Bring your own water. Deserts don't have much.

Do not count on finding water in the desert.

The honest answer: you should carry all the water you need. In remote desert, reliable sources are rare, seasonal, and often contaminated or alkaline. A typical rule is one gallon per person per day—more if it’s hot or you’re hiking.

If you absolutely have to find water, look for: springs marked on topo maps, tinajas (rock pools that hold rain), and the greenest vegetation in a canyon bottom. Avoid dry washes during flash flood season. Water from cacti is a myth—barrel cactus water is caustic and will make you sick.

For treatment, boil it. Deserts have heavy sediment, animal waste, and sometimes crypto or giardia. Boiling kills everything. A fine-mesh filter (like a Sawyer or Katadyn) helps with silt but clogs fast. Chemical tablets work but don’t remove solids or kill some parasites. UV pens struggle with cloudy water.

Do not rely on finding water. Cache bottles ahead, carry extra, and plan around known springs. Your life isn’t worth the gamble.