Water Sources While Boondocking?

[mariasman]

To those who have spent time boondocking - particularly in the western states - are sources of reasonably clean fresh water readily available in the field? It seems straightforward to process such water using a combination of filtration and a heat regenerative pasteurization system powered by PV. Does anyone collect their water in the field while boondocking? Having to periodically leave camp to purchase and store water seems asinine if not necessary - and seems to defeat the purpose of this lifestyle.

 

[B and C]

Parked near a stream or lake you could process water. The north west has a lot of running water, the southwest, not so much. Some of the streams are near old mining sites and would have heavy metal in them. I would only do this in a dire emergency. Getting water when you get groceries would be much simpler.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I carry 14 days of fresh food and I'll want to go back to civilization to resupply anyway, so I carry 14+ days supply of water.

I also carry the normal backpacking water purification stuff: iodine tablets, backpacking water filter, UV sterilizer, fuel to boil water.  And I use untreated stream or lake water for washing/showering when available.

 

[highdesertranger]

I do it all the time. but at the moment I don't drink it I carry enough drinking water to last 3 weeks if I stretch it. I use the collected water for prospecting and if I feel it's clean enough I will boil noodles with it or boil wash dishes. there is more water in the desert then most people think. not enough to support large amounts of people but enough to get you by. highdesertranger

 

[John61CT]

Just be aware in dry farming areas, water is property, and not necessarily the land owner's.

 

[MrNoodly]

...there is more water in the desert then most people think...

Craig Childs writes all about that in "The Secret Knowledge of Water."  He covers all types. Aquifers, springs, streams that appear only when it rains, streams that run all the time, flash floods and the Colorado. As he says, the desert was formed by water and it's constantly reformed by water.

 

[Moxadox]

My favorite book, out of all my favorite books!

The Dire Wolfess

 

[LoupGarou]

Being the stay limit is only 14 days. I park up at a nearby campground to take on fresh water, dump the tanks, do laundry, take a hot shower, source groceries, then repeat.

 

[ClassyGlobal]

Just a quickie, you don't always have to PAY for water in "civilization" most public buildings and parks have spigots and most gas stations have them as well at or very close to the fuel point or sometimes near the tire/air pump. Keep your eyes open and your ears to the ground - no pun!