Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Plant Water Pump and Still
A variation on the solar still, this technique uses a living plant as a pump to gather water from
under the ground with its roots. You must have a plastic bag or tarp to wrap around a leafy,
healthy green plant. Pick a plant that is not too big for your tarp. Dig a small hole on one side
of the plant. Wrap your bag or tarp around the plant, lining the shallow hole with the bag or
tarp. Tie your bag around the base of the plant and arrange the tarp so that condensing water
will trickle down the inside of the tarp and collect in the hole (see
fig. 8-2
).
Figure 8-2. Plant water pump and still.
Water vapor evaporating off the plant's leaves will condense on the inside of your covering
and provide you with a source of water.
Caution:
If the plant receives too much sun for too long, it will cook and die under your
plastic cover.
Finding Water
Plant Indicators
Look for leafy, green plants that require a lot of water to survive. Cattails, reeds, willows, eld-
erberries, cottonwoods, poplars, and greasewood all require a plentiful supply of water and in-
dicate a high water table. Dig a shallow well at the base of these plants or trees, and you should
soon reach wet soil, which will slowly percolate into your pit.
Animal Indicators
