Out of all of the sources of available water during an emergency, dew represents one of the most-underutilized. Maybe it’s because dew is seemingly-hard to collect, or people are worried about contamination. No matter the reason, all of us should take a closer look at this abundant water supply and how to gather it when needed. Here are a few things to consider to make tapping into dew as efficient and rewarding as possible.
Choose a Good Source
It’s important to collect dew from suitable sources, just as we do when getting water from a stream, river or lake. Grasses and fields in populated areas may contain fertilizers and pesticides. Runoff from rain and snow can also leave all kinds of harmful chemicals on the ground as well. Unfortunately, many of these deposits don’t have a color or odor that would warn us of possible problems, and traditional survival water purification methods may not remove all of these man-made contaminants.
If you’re in a wilderness survival situation, chances are that the surrounding ground will be chemical-free. Practice good situational awareness in your neighborhood so you know who treats their lawns and who doesn’t. This will help you to hone in on good sources while minimizing the risk of drinking chemicals. In other words, be mindful of good sources now so that you’ll be ready to utilize them in an emergency.
Practical Tips
Collecting dew is not that difficult once you find a safe source. All you need is some absorbent fabric and a container to hold the water. However, there are some things to think about in order to get the most out of this opportunity.
First, you want to be collecting dew when it is at it’s peak, which is usually right around sunrise. However, times will vary from place to place, so try and be mindful of when you should head out. This may seem insignificant, but you can easily triple the amount of water that you collect, while expending half the effort, simply by doing it at the right time.
Second, it’s important that you are using absorbent material in order to soak up as much water as possible. While any fabric will do in an emergency, absorbency is key in determining whether or not you can get the job done in 10 minutes or 2 hours. Using the right material is also particularly important when collecting in areas where there is a minimal amount of dew on the ground. Chamois are by far the best material to use since one rag can hold enough water to fill a glass. On the other hand, using a handkerchief or bandanna will only produce about a third of that amount.
No matter what material you decide to use, try to make sure that it is clean and doesn’t contain visible residue from detergents or dyes. You can also plan ahead by cleaning and rinsing fabrics now so that you don’t have to worry later.
Collecting the Dew
The easiest way to collect the dew is to place the fabric atop grass, boulders or other suitable surfaces and start wiping. Wring out the water into your container once the fabric is soaked, and repeat the process until you have collected enough. You can also lay out fabric overnight if you want to get a jump on things the following day as it should be soaked with dew by the time you retrieve it. Just remember that you want to gather it before the sun starts causes the moisture to evaporate.
Chances are that the water will appear cloudy, slightly-discolored, and small particles or even insects may be floating around. Even if the water appears clear and ready to drink, you still should process it in order to minimize the risk of getting sick later on. Filter the water through a clean cloth or improvised charcoal system before boiling it or treating it with purification tablets.
Try this for yourself, and you’ll be amazed at how much water you can collect in a short amount of time, especially in areas where dew is abundant. Chances are that you’ll never have to use this method, but you’ll be glad that you know how if and when the need arises.
