Water is life, plain and simple. I’ve lived through droughts that turned lush farmland into cracked earth, and I’ve seen how fast things can go south when the taps run dry. Trust me, you don’t want to be caught unprepared when a water crisis hits. Whether it’s a broken main, contamination, or a long-term drought, knowing how to secure and conserve water can mean the difference between thriving and barely surviving. These 16 strategies are battle-tested and could save your life when water becomes more precious than gold. So listen up, because in a crisis, every drop counts.
Harvest Rainwater Immediately
Set up rain barrels or tarps to catch every drop of rain. A 1,000 square foot roof can collect about 600 gallons of water from just 1 inch of rainfall. Use food-grade containers to store the water safely. Don’t forget to filter and treat this water before drinking – even rainwater can contain contaminants. Install a first-flush diverter to your system to remove the initial, dirtier runoff from your roof, significantly improving the quality of your collected water.
Tap Into Hidden House Water
Your water heater is a secret reservoir. The average 40-gallon tank can provide essential water for days. Turn off the power, let it cool, and drain from the bottom valve. Don’t forget about the water in your pipes – open the highest faucet in your house, then drain from the lowest point. The back tank of your toilet (not the bowl) typically holds 2-3 gallons of clean water that can be safely used in an emergency.
Create a Gravity-Fed Filtration System
Build a multi-stage filter using a 5-gallon bucket, gravel, sand, and activated charcoal. This can clean about 5 gallons per hour. Add a ceramic filter at the end for best results. Remember, filtration doesn’t kill all pathogens – always treat or boil after filtering. For an extra layer of purification, add a UV light treatment after filtration, which can eliminate up to 99.99% of remaining microorganisms.
Master the Art of Water Dowsing
It might sound like magic, but water dowsing has been used for centuries. Get two L-shaped metal rods and walk slowly over your property. When the rods cross, you might be over water. I’ve found small springs this way that saved my garden during a drought. While scientific evidence is mixed, a USGS study found that some dowsers had a success rate of up to 80% in certain geological conditions.
Distill Water From Plants
Plants transpire water vapor. Tie a clear plastic bag around a leafy branch and place a rock in the bag’s lowest point. You can collect about a cup of water per day from a medium-sized tree. This works great with birch trees or grape vines. For best results, choose plants with large leaves and avoid toxic species like oleander or poison ivy.
Create Solar Stills
Dig a hole, place a container in the center, cover with plastic, and weigh down the edges. Place a small rock in the center over the container. The sun will evaporate ground moisture, which will condense on the plastic and drip into your container. One still can produce about 1 liter per day. Adding green vegetation to the hole can increase yield by up to 50% due to the plants’ transpiration.
Purify Water With Solar UV
Fill clear plastic bottles with water and leave them in direct sunlight for 6 hours (or 2 days if it’s cloudy). The UV rays will kill most pathogens. This method, called SODIS, can treat up to 2 liters at a time. It works best with water that’s already fairly clear. Painting one side of the bottle black and laying it on a reflective surface can increase the water temperature and improve purification efficiency.
Exploit Natural Condensation
Tie plastic bags around tree branches overnight. In the morning, you’ll find water collected inside. This works especially well with pine trees. I’ve collected up to 2 cups per bag on a good night. Just be sure to filter and treat this water before drinking. This method is most effective in areas with high humidity and temperature swings between day and night.
Create a Swamp Cooler for Water Collection
Hang a damp towel in front of a fan, with a tray underneath. As the water evaporates, it’ll cool the air and some will drip into the tray. This can collect about a cup of water per day while also cooling your space. It’s most effective in dry climates. Adding a dehumidifier to the setup can significantly increase water collection, potentially yielding several gallons per day in humid conditions.
Use Wick Irrigation for Gardens
Bury porous clay pots in your garden and fill them with water. The water seeps out slowly, directly to plant roots. This can reduce water usage by up to 70% compared to surface watering. I’ve kept tomato plants alive through weeks of drought using this method. For an even more efficient system, connect multiple ollas (clay pots) with underground piping for easier refilling and more uniform distribution.
Master Dry Farming Techniques
Choose drought-resistant crops and plant them deeper than usual. Water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep root growth. Mulch heavily to retain moisture. I’ve successfully grown pumpkins and melons using dry farming, even in years when my neighbors’ crops failed. Implement contour plowing to create small berms that catch and hold rainwater, further reducing the need for irrigation.
Create a Fog Catcher
In coastal or mountainous areas, set up a fine mesh screen perpendicular to the prevailing winds. As fog passes through, water droplets will collect and run down into a trough. A 1 square meter fog catcher can collect up to 5 liters of water per day in good conditions. The efficiency of fog catchers can be improved by up to 200% by using a double-layer mesh with the correct spacing.
Recycle Greywater Safely
Collect water from your shower, washing machine, and kitchen (except toilet water) in a barrel. Use it to flush toilets or water non-edible plants. A family of four can save up to 100 gallons per day this way. Just be sure to use biodegradable soaps to avoid harming your plants. Install a simple sand and gravel filter to remove larger particles from your greywater, making it safer for long-term use on plants.
Dig a Seep
In low-lying areas, dig a hole until you hit damp soil. Line it with rocks and place a container inside. Cover it with a board to prevent evaporation. Water will slowly seep in. I’ve collected up to 5 gallons per day from a good seep during dry spells. Adding activated charcoal to your collection container can help purify the water as it seeps in, improving its quality.
Create a Rain Garden
Design your landscape to capture and filter rainwater. Dig shallow depressions and plant them with native, water-loving plants. This can reduce runoff by up to 90% and recharge groundwater. My rain garden saved my well from running dry during a three-month drought. Incorporate a layer of biochar in your rain garden soil to enhance water retention and provide a habitat for beneficial microorganisms that can help filter pollutants.
Master Water-Wise Cleaning Techniques
Use sand or baking soda to scrub dishes, then rinse with minimal water. Sweep instead of mopping when possible. Wear clothes multiple times before washing. These techniques can save up to 30 gallons per person per day. During water shortages, cleanliness is important, but every drop counts. For laundry, consider using a wonder wash pressure washer, which can clean clothes effectively with just a few gallons of water and no electricity.
