Though Water is a survival essential, locating it in the wild, making it safe to drink, and efficient ways of hydrating with it are commonly misunderstood. I hope this manual helped to clear up any misconceptions you may have had, and leads to a more effective skill set in outdoor survival. Remember these 10 essentials:

1. Using plant indicators to spot “green belts” is the best way to find water in arid areas.

2. Proper Boiling times change based on your altitude. 1 minute at sea level, add 1 min per 1000 meter rise in elevation.

3. Boiling is effective against microbial contamination, but it is not adequate for chemical contamination such as that from harmful algae blooms.

4. The concern with algae blooms is chemical, not microbial. Boiling and ch tabs are not effective. Carbon capture can reduce the dangerous toxins (cyan-toxins) released by harmful algae (cyanobacteria).

5. A wilderness water filter should have .2 micron filtration or better.

6. The average adult male requires 3.7 liters per day and the average adult female requires 2.7 liters per day for adequate hydration. Plan accordingly.

7. Large volumes of sweat and water intake require electrolyte supplementation to avoid hyponatremia and maintain performance.

8. Wilderness water filters and systems are not adequate for urban areas.

9. Harmful microbes are much more dangerous in urban water sources than wilderness. Protozoa may make you sick, but encephalitis can kill. Never drink water flowing through urban waterways untreated.

10. Distillation removes salt from saltwater. l and destroys dangerous microbes. You can distill water with a sheet of plastic and sunlight, or with pots and pans.

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