Searching for Water

[Kimbopolo]

Potable water, that is.&nbsp; To fill my tank, that is.&nbsp; I'm on the move now and always seem to have trouble finding a faucet.&nbsp; <br><br>I've tried city parks a few times but when there is an available&nbsp;faucet, it seems too exposed.&nbsp; Haven't had any luck at rest areas.&nbsp; I thought tomorrow I might try a small church somewhere en route.&nbsp; Has anyone done this with any luck?&nbsp; <br><br>So, can you share your favorite free H2O sources?&nbsp; <br><br>Kim<br><a href="http://www.kimbopolo.blogspot.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.kimbopolo.blogspot.com</a>

 

[James AKA Lynx]

Most gas stations have one. Try the Truck stops. Big rest stops. RV campgrounds. Sometimes you can ask to shower and add water for a few $.<br><br>BYOH -- bring your own hose, white one. You may want to add 2 drops of bleach per gallon. You may want to filter as well.<br><br> Look in the RV threads.<br><br>James AKA Lynx

 

[David]

Personally, I wouldn't have any issue using a&nbsp;facet&nbsp;at a public park even if it were out in the open, assuming you are just filling up a container. &nbsp;Public parks are there for people to use and are paid for by tax dollars, be it state or city. No reason to not use the water unless there are signs saying that you can't or that it's not&nbsp;potable.

 

[Kimbopolo]

I guess I should have been more specific.&nbsp; I have a Roadtrek with 2 tanks that hold 25 total gallons.&nbsp; I wouldn't have an issue filling just a coupe of gallon jugs but ....

 

[highdesertranger]

I never have had&nbsp;a problem just ask in town.&nbsp; when I ask many times I am told I could use the spigot at the&nbsp;store, bar, gas station or wherever I asked.&nbsp; sometimes the town has its own&nbsp;dedicated spigot&nbsp;for this.&nbsp; in some desert communities they tell you to go to the water company which is no problem either I have been charged between .028 and .05 cents per gallon which is a bargain if you are in the middle of the desert.&nbsp; sometimes I need a couple hundred gallons so how much you need doesn't seem to be an issue but you should let whoever know how much you need out of courtesy.&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[ontheroadagain]

water is so expensive now I just can't imagine anyone giving 25 to 50 or even 100 gallons away

 

[rvwandering]

&nbsp;Most of the time we fill when we dump -<a href="http://www.sanidumps.com/sanidumps_usamerica.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> http://www.sanidumps.com/sanidumps_usamerica.php</a> but if water isn't available at the dump we check at the truck fueling islands at truck stops. Also many gas stations will have a hose bib on the side of their building. Ask first and buy gas too. We've never been told that we couldn't fill our water tank.

 

[ZOFCHAK]

<br>&nbsp; If you're in a real bind just knock on doors!&nbsp; You might get&nbsp; the occasional rude reply or two, but I think you'll end up being surprised at how many people will say "Go ahead".&nbsp; One of my favorite hobbies is metal detecting and I knock on strangers doors all the time to get permission to detect. I'd say I get permission about 80-90% of the time.&nbsp; If I get those percentages asking to dig holes all over their lawn, I doubt it would be tough to get permission to fill a couple water tanks. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

 

[HWJ]

I just wouldn't do it during the day if you are using a park. If you get hassled, just tell them you are on the move and ran out of options.<br>There are a few water parks near my place (like a small city park, but have a few water related things for kids), and they have washrooms and hose-off areas outside.<br><br>

 

[vagari]

Does anyone ever get water from a creek or stream? Using a filter of some type. I know desert areas would be few and far between but what about in the forests? Those Sawyer water filters can be had for under $60 and are good for a million gallons. You do have to back flush now and again but its easy.

 

[Lostinspace]

At least in Florida, the rest areas on the interstates have water spigots in the picnic table areas.&nbsp; I used to fill up a 5 gallon plastic water jug for a couple of weeks when I was working on the well controller in the cabin I was using a couple of years ago. A lightning hit had taken out the controller.

 

[highdesertranger]

vagari,&nbsp; I get water from creeks and springs all the time.&nbsp; however I just use this water for washing dishes or things were I would boil the water first.&nbsp; of course I use this water for prospecting also.&nbsp; but I will not put that water&nbsp;it in my tank,&nbsp; only known good potable water in my tanks.&nbsp; I do have a couple of water filters but only use them when backpacking or emergency use.&nbsp; the filters have there place but are slow, takes awhile to get any amount water.&nbsp; however in the future I thinking i'll get one of the basecamp gravity filters like this <a href="http://www.bestfilters.com/assets/images/OwnersManuals/campfactsheet.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.bestfilters.com/assets/images/OwnersManuals/campfactsheet.pdf</a>&nbsp;.&nbsp; this will give you about 120 liters in 24 hrs.&nbsp; more than enough to extend my boondocking trips.&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[psytechguy]

I've been thinking about getting one of these Sawyer bucket filters. It outputs 1 liter per minute.

http://www.filtersfast.com/P-Sawyer...gn=Sawyer&utm_keyword=SP191&utm_content=SP191

 

[James AKA Lynx]

I find these discussions interesting. You can let water sit overnight (all heavy stuff goes to the bottom)&nbsp; and then take the top off and boil for 5 mins and kill any bad bugs. Chemicals no. <br><br>If you need fuel get a Stovetec Delux 2 door. Will boil a gallon of water in 15 min in their 7 liter pot.<br><br>James AKA Lynx

 

[TxGypsy]

I worked at a resort one summer where we had a dump station and sold potable water as well. &nbsp;It was a frequent occurrence that we'd have to run outside and yell at some idiot that after dumping their blackwater tanks, they'd detach the hose from their RV and stick it up to the potable water faucet to flush out the ick from their drain hose. &nbsp;Eww, splashback! &nbsp;When we caught them at it, we'd go out and bleach the faucet. I'm sure we didn't always catch them.<br><br>I'll be bringing a spray bottle full of bleach and treating all hose bibs that I use!

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Try a gas station...they usually have a hose or spiget for a hose to clean off the gas pumps and the parking lot.&nbsp; Just ask and they will probably tell you its ok.&nbsp; Just conveniently leave out the amount of water, just say you need a few gallons, they won't know the difference.&nbsp; I know i would at the station i work at (well motel but we have exxon gas as well).&nbsp; <br><br>A lot of times people's cars will overheat and need water so it won't be a big stretch to ask for some at a station.