magnetic cookware (steel, some stainless steel, or cast iron) works fine. No FluxRing required. Other advantages are that the temperature can be closely controlled and the cooktop is easy to keep clean.

This is a portable induction cooktop.


The bottom of this collapsible kettle is magnetic stainless steel, and can heat water about as fast as a JetBoil on an induction cooktop. An advantage induction has over flame is that it is essentially unaffected by wind.


Solar Water Heater

These are effective at slowly heating water depending on the weather when staying in camp for a day or two if you want to shower in the afternoon.

Hygiene Water Alternatives

At home, we rarely think twice about letting water run when not immediately in use. However, conservation of limited water stores becomes important if not critical when travelling outdoors. The following products (and similar) are useful for maintaining hygiene without using water.

Camping or not, I always have these available in my vehicle. They don't do a very good job on grimy or greasy dirt, but for a quick cleaning / sanitization of the hands after, for example, pumping gas or airing up / down your tires, or just doing a once over before meals, they're indispensable.


Scaled up quite a bit, similar products can be used for the entire body. I admittedly avoid showers while camping to preserve water, save time, and sometimes to avoid getting cold, so these come in handy. I'll use them in the tent before dressing in the morning and often in the evening before hitting the sleeping bag to remove the day's dust and sweat.


The following products do require use of a small towel (like disposable microfiber), but do impart a feeling of cleanliness, especially the shampoo after a few days on the road.


Finally, when not bathing properly (i.e., showering and scrubbing with soap daily), the following product or similar can be used used on your feet or other potentially sweaty areas as an extra measure to keep problems at bay.

Water Transportation

Dave has already mentioned some storage and transportation containers, of which there are many choices.

I carry 5-gallon water containers filled with tap water mainly for hygiene (cookware, glasses, hand, and body cleaning), but find taking a case of Kirkland water (40 16.9 oz bottles) to be very convenient for most water I ingest, i.e., drink or cook with.

I store it on the vehicle floor where it can easily support other light equipment. It's easy to grab a single serving bottle, drinking straight (tastes good), adding your favorite drink mix (e.g., iced tea, electrolytes), or emptying into a water heating devices for a hot drink.

The negative is that the empty bottles must / should be recycled to receive their redemption value of 5¢ to 10¢, though can be easily crumpled up for compact storage. Alternatively, they can be burned in your next campfire.

Product Spotlight: Geyser Systems - Hot Shower System

The Geyser Systems shower system ($260, $325 with internal heater) features:

• Pumps water into replaceable sponge rather than sprayer
• Holds 0.8 gallons (3 quarts)
• Base model uses external water heating (e.g., JetBoil)
  • Pour 2 quarts of cold water into system
  • Heat 1 quart of water to boil
  • Pour boiling water into system
• 12V pump draws 2.5A (30 watts)
• Pump disabled if water too hot
• Internal heater model
  • Heater draws 9.8A (118 watts)
  • Takes 15 to 40 minutes to heat to 95° F depending on initial water temperature and quantity

Cylinder on right holds about 0.8 gallons
You can see how fairly large the product is compared to this guy:
Additional "scrubs" can be used for dishes, distant relatives, etc.
Videos

How To Use Your Geyser System

Review

KK6CTT for the online check-in: 01/19/23

Thank you!

Water procurement and survival for Airforce Pilot CPT Scott O'Grady, shot down in Bosnia, 02 JUN 1995: After six harrowing days on the run "Basher 52" was rescued by a Marine rescue force, 61 PAX went in and 62 PAX made it out under some pretty intense fire! One of the CPT's challenges was water procurement where eating and collecting water on the run became an immediate and constant concern and thankfully he was graced with rain but on the other hand exposure, being wet and cold took, its toll on the pilot.

Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FusEcHnXZbU

His story here (water collection at 25 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSl0wGaA1xc


During his presentation, at 25 minutes, he talks about his will to survive and his ability to collect water and survive based on his survival training, faith, patriotism, love of life and country. I've heard other interviews with CPT O'Grady when he explains he is collecting water off of leaves and gear by swiping a sponge and wringing it out in a ziploc bag; simple but effective technique...sometimes survival is like that. He says, and I'm paraphrasing, While trying to evade, there is nothing worse than collecting water with a brightly colored sponge! Why can't they put a camouflaged sponge in the survival kit?