I’m very lucky in this matter. There are multiple natural sources and a few slightly less natural sources around me. I have 2-3 small creeks/streams running through my property, one definitely within 500, probably within 200 feet of my door. There are also 2-3 springs feeding into those creeks, and then those creeks feed into a larger creek/river at the base of the big hill I live on. The next door neighbor also has a fair size pond, and a neighbor a bit further down the road has a pretty big pond. Many of these sources are in pastures as water sources for livestock, though, so extra care will probably need to be taken during filtering. And in that same vein, there are probably a bunch of stock tanks and other livestock waterers and pools that could be used in an emergency. For scenario A, I’d probably go a bit further to the point where the creek’s a little bit deeper and clearer to source my water, and depending on whether or not they work, might just use the farm four wheelers and some 5 gallon buckets for transport (have done that before, probably not the best way, but quick, can carry about 4-6 buckets depending on which wheeler, and easy enough to go back for more water). If not wagon or wheelbarrow should hopefully work. For scenario B, I’d probably just take two buckets to the bit of creek closest to my house, or a backpack full of empty bottles to that same bit of creek (I’d probably save the water bladder for the ready to drink water after filtering and stuff). Just quick, short, in and out. If that creek goes dry, stealth scenario, would probably walk along the creek bed downstream to see if the larger creek still has any water, or go upstream, see if I can find one of the springs, and look for water in pools around the springs.But the creek bed is brushy, woody mess, and even the one branch in the open pasture has small trees and shrubs around it, so travel using those for cover would be better than open road. Thinking further out, the Great Lakes are a couple hours north, not too bad, they’d likely still have water, but are very prominent and also likely to be taken over and guarded.
