Water Sources Around the Bug Out Location
Kevin Felts 07.31.17
How well do you know the water sources around your bug out location?
While talking about creek that runs through the farm, someone posted a question that got me to thinking. The thread was, “Sawyer Point one water filter group setup?” I described the creek as being spring fed and has never been known to go dry.
The question was, “Can you access the springs?” Meaning, could I access the springs that feed the creek. I have an idea where the springs are, but have never hiked them.
So, if you have a place you want to use for a bug out location, how well do you know the water sources? You may know the water source at the bug out location, but what about above and below that location?
Springs
According to WikiPedia, “A spring is any natural situation where water flows from an aquifer to the Earth’s surface. It is a component of the hydrosphere.”
Do you have a place picked out for a wilderness bug out location? If so, are there any natural springs in the area? Depending on the situation, this could provide an excellent source of clean drinking water.
Survivability is limited to the amount of resources in a given area, with water being at the top of the list. Having a natural spring as a water source eliminates having to look for water.
Fishing Holes
After a spring leaves the ground, it will eventually create a slow moving pool somewhere downstream. These pools usually have perch, turtles, and maybe catfish in them.
The pools could provide an excellent, although limited, food source.
On a personal nite, I have seen spring fed ponds that that have been stocked with perch, catfish and even bass. When I became a certified SCUBA diver, we used a submerged platform in a rather large spring fed pond. The pond was maybe 100 yards in diameter. As we were sitting on the platform, perch and small mouth bass would swim around us.
Flooding
One of the bad things about creeks, they are sometimes prone to flooding. After a heavy rain, the creek that runs through the property, the can go from 6 inches deep to 8 feet deep.
The more hills you have, the more runoff there is. The more runoff, the more water that is sent into the creek, which could cause flooding.
Signs of flooding will include debris washed against tree trunks.
Water Sources
While back I was watching a documentary were archeologist were talking about some ancient human settlements in Africa. For some reason, the settlements were in a desert. After looking at satellite pictures, it became clear the settlements were around an ancient lake that disappeared a long time ago.
Humans have been living around water sources for a long time. Why should that change in the event of a collapse?
The Romans used aqueducts to bring water to the cities. Today, we use pumps, electricity and modern technology to bring the water to us.
In the event of a collapse, rather than the water coming to us, we will have to go to the water.
