Water Storage, Capacity, and Usage...

[UmpquaTim]

Curious what you are using to store your water, how much you can store, and how long it lasts.  

On my "maiden" dry camping journey, over the last week, I carried 14 gallons of water in two of the large "blue" containers.  I don't drink beer or soda, so everything I consumed was from the storage containers. I also have two medium sized dogs.  I'd say that, on average, one blue container (7 gallons) lasted about two days. Curious how this stacks up with you.

For what it's worth... when it came to dish washing, it was generally done with two spray bottles; one with water, one with water/vinegar.  

Any water conservation tips also welcome

Cheers,

-T

 

[VanKitten]

One water conservation trick I have used for years.....

To wash my hair..I never use shampoo (too much suds that require heavy rinsing, and leaves my hair needing a conditioner for yet a second rinse). I use water and baking soda.

Here is what I do. Put about 4 cups of water in a shallow pan. Dunk my hair in this water till my hair is wet. Mix 1 cup of water with 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Pour evenly through my hair and work it to the roots and ends (just as if it was shampoo). Not dunk you hair in that pan of water..over and over till your hair squeaks.

Save that water! It is great for cleaning up counter surfaces, etc.

My hair is clean, shiny, and soft with silky feel.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Curious what you are using to store your water, how much you can store, and how long it lasts.  

I carry up to 15 gallons in 1 gallon jugs.  I generally use 1.5 - 2 gallons a day for me and the beagle.  When in water conservation mode I can get by on 1 gallon a day.  So 15 days if pressed.

I carry a water purification filter, so if clean standing or flowing water is available I can stretch that indefinitely.

 -- Spiff

 

[Wabbit]

I asked Bear Grylls for any tips he might have on how to conserve water. This is what that b*sturd txted back!



I srsly don't even know anymore. I do know, if you take his advice, urine a lot of trouble!

We also do our dishes with the vinegar\water when boondocking. Haven't gotten sick from it yet. That washing hair tip is great! Gonna have to try that with "shewhocannotbenamed".

 

[TrainChaser]

UmpquaTim, that seems a little high. Where did the majority of the water go?

 

[UmpquaTim]

UmpquaTim, that seems a little high.  Where did the majority of the water go?

Yeah, that might be a bit high of an estimate but I think it's pretty close.  I drink roughly a gallon of water a day not including what the dogs drank. Then coffee, oatmeal, pasta, and the water for my rice cooker/steamer burned a bit up as well.  Also worth mentioning is that when one tank got a bit low, I'd use the rest for a quick shower with one of those DC pump camping showers which likely burned through a gallon or so.  I only did this once in a week though and generally relied on "dude wipes" or "epic wipes" for bathing.  By the way... Epic Wipes rule.

-T

 

[UmpquaTim]

I carry up to 15 gallons in 1 gallon jugs.  I generally use 1.5 - 2 gallons a day for me and the beagle.  When in water conservation mode I can get by on 1 gallon a day.  So 15 days if pressed.

I carry a water purification filter, so if clean standing or flowing water is available I can stretch that indefinitely.

 -- Spiff

Awesome, thanks for sharing!  Curious... what do you use for water purification?  I do have a simple "in-line" RV water filter but it's hardly a purifier for standing/flowing water.

-T

 

[lenny flank]

I urban camp almost exclusively, so I only carry a couple gallons in standard one-gallon jugs.

On the shampoo thing--"waterless shampoos" can be found in camping stores. They are based on either cornstarch powder or alcohol spray. They both work pretty well between washups.

And of course there are baby wipes for cleaning up.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I have perfected the two liter bottle shower. I take a standard two liter soda bottle, drill 4 or 5 holes in the cap with an 1/8" drill bit and that becomes my "shower head" Hold it over my head wet my body real quick. Soap up and use the rest to rinse myself off. I have short hair so it's easy to wash and rinse with the rest of my body. When I first started this method I used two two liter bottles so I wouldn't run out in the middle of being soapy. I can now use a little less than the two liters but usually just use it all. I can shower everyday for a week with 3.5 to 4 gallons. If I'm doing active stuff, i'll shower everyday. If I'm taking it easy i'll do one every few days.

