Environmental factors play a more important role in modern warfare than most people realize. While many people assume that environmental knowledge has little practical value on the battlefield, its true importance is often overlooked. If you ask yourself what humans need most to survive, you will likely say oxygen and water. Without either of these essentials, even the strongest and most well-equipped military force would struggle to survive. While soldiers fighting outdoors rarely face a shortage of oxygen, the quality and safety of their drinking water are directly connected to environmental conditions. Behind the scenes, environmental engineers work tirelessly to develop faster and more reliable methods of providing troops with safe drinking water.

History shows just how critical clean water can be. Throughout history, some armies have suffered more from waterborne diseases than from enemy attacks. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, during the Vietnam War, the United States sprayed approximately 20 million gallons of herbicides across Vietnam, which left many civilians and soldiers facing severe difficulties obtaining clean water and uncontaminated food, thereby contributing to widespread health problems. Moreover, during the Gallipoli Campaign in World War I, limited water supplies and inadequate sanitation created devastating conditions. According to the Imperial War Museums, of the approximately 213,000 British casualties, around 145,000 were attributed to diseases contracted from contaminated water.

Many people believe they can determine whether water is safe simply by looking at it—a perspective I shared until I attended an Environmental Engineering class during my visit to West Point’s Summer Leaders Experience (SLE). During the class, we collected water samples from the Hudson River and conducted a water purification experiment. Using materials such as gravel and ion-exchange/reduction sand, we filtered the water. Once the process was complete, the water appeared crystal clear, and I assumed it was probably safe to drink.

However, our instructor explained that visual clarity is only one of many factors used to evaluate water quality. In our experiment, we measured water clarity, pH levels (ideally between 6.5 and 8.5), and electrical conductivity. In real-world applications, engineers must also consider additional factors such as Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), microbial safety, chemical contaminants, and numerous other indicators to ensure that the water does not pose a health risk. This means that water appearing completely clear and having no noticeable odor may still contain harmful bacteria, viruses, or invisible chemical contaminants. Proper testing and treatment are essential before water can be considered safe for consumption. There is a reason survival experts often say that drinking from an unknown water source can be more dangerous than enduring temporary thirst.

Fortunately, modern technology has provided soldiers and civilians with portable purification tools, such as filtration straws and chlorine-based chemical disinfectants that can rapidly make water safer to drink in emergency situations. Yet, environmental engineers continue to search for even more efficient methods capable of purifying larger volumes of water at greater speeds.

As warfare continues to evolve, environmental engineering remains an often-overlooked but indispensable field. The logistics of providing clean water may not be as instantly visible as weapons or vehicles, but without it, no military force can operate effectively for long.

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