Where and How to Get Water

There are 3 types of water (according to where we get it):

1. underground water, which is available in springs and wells,
2. surface water in brooks, rivers, lakes and swamps
3. atmospheric water, which falls from the sky as rain, snow, dew, etc.

All 3 types depend on atmospheric water. When atmospheric water falls on the surface it sinks through cession layers until it gets to an uncession layer. There it collects and then decants into various directions depending on the of slope of the layer. Where this layer crosses a surface, it is a spring. Therefore springs are usually located on inclines, on the sides of a hill (specially on cuttings), in gorges, on the periphery of valleys, and usually where snow melts fast.

Some signs usually show where we can find a spring, such as vegetables that need more water (willow trees, reeds), places where the green color of plants is more intense, wet ground or areas, where midges fly around and places where we find numerous footprints of animals. If we see such a place, but there is no water, then it is underground. In such a case, dig a hole and wait until water strains in. If such a place is on a slopes, dig on the lowest edge.

In mountain areas we can find water as snow, that stays in some holes or gorges or other low lying places, or that stays in dry river beds where we should dig on the outer edge where the river turns.

Water can also be collected when it rains. Take a large piece of dense textile and spread it. Water collects in the middle of the cloth. A cloth dragged across the grass at dawn can also collect the morning dew. Drag the cloth and squeeze the water into a container, repeatedly.

If we're thirsty and can't find water with any of above ways, we can eat some juicy vegetables, fruits or collect juices from trees.

Based on the Slovenian book, Living in Nature. For information contact Kiko.