I have read a couple of threads on this, and of course water filters. But I am interested in how travelers get their water. I have read about the tap at the dump point, so that's out. Catching the water off the awning, well that's only going to work during winter, and if it rains, and if there is no wind so the awning can be out.
Before some of you go on about using one bucket of water between the two of you for a week , we, or I am still going to have quick showers and use water, be it sparingly. I am not going on a survival exercise.
But I have been putting thought to the problem, one angle is to separate water tanks into general use and drinking. Also by the time you have brought all the filters etc, it may just be as cheap to buy 10 liters at the supermarket.
Hi Iana, our caravan came with three 100 litre water tanks, one is dedicated drinking water with a filter under the sink, the other two are what we call our "shower water". When filling, all tanks are double filtered before the water enters. So our drinking water is triple filtered.
Both of our shower tanks can be isolated, so, for example, if we wanted to put creek or bore water in one, it can be isolated from the other, so you could use as follows:
Tank 1 - dedicated drinking water (triple filtered)
Tank 2 - cooking, washing up, showering (double filtered
Tank 3 (bore water) - washing machine, washing hands etc.
We rarely go through this scenario but works, you just have to remember to switch tank 2 / 3 back and forth.
On the subject of obtaining potable water, we don't use the tap/hose at the dump point, but often there is a potable one nearby. Ask at visitors centres, offer to donate to their charity for the use. Some servos will allow you to fill tank. In places like Coober Pedy and (I think) Karratha, they have bowsers (like petrol bowsers) dispensing water at a minimum cost.
Never take water from the tanks along the likes of the Nullarbor - fill your kettle by all means, wash your hands, but leave the bulk for other desperate travellers who don't have the holding capacity that we do in our vans.
Hope this helps
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Just a warning on dedicated drinking tanks. I was told that one of my tanks was dedicated to drinking water (Traveller van) and this is not true. They are all inter connected, so be careful if just going off what the salesman tells you.
Cemeteries sometimes have water too.
Where I am at present, there is water in town so I can go get it because I'm unhooked and just pump it into my tanks.
Other times I'll just go in to a CP on unpowered if their powered sites are too dear.
I've never really had a problem getting it. I guess it just depends on how you're going to travel. Like if you're sitting somewhere way away from town for weeks on end then it'd have to be creek pumping.
Awning collection I'm careful of too - birds poo on there. I've only done it twice in desperation. I try and steer clear of rain anyways.
Just wanted to mention, being a tiny 450kg tare van weight, water is always on our mind. Built Ultra light with only 44 litres total water, no hws, half bucket of cold water and a full kettle boiled water mixed in is plenty for a hot shower ...for both of us!
Using 12v camp shower. Stop to lather up, half bucket is plenty. (Wife scrubs my back while doing the dishes haha! Washing clothes only in laundromat, window shop and coffee while waiting. Ive got the idea of a large bucket with lid, spring loaded on drawbar ..
When filling up water tank fill large bucket on drawbar. Wash clothes while driving. Plastic Rollers from a mop bucket for wringing after arriving at site. Obviously being pensioners trying to budget.
We survive for 3 days with 44 litres. Drinking, boil 2 litres for 5 mins and put in the fridge. If longer than 3 days we have 10 litres reserve in the car. No filters we only fill with town water...good enough for residents, good enough for us. But if you go out back or river water different story.
Just highlighting how little water you need to use.
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Our van has two 90 litre tanks , I also carry 60-80 litres in back of ute . Have modified plumbing on van so I can heat up water outside & pump it into shower ...
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Just went and checked what size tanks I have, 2 x 82 liters in the van and 1 x 85 liter in the ute, that would last Eaglemax a whole 12 months!, however because I am weight watching, I plan on only traveling with one full tank in the van, and the 85 liter in the ute. full, or empty as weight constraints require, but with the tank in the ute I can go into town, fill up and transfer the water as required. So Grubbygypsy your plan sounds like my plan.
I lived for half my life in the country, and our drinking water was what came off the roof, you wouldn't believe what was in those tanks when the time came to clean them out, animal soup may just describe it, and look I survived!
Only once in the last 14 yrs of MH travelling have I been refused drinking water when I asked for it ~ we are on the wallaby for 280-300 days annually [the refusal was a servo in Port Augusta]
Our MH has a single 100Lt tank which does us 4 to 6 days of careful use. Shower head is a 5-star water-saving type and the 2 of us can shower incl hair shampoo etc. in a total of 10 litres of water.
We get fresh water at all of Information centres, showgrounds, fuel stations etc. - we have no filters anywhere and have never had any issues following filling up from any town's reticulated supply. In outback Qld, and coastal WA [for example] where it is all bore water, while the 'hardness' of the water can change, sometimes the taste can change, but the water is always Council certified as 'drinkable'
Hope this helps Phil
-- Edited by Ozzie_Traveller on Friday 8th of September 2017 07:55:47 PM
We buy large bottles for drinking water . Although we have 250l of storage what we find is a GOOD gauge to check water usage so you can budget how much your using . Shower wise we wet, lather up with soap . Then quickly rinse off .Using very little water . Never had issue getting water always top up when I can . I have filled up at dump points . Only if water is potable ! Rinse tap bleach or metho including threads etc . To prevent contamination . Our drinking water is usually boiled if we run dry of real thurst quenching liquids !
