How to Find Water in the Wild Without Streams: 5 Survival Methods You Need to Know
- Micah Gillette
- Jun 20
- 5 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
When you're in the wilderness, finding water can be tough, especially in dry areas. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, survivalist, or just want to know more about bushcraft skills, knowing how to find water is key to your survival. There are a few reliable ways to gather water when it’s not easily accessible. This post outlines five essential techniques that can keep you hydrated during tough times.
1. Rain Catch
One of the easiest ways to gather water in the wild is by collecting rainwater. Even a small rainfall can be a lifeline.
How to do it:
Materials: Use items like a poncho, tarp, or a large plastic sheet. Cloth or other absorbent materials can be used in a pinch, but funneling them is critical
Setup: Position your material at an angle to catch rainwater. You can also create a funnel using the center of your tarp as the low point. String it out flat and let the water flow to the center.
Storage: Always have a clean vessel ready to collect water. If you don't, you'll need to purify the water (or leave it exposed to direct sunlight) after a day.
Rainwater is usually clean, but if it touched anything getting to you (trees), it’s safest to purify it before drinking.
Ricky Megee survived 71 days in the Australian Outback after becoming stranded in 2006. With dwindling supplies and no open water, he collected rainwater and drank moisture from dams and water holes whenever it rained. This simple method kept him hydrated long enough to be rescued near Katherine, Northern Territory.
2. Vegetation/Transpiration Bags
Plants can provide moisture through a process known as transpiration. This moisture can be collected using transpiration bags.
How to do it:
Plant Selection: Look for a leafy tree or bush with abundant foliage.
Prepping the Bag: Take a clear plastic bag and securely place it around the leaves.
Collecting Water: Over time, moisture will accumulate in the bag. This technique works best in direct sunlight.
This technique can yield several ounces of water during the day, depending on conditions. Be prepared to have a potent tea of the plant you're using. Alternatively, you could strip the leaves from the plant and fill the bag. This will result in more water but destroy that portion of the plant. Not recommended when vegetation is scarce.
3. Collecting Dew
Dew can form overnight when temperatures drop, providing another source for hydration.
How to do it:
Optimal Time: Early morning is best for dew collection before it evaporates.
Method: Use a cloth or sponge to wipe dew off grass, leaves, or rocks.
Storage: Transfer the collected moisture into a container.
Though it seems small, dew can accumulate to offer vital hydration. You can fill a water canister if you're diligent about this method. If the vegetation is higher than ankle height, consider tying absorbent cloth around your ankles/lower legs to increase how much you're getting.
4. Digging a Solar Still
A solar still is an effective way to purify water using the sun's heat to evaporate moisture from the ground or plants.
How to do it:
Materials: You need a container, a clear plastic sheet, and a small rock.
Setup: Dig a hole and place the container at the bottom. Fill the hole with non-toxic vegetation or moist soil. You can also urinate in the hole, NOT IN YOUR CONTAINER, for more moisture. Cover it with the plastic sheet, securing the edges with rocks and placing a rock in the center to form a low point for condensation. Consider placing a hose into the system so you don't have to disassemble it to drink.
Collecting Water: As the sun heats the still, moisture evaporates, condenses on the plastic, and drips into your container.
This method requires some time, but can provide clean drinking water. In the memoir Adrift, Steven Callahan recounts surviving 76 days stranded at sea by relying on two solar stills to turn seawater into drinkable freshwater.
5. Digging in Low-Lying Wet Areas
Low-lying areas often hold moisture just beneath the surface, which can be a useful source of water.
How to do it:
Finding the Area: Look for depressions or lush vegetation that may indicate groundwater.
Digging: Use your hands or a tool to dig down until you find moist soil.
Collecting Water: The deeper you dig, the more water you may find, which might be enriched with minerals but should be filtered before drinking.
While not as common, this method can be beneficial in terrains where other sources are absent. The water may also come up a bit dirty. If you want to see how to filter it, check this out.
In 1999, American firefighter Robert Bogucki became lost for 43 days in Western Australia’s Great Sandy Desert. When surface water dried up, he dug for water in low-lying, muddy areas, then strained the mud to access moisture. This survival strategy helped sustain him until rescue
Stay Prepared for Survival
Understanding how to find water in the wild is crucial when you're exploring nature, especially where streams and rivers are hard to find. By employing these five methods—rain catch, vegetation/transpiration bags, dew collection, solar stills, and digging in wet areas—you can improve your chances of staying hydrated in emergencies. If you want to know more about these techniques, book a course with us here.
It's also important to know what not to do in a survival situation:
Avoid Drinking from Unknown Sources: Stagnant water often contains harmful bacteria, so purification is key.
Do not drink urine or other bodily fluids: These have too many additional minerals in them and will lead to worse dehydration.
Be Cautious with Plant Water: Some plants may provide hydration, but verify they are safe to consume.
Don’t Overexert Yourself: Searching for water can drain your energy. It’s vital to manage your efforts wisely.
Preparation and knowledge can make all the difference in survival scenarios. Practice these techniques to remain hydrated in your next wilderness adventure. Stay safe and happy exploring! If you want to learn more, contact us here!
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