 While food was extremely hard to come by , an even more pressing need was obtaining drinking water . Thirst and the search for water are mentioned in most of the Robinsons ' memoirs . The most common sources originally included toilet cisterns , boilers , and standing water found inside bathtubs . As these ran out , those in hiding were forced to risk sneaking access to wells , which were often guarded by German soldiers . Some memoirs describe long periods observing a particular well and waiting for a chance to obtain a quick drink . Another method involved obtaining polluted sewer water from the canals , and then filtering it through coals wrapped in rags . Generally , records indicate that whatever scant water supplies existed were shared fairly among individuals hiding as a group . In at least one instance , one person was unable to withstand the thirst and drank the whole group 's water supply . As a result , Jakub Wiśnia , a former Gęsiówka inmate and after its liberation , a Home Army soldier , was court @-@ martialed by his fellow group members and sentenced to death . The execution was to be postponed until after liberation , but when that occurred , the Robinsons were so overwhelmed with joy , the crime was forgiven and the sentence was never mentioned again . 
