Water

Shooter · Newbie

Water

Radar · Guru

Shooter wrote:
Hhi im new to site and was wondering we are heading to Townsville next month .
We are going via the Kidman up through Cobar what is the water situation for vaners
Shooter.

Hi Bill
Welcome and hope you enjoy.
Firstly most of my travels though the Eastern states, I never had trouble obtaining water when I needed water, we use a mixture of free camping, low cost caravan parks and showgrounds. I never leave a tap without filling my 2 tanks (140 litres) providing the water makes a half decent cuppa, thats our test. We do not waste our water, we look after our water with minuim usage.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome to the gang Bill, enjoy here and out in the playground.

I go from VIC to Townsville via the coast (most times but have gone up the middle a couple) every winter and stay at least one night in a CVP and get water while there. (edit.. If needed) Other times I can get from town parks etc.(edit... After obtaing permission) I carry a 4 sided tap key in the Collie at all times. I got that from the big Green Shed. I would say you should be able to do similar in land. Just be aware of the droughts though, could cause a problem. I also have 4 10lt water containers in the Collie just in case.

Some Info centres allow water as do some servos. Some places make a small charge also but I have no problem with that at all.

Edit... See my reply further down.

-- Edited by Dougwe on Wednesday 20th of March 2019 12:11:15 AM

brickies · Guru

If i need to fill my water tank I always go into a caravan or low cost camping , I never steal water by using taps that dont have tap handle on them this could be a reason that the tap dosen't have a handle on it

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Ooops, maybe I should have been clearer with my reply above.

I don't "steal" water. I always get permission. I have asked at Council/Shire offices etc first and maybe just lucky but never refused, they have directed me to a park. One time to a works Depot. I have not done it that way many times though.

I only take enough water for the night and most times in a 10lt container as I can't travel with water in tanks due to a weight problem. When travelling I usually only have a basin wash each day.

I read my reply above back and it sounded like I pull up at a park and fill van up. SORRY ALL.

When in CVP I hook hose up so I can have a good shower or use their showers.

If I'm only going a short distance the next day and freedom camping for a few days I will top up tanks then. That is usually after the CVP stay.

One servo in Roma QLD charged me $5 to fill a 10lt container. I had no problem with that at all.

I also have a battery operated shower that I can submerg in a bocket of heated water to have a quick shower, i have got that down to 6lts. So between that, basin washes and CVP I manage quite well. I am a solo but see no reason why it wouldn't work for a couple.

Hope that's all a bit clearer.

Radar · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
Ooops, maybe I should have been clearer with my reply above.
I don't "steal" water. I always get permission. I have asked at Council/Shire offices etc first and maybe just lucky but never refused, they have directed me to a park. One time to a works Depot. I have not done it that way many times though.
I only take enough water for the night and most times in a 10lt container as I can't travel with water in tanks due to a weight problem. When travelling I usually only have a basin wash each day.
I read my reply above back and it sounded like I pull up at a park and fill van up. SORRY ALL.
When in CVP I hook hose up so I can have a good shower or use their showers.
If I'm only going a short distance the next day and freedom camping for a few days I will top up tanks then. That is usually after the CVP stay.
One servo in Roma QLD charged me $5 to fill a 10lt container. I had no problem with that at all.
I also have a battery operated shower that I can submerg in a bocket of heated water to have a quick shower, i have got that down to 6lts. So between that, basin washes and CVP I manage quite well. I am a solo but see no reason why it wouldn't work for a couple.
Hope that's all a bit clearer.

Good morning Dougwe.

Thank you for making that a bit clearer, only once and that was up at Middlemount Qld we had trouble obtaining extra water fresh water, I did ask a shop person and did not get a very good answer from him so when he shut the door I helped myself to 20 litres from a tap around the corner out of sight.

That was the only time in our oh my gosh 5 years now of retirement travel along the eastern states of obtaining suitable drinking water.

Enjoy your travels

Ron-D · Guru

Filling up a caravan tank in caravan parks in areas that have a good water supplies and no water restrictions is just common sense.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

If you ask first, you can almost always get water from the servo where you purchase fuel. If they say no, buy your fuel soewhere else.
Cheers,
Peter

Eaglemax · Guru

This is a good topic. Some might say, like free camping, "someone has to pay" which in the case of water, someone does be it the ratepayer or servo owner.

Imo, all dump points should have free drinkable water. Then people might start taking it for their homes.

Water is essential. It shouldnt be that hard to find it...but it often is.

Tony

suengreg · Veteran Member

Just be aware that in some towns (Roma etc) water from garden/servo taps is likely to be bore water and we have been warned that it is unfit for drinking. Tghuis was a common response from all requests we made for water in Roma

Greg

Mariner30 · Senior Member

I've often seen caravans pull up at the local cemetery and pull out the water hose during the day, I'd be scared the souls of the 6 murdered kids would jump out and do un natural things to me... They must ask permission somewhere... But then l've also seen campers at night...in a different spot obviously... hooked up to power and water after businesses etc etc have closed, 200 mts from the gold coin donation ' free ' camp, Must have special needs to the other folk in there

KFT · Guru

Tamworth NSW currently has level 3 water restrictions so residents can only use a hand held hose for 15 minutes outside. Drought is hitting this area pretty hard and the council have provided free water hydrants for rural residents to fill tankers with drinking water. A generous gesture indeed.

Of course the locals who are on water restrictions have cottoned on to this and are helping themselves to free water for their gardens. Council is now going to shut the free ones down and introduce a user pays system.

Back on topic, we always ask at VIC's if we can get water and happy to pay for it. I notice some PUMA servos have caravan water points and some even with dump points. We will drop in for a night or two to a cp if we have to so the tanks can be filled and everything else caught up on including a long hot shower.

Frank