I never feel clean unless I use water. I hate baby wipes and wash cloth type sponge bathing, just doesn't make me feel clean, though I wish that weren't the case. When I camp, I always try to be near water because I love water.....lakes, ponds, rivers or a tiny little stream, I prefer to be near water. I also carry a MSR Miniworks and a nalgene bottle screws right on the bottom. So I can purify a few gallons of water in about 20 min give or take, never timed it and go another few days.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EOLZEX8/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

 . . . what do you use for water purification?  I do have a simple "in-line" RV water filter but it's hardly a purifier for standing/flowing water.

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]I carry a pump type Katadyn Hiker.  This was my backpacking water purifier for years.  I still use this for canoeing and for short backpacking trips.  I also carry iodine and aquapure tablets.  And of course I can boil water.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]By 'in-line' do you mean a gravity fed filter?  I am not familiar with any backcountry filters that cannot be used with standing/flowing water.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] -- Spiff[/font]

 

[highdesertranger]

I carry 30 gallons for me and my dog this will last 2 weeks, more if I really conserve. water saving tip number 1, let the dog prewash the dishes. highdesertranger

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Puppy pre-wash is also good if you are concerned about attracting animals to your campsite with food bits in your dumped grey water.

 -- Spiff

 

[UmpquaTim]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]I carry a pump type Katadyn Hiker.  This was my backpacking water purifier for years.  I still use this for canoeing and for short backpacking trips.  I also carry iodine and aquapure tablets.  And of course I can boil water.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]By 'in-line' do you mean a gravity fed filter?  I am not familiar with any backcountry filters that cannot be used with standing/flowing water.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] -- Spiff[/font]

Sorry, by "inline" I meant the typical spigot & hose connected "water filter" used on RV's etc.   And thanks for the tip on the [font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]Katadyn Hiker![/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]-T[/font]

 

[UmpquaTim]

I carry 30 gallons for me and my dog this will last 2 weeks,  more if I really conserve.  water saving tip number 1,  let the dog prewash the dishes.  highdesertranger

You know... the prewash tip crossed my mind!  As for the 30 gallons, that works out to be just over two gallons a day, which seems to be more like I'd expect. 

Thanks a million!

Tim

 

[UmpquaTim]

I have perfected the two liter bottle shower.  I take a standard two liter soda bottle, drill 4 or 5 holes in the cap with an 1/8" drill bit and that becomes my "shower head"  Hold it over my head wet my body real quick.  Soap up and use the rest to rinse myself off.  I have short hair so it's easy to wash and rinse with the rest of my body.  When I first started this method I used two two liter bottles so I wouldn't run out in the middle of being soapy.  I can now use a little less than the two liters but usually just use it all.  I can shower everyday for a week with 3.5 to 4 gallons. If I'm doing active stuff, i'll shower everyday.  If I'm taking it easy i'll do one every few days.  

I never feel clean unless I use water.  I hate baby wipes and wash cloth type sponge bathing, just doesn't make me feel clean, though I wish that weren't the case.  When I camp, I always try to be near water because I love water.....lakes, ponds, rivers or a tiny little stream,  I prefer to be near water.  I also carry a MSR Miniworks and a nalgene bottle screws right on the bottom.  So I can purify a few gallons of water in about 20 min give or take, never timed it and go another few days.  

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EOLZEX8/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

That's great info, thanks so much.  Seems to me that a purifier like that should be standard gear anyway.  I'll have to be sure I have one on board.

-T

 

[UmpquaTim]

Puppy pre-wash is also good if you are concerned about attracting animals to your campsite with food bits in your dumped grey water.

 -- Spiff

My dogs just told me to tell you that you're brilliant

 

[highdesertranger]

by far my biggest usage is for drinking both me and the pup. highdesertranger

 

[TrainChaser]

For the 'bottle shower', I've been keeping an eye out for a 2-liter bottle with a indentation around the bottom...

You see that groove around the Gatorade bottle? https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71ooEL6Yx9L._SX522_.jpg If there is a bottle like that, but with the groove around the base, I could drill holes in the lid and tie a cord around the base and hang it from the 'ceiling' of a privacy tent.

Those drinks people need to get with the (van dwelling) program!

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

 . . . I could drill holes in the lid and tie a cord around the base and hang it from the 'ceiling' of a privacy tent.  

Just tape a cord to the bottom with duct tape circling the bottle.

 -- Spiff