What a difference a storm makes! This riverbed was bone dry but suddenly started flow
ing as a result of faraway rains.
Water from Rocks
No, this is not a misprint! Believe it or not, rocks can be good (though
inconsistent) sources of water, even in extraordinarily dry regions such as
the desert. Depressions, holes, or fissures in rocks may collect water dur
ing rainfall. Any kind of flexible tubing can be used to suck the water from
these difficulttoreach spaces. Some types of porous rock may even act
like sponges, soaking up water during a rainfall. You can get the water by
inserting flexible tubing into a crack or hole in the rock. But bear in mind
that every rodent in the area will also drink from—and likely urinate or
defecate in or near—this same water. So if you can collect the water and
boil it, you’re better off. Wiping the dew off rocks in the morning with
grass or cloth is another method of obtaining water from rocks.
Water (^) | 85