The Importance of Water to Survival

To drink, or not to drink? That is a critical question. Suppose you are in a survival situation in a North American desert and you come across a spring or a water seepage area. The water looks kinda funky, with mud, insects and scum on the surface. You don’t have any way to purify or boil the water. You’re very thirsty.

Is the best idea to drink the water and worry about getting sick later? Or should you avoid drinking the nasty-looking stuff and risk getting more dehydrated? Survival expert Peter Kummerfeldt gives some practical advice.