Your Pro Citizen Newsletter 33 - Water, Weekly Discount Code

FIND, TREAT, AND DRINK (from the CM-4 Manual)

By Jack and Cody Morris

 Three days without water. Water requirements vary with weather and the level of physical activity. You cannot train yourself to go without water, it is a requirement no matter how fit you are. During hot weather and high exertion, you may need up to a quart an hour. Your total water needs will vary from 1.5 gallons to 3 gallons per day, these numbers account for drinking only.

 Water intake should not exceed 12 quarts per day or 1.5 quarts per hour as this can cause water intoxication (the human body cannot process the excess water intake). It causes an imbalance in electrolytes (minerals that carry an electric charge) which is a medical emergency.

 When moving cross country and supplying your own water these numbers become a real problem. Water is heavy (8.34lb per gallon). At only 2 gallons per day that is still 8.34 lbs x 2 gallons = 16.68 pounds. You need to find a way to get water without breaking your pack weight; the longer you are out the worse the problem becomes. Either carry it all or carry some of it and find the rest. You will have to find, collect, treat, and then consume your water enroute.

 Water with parasites and viruses will result in sickness that can cause further dehydration and even develop into severe medical emergencies. You must treat any unsafe/unknown water before you consume it. The process is easy to learn and there are some great items we can purchase to treat water. 

Ways to treat risky sources of water include filters, purifiers, chemicals, and fire. There are survival methods using natural and improvised materials, but for our discussion let’s stick to lightweight commercial options you have in your GHB or BOB.

 Find. Water sources can be buying water bottles at a gas station or water from a dirty pond…and everything in between. Teach yourself where to look and understand how to process it for drinking. Topographic maps will show water features, but they will not indicate what condition they are in. Looking at a water source on a map or seeing it in person won’t show the biological hazards in the water. Clear water does not mean it is safe. With a proper filter you can make safe, clean drinking water from some pretty nasty sources. It is best to begin with as clean of a source as possible; the dirtier the water the more effort it will take to treat and the shorter your filter life will be. Livestock, humans, and industrial/agricultural runoff will all influence your assessment of the source. A tiny, remote, fast-moving mountain stream is usually a better source than a stagnant pond, but sometimes we don’t have an option.

There aren’t many filters on the market that remove toxic industrial or farm chemicals; these contaminated sources should be avoided altogether. Salt (ocean or brackish) cannot be easily turned into drinking water, especially not with what you have in your pack.

Water is plentiful in some areas like the eastern woodlands, but if you are traveling in the desert southwest you will have to account for other methods or even be forced to carry all your water after all.

 Collect and Carry. Once you find a source, you need a way to safely collect it. Make sure the container(s) you put in your bags will work with the system you built. Having a filter that does not fit the thread pattern on your bottle is not something you want to discover in the field. Make sure you do not cross contaminate your setup by transferring dirty water to a container that you will immediately drink from. Do not loiter at water sources, they are high traffic areas that draw humans and wildlife for the same reason you are there. Known water sources are prime areas for ambush, your situational awareness should be on point around these areas.

 Treat. Depending on the water quality you will decide the method and tools you need to process it.

Pre-filter. Using a cloth or paper to remove large contaminants. Remove dirt, debris, sediment by straining through a bandana, coffee filter, or even your t shirt. The fewer small solids in the water before you process it the more efficient your filter will be. Pre filtering does not make the water safe to drink.

Filter. Use a commercial water filter to remove contaminants and bacteria. Filtering alone does not remove viruses, you need a purifier for that. Some filters are rated to remove viruses, but most do not. (manufacturers will specify).

Purifiy. Some water filters are also purifiers. The main difference between a water filter and purifier is the level of protection against the microorganisms in water sources. A filter will remove waterborne protozoa and bacteria, but not viruses. A water purifier is designed to remove protozoa, bacteria, and some viruses. In the US a filter will normally be sufficient, but if society is having issues water sources near population centers may quickly become contaminated with virus outbreaks.

Disinfect. Boiling or addition of chemical disinfectants will kill viruses and many other pathogens. Read the manufacturer’s instructions and understand what you are getting from their product. If you choose the boil method the requirement is one minute at a rolling boil, at higher altitudes (above 5,000 feet) three minutes is a better solution.

Know your gear and the risks. If you allow some models to freeze when still wet it will fracture the filter media and render them ineffective. The MSR Guardian™ can withstand being frozen and still work afterwards and the Grayl can be frozen up to 3 times and still work. Filters have different ratings, pay attention to the rated numbers, not the marketing.

 Carry and Consume. The best place to carry water is in your belly. When processing water it is always best to consume a quart as soon as it is ready and then refill your containers with more processed water before you move on. The tactical situation may not allow for this, but this is a best practice you should follow if you can. In an emergency you do not know where (or when) your next water source will be so always maximize each opportunity to get water. Having electrolytes you can add to water is a must in hot weather. The flavored ones can be a small morale boost as well. If you use a bladder type hydration system just know they are difficult to clean in the field, so you may want to only use drink mixes in hard containers. And this sounds like common sense, but only add the electrolyte mixes after you filter the water.

 Teenage Prepper Manual

The excerpt above about water is from the CM-4 manual, there are numerous subjects that apply to any prepper including teens and older adults. This manual is focused on the foundational prepping and situational awareness skills you need in the real world. Over 200 color pages with descriptions and clear explanations (this week’s discount for them is below).

Some of the CM-4 topics Include:

Situational Awareness

Get Home Bags and the concept behind them

Bugging in vs bugging out

 Gear selection

 General navigation and route planning considerations (overview)

Classifieds

Today’s Discount Code (only good ‘til midnight)

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