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Friday 8th of September 2017 09:22:04 PM
Usually carry 4 x 20lt jerry cans in back of ute for water, only fill when needed though and have a small pump set up to pump from ute to van, no need to lift heavy containers, only use a filter when needed and fill tanks from non suss water points, some go overboard with filter use as a lot of country towns have far better water than the cities anyway, only completely load up when I know fill points are scarce, carrying 300 kgs of water is a bit dumb.
Mostly have a blister pack or 2 of bottled water for drinking, $7 from woollies or IGA.
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We have been 10+yrs fulltime in van have a shower head with 5 settings if in remote areas can live on 12/l per day including showers which don't have to turnoff while under it. Also have suction line setup on drawbar so when have running stream or dam use this for showering. Total water capacity car 110/l bladder, van 400/l. None of our tanks have ever been contaminated with bad water all are isolated from each other and are sanitised with Milton tablets every 12mths.
As far as filtering goes use a double (sediment/ carbon) one.
Here is one way of filling your tanks when it rains, use a collapsable shower, remove nozzle fit a snap on fitting and Bingo it flows into tanks, I do have a small submersible pump able to be used from a stream etc, just sit in a bucket, sure it is 240V but do we carry a generator.
For cold drinking water, we purchase bottles from the supermarkets We think that this is good insurance against stomach bugs while travelling
I originally had an 80 litre water tank, and carried 2 X 15 litre containers
Going over the Nullarbor once, I nearly ran out of the 80 litres, as the tap started surging while the vehicle was not level
I now have 1 x 80 litre, and 1 x 60 litre tank, connected together, plus 2 x 15 litre containers
On my last trip (from memory)
Tanks full when started out from Bunbury and then topped up at the following places
Northampton WA, at the designated dump point, and potable water tap Carnarvon WA, at the designated potable water tap Port Hedland WA, at the designated potable water tap Broome WA, at the designated dump point, and potable water tap Kununurra WA, at the designated dump point, laundromat, and potable water tap Lake Argyle caravan park WA, (they said that you could drink the water straight from the tap). There was a bit of a taste to it Darwin Discovery caravan park NT, (there are no free camps in Darwin) Berry Springs caravan park NT, (had arranged to meet up with brother), bore water but no taste to it Coober Pedy SA, had to purchase water at $1 for 30 litres at the designated potable water tap, so not really a great cost Port Wakefield caravan Park SA, (went in to use the washing machine, so also topped up with water) Port Augusta SA, at the designated dump point, and potable water tap
Tanks still had about 20 litres when I returned home, and I never used my container water
There are many other places I could have got water from, and the local tourist information places, will let you know where the potable water is situated
Note that we do not have a washing machine, and use laundromats about once a week
Just did half a lap of Oz...Centre then East. I have 2 x 90 litre tanks and carry 4 x 20 litre in back of tug.
Never had a water issue...use Wikicamps to find water...no probs. Eg, Longreach has drinking water and dump point and parking in centre of town! Many other towns like this too!
Just research ahead of time.
Further to this...you will find "potable" water not far from where you are as you will find a "dump point" not far from where you are.
-- Edited by Dick0 on Tuesday 12th of September 2017 05:47:23 PM
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Water hmmm . Ok here's my story . We're traveling Australia for a few yrs and have set up things to suite our travels . First of we have 4 90 ltr tanks under the van . 1 120 ltr bladder on the back floor of the colly . A 90 ltr bladder gets dragged around to we're we need it on the ground in the back of the ute . We're ever we need it . We have a water saver plumbed in it pushes cold water to the front tank till the water reaches 30 c then it diverts it to the tap . Saves us 4 ltrs to the kitchen sink 5 ltrs to the shower . The water tank between the axle is the one we use all the time along with the bladder in the back floor of the ute . Gives us 200 ltrs . Always clean water in the tanks . We also have a spare pump 40 mtrs of 12 mill garden irrigation pipe a lint filter and a good filter system . When we're pulled up at a river or creek we pull water from the river for washing up showers and washing cloths . That way we can get over a mth on using the bladder in the back of the ute for drinking only . We only use the front tank in the van for washing up and showers as this tank catches the water that by passes the water saver .
Yea yea I know about people talking over weight with that much water . But I don't run full on the road . For instance we went to inskip filled 2 tanks in the van and the bladder in the ute . Set up van at camp area . Then filled the other tanks from the bladder . When we went to town the next day we filled up again so we lasted 6 days . Works for us
Thanks guys, my planed set up of 2 x 85 in the van and 80 in the back of the ute, plus a transfer pump sounds to be in the right direction. Filling up the vans rear tank from the ute, when we reach our days destination.
Also forgot to say each tank fills seperate so you can do front rear front second rear . Same as using water each tank seperate so if you work it rite you know how much water you have on board
Water hmmm . Ok here's my story . We're traveling Australia for a few yrs and have set up things to suite our travels . First of we have 4 90 ltr tanks under the van . 1 120 ltr bladder on the back floor of the colly . A 90 ltr bladder gets dragged around to we're we need it
We also have a 200 ltr tank we put at the end of the awning to catch rain water
4 x 90 = 360lt
120lt
90lt
200lt
----
770lt
Now I'm all in favour of being prepared but that is a lot of water ....
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200 ltrs it's a colapasable water tank with a screen on top and also a clear sip up lid . Has 2 screw in connector fittings 1 top 1 bottom . Funny thing is concerned being on the road it's never rained long enough to fill it . But have not ru out of water yet . Eve just running 1 90 in the van and the 120 in the ute . Which is our normal travel lterage
, we, or I am still going to have quick showers and use water, be it sparingly. I am not going on a survival exercise.
