Notes 1x60min Time

Collect & Purify Water

Introduction:

Who: Hello 3 min

What: This lesson is “Collect & Purify Water”
Why:
● Understand the importance of water
● How to access water when not available
Where:
● FTX
● Camping on your own

Standard:
By the end of this lesson the cadet shall be expected to collect and purify
water

MTP:
● TP1 - Explain How to Retain Fluids and the Importance of Water
Conservation in a Survival Situation
● TP2 - Explain How to Find Water
● TP3 - Demonstrate Collecting Water From Condensation
● TP4 - Demonstrate the Construction of a Solar Still
● TP5 - Explain How Water Condensation Transfers From the Ground
to the Underside of the Plastic Sheet and Drips Into the Collecting
Can
● TP6 - Have the Cadets, in Groups of No More Than Five, Construct
a Solar Still

Body:

TP 1- Explain How to Retain Fluids and the Importance of Water 3 min

Conservation in a Survival Situation
HOW TO RETAIN FLUIDS
● Rest
● Do Not Smoke
● Stay Cool
● Do Not Eat
○ Fat is hardest to digest and takes a lot of fluid to break it
down
● Do Not Drink Alcohol
● Do not talk
○ And breathe through the nose, not the mouth
THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER CONSERVATION
● The average person can survive for three weeks without food but
only for three days without water.
● Do not wait until water is gone before looking for a source
● Fresh running water is preferred; however, all water can be sterilized
by boiling or using chemical purifiers

TP2 - Explain How to Find Water 5 min

OBSERVE ANIMALS
When in a survival situation, observing the behaviour of animals is the best
indicator of where to locate sources of water.
● Mammals
○ Mammals are usually never far from water
○ Converging game trails often lead to water; follow them
downhill
● Birds
○ Grain eaters, such as finches and pigeons are never far from
water
○ They drink at dawn and dusk
○ When they fly straight and low, they are heading for water
○ When they return from water they fly from tree to tree,
resting frequently
○ Water birds & Hawks cannot be taken as a sign that water is
nearby.
● Reptiles
○ Reptiles are not an indicator of water
○ They collect dew and draw moisture from prey
● Insects
○ Insects are good indicators of water; especially bees. Bees
fly a maximum of 6.5 km from their nests or hives.
○ Ants are dependant upon water. A column of ants marching
up a tree is going to a small reservoir of trapped water.

SEARCH FOR PLANTS

● Look for green leaf plants and trees that require a lot of water
○ These plants include cattails, bulrush, elderberries, and reeds
○ Trees include cottonwood, poplars, greasewood, and willows
○ To get to the water, dig into the ground one or two feet and
water will accumulate in this pit
○ An alternate place to search for water is at a base of cliffs
where there is vegetation

SEARCH IN VALLEY BOTTOMS

● Look in valley bottoms where water naturally drains
 ● Even digging in gullies and dry stream beds may reveal a spring
beneath the surface, especially in gravely areas. In the mountains,
look for water trapped in crevices.

TP 3 - Demonstrate Collecting Water From Condensation 10 min

VEGETATION BAG
To construct a vegetation bag, one will need a clear plastic bag and an
ample supply of healthy, non-poisonous vegetation.
● 1. Open the plastic bag and fill it with air
● 2. Fill the bag one-half to three-quarters full with lush green
vegetation. Be careful not to puncture the bag
● 3. Place a small rock or similar item into the bag
● 4. Tie off the bag as close to the opening as possible
● 5. Place the bag on a sunny slope so that the opening is slightly
higher than the bag’s lowest point
● 6. Position the rock and surgical tubing at the lowest point in the bag
For best results, change the vegetation every two to three days.

TRANSPIRATION BAG
A transpiration bag is better than a vegetation bag because the same
vegetation can be reused after allowing enough time for it to rejuvenate. To
construct a transpiration bag, one will need a clear plastic bag and a
non-poisonous bush or tree.
● 1. Open the plastic bag and fill it with air.
● 2. Place the bag over the lush leafy vegetation of a tree or bush,
being careful not to puncture the bag. Be sure the bag is on the side
of the tree or bush with the greatest exposure to the sun.
● 3. Place a small rock or similar item into the bag’s lowest point
● 4. Tie the other end of the tubing with an overhand knot.
● 5. Tie off the bag as close to the opening as possible.
Change the bag’s location every two to three days to ensure optimal
outcome and to allow the previous site to rejuvenate so it might be used
again later.

TP 4 - Demonstrate the Construction of a Solar Still 10 min

*have a solar still constructed for the cadets*

CONSTRUCTION OF A SOLAR STILL

● 1. Dig a hole in the ground approximately 90 cm (36 inches) across
and 45 cm (18 inches) deep
● 2. Place a collecting can in the centre of the hole
● 3. Cover the hole with a sheet of plastic
● 4. Secure the edges of the plastic sheet with heavy stones or using
the dirt dug from the hole
● 5. Place a fist-sized stone in the centre of the plastic sheet, above the
collecting can

TP 5 - Explain How Water Condensation Transfers From the Ground 3 min

 to the Underside of the Plastic Sheet and Drips Into the Collecting Can
WATER CONDENSATION
The sun’s heat raises the temperature of the air and soil below the surface
and vapour is produced. By placing the sheet of plastic over the hole, the
vapour is trapped and the air becomes saturated. The water condenses on
the underside of the plastic, running down into the container. This is
especially effective in desert regions and elsewhere when it is hot during the
day and cold at night. The plastic cools more quickly than the air, causing
heavy condensation.

TP 6 - Have the Cadets, in Groups of No More Than Five, Construct a 15 min

Solar Still
* if short on time have the cadets make vegetation & transpiration bags*
RESOURCES
Clear plastic bags, Cup or pail, and Shovel.

ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS
● 1. Divide the cadets into groups of no more than five.
● 2. Have the cadets choose a location for their stills.
● 3. Have the cadets dig a hole approximately 90 cm (36 inches)
across and 45 cm (18 inches) deep.
● 4. Have the cadets place a collecting can in the centre of the hole.
● 5. Have the cadets cover the hole with a sheet of plastic.
● 6. Have the cadets secure the edges of the plastic sheet with heavy
stones or the dirt dug from the hole.
● 7. Have the cadets place a fist-sized stone in the centre of the plastic
sheet, above the collecting can.

Conclusion:

PO Check: TP6 activity should serve as confirmation 3 min

Who: Hello,
What: You just learned the lesson This lesson is “Collect & Purify Water”
Summarize lesson quickly (main points)
Give feedback on class
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