Another reason NOT to use the "Water Thief"

Woodtroll wrote:



Well, I have to agree with that, too. The heavily populated northeastern corner of the state (NOVA or "little DC") speaks for all the rest of us politically, now matter how much we protest it. As a matter of fact, maybe it is somewhat like California after all! :B

I don't think you'll find many of us hillbillies out there except as visitors; we like our guns and personal freedoms too much! It would indeed be a great place to live with less people and politics though... The redwoods and the mountains are absolutely spectacular!

To get back on topic, I think there are water thieves along with every other kind of political thief up there in NOVA and DC!!! ;)

Other states, and the Feds - follow CA (CARB) laws. Expect to see what works in CA - become "the law" in your state or for the EPA.
Just follow along with emissions regulations & vehicle emissions testing.
Ex: There "used to be" CA cars and 49 state cars. Not any more!

The hillbillies "out there" (here - CA):
Dust Bowl - the 30's. Better watch "Grapes of Wrath" again, LOL!

WWII the '40's. Workers came from all over the USA for employment at the Aircraft factories - then stayed.
Add to that all the Military who trained in So. CA, and found out there was a place without ice and snow during the winter - and returned after the war.
Then, their friends & relatives came to visit - and stayed.

It's never stopped!
The current CA population (most populous state) is due to all those folks -then and now- (including Rednecks & Hillbillies) departing "cold country" for better weather and employment opportunities.

How "hillbilly"?
One of the guys I worked with was a hillbilly from back in "the woods" of TN.
One time I asked him about racial "attitudes".
His reply - "My daddy never knew there were people with different skin colors until he was 18 years old".

Gun laws & personal freedom.
Never found any gun I wanted and couldn't purchase in CA!
(Don't know about assault weapons).

And back *On Topic* (& personal freedom)...
Been in CA for 73 years.
Never found anything -within reason- (and legal) that I couldn't do if I wanted to......including the *convenience* of using a "water thief" to stretch a hose to fill my fresh water tank without moving the RV..:R
Been in lots of (CA) campgrounds where hoses were *shared* by campers to cover the distance from a spigot (& water thief) to fill their individual fresh water tanks.
("Good Sams" being "Bad Sams"?..:@ - LOL!)

The (term) "Water Thief" is no more "stealing" water than somebody who "steals" it to fill a a 5 gallon container!

Simply a term for a *device* to temporarily connect to a spigot without threads..:S
The spigot is without threads to prevent a permanent connection..:S

Of course, since I do *also* use a Cheater Bar for leverage every now and then, guess I'm a "cheater" as well as a water thief..:(

However, if the private/city/county/state/federal campground doesn't permit it, it's no different than not allowing dogs in a campground...:R

Like your house - it's yours. You make the rules.

Lots of folks out there (everywhere) lack common sense.
(Spent 30 years tending to lots of 'em - when they screw up).
Laws, rules and regulations - are often passed to protect dummies from themselves - and others from the first group.
Also, "we" are a litigious society.
Think "liability".

BTW - Off topic:
Readers need to be educated who the *REAL* "Rednecks" were - why and how they were called "Rednecks".
Be a good job for somebody from VA, WVA - or Colorado!.;)


~

We occasionally use our "water bandit" when travelling in our Class B and I can honestly say that in 25+ years I have never once seen a sign prohibiting it. We've even used it at a solar water pump right in front of the campground host. It helps to have a smaller rig, I'm sure. We don't use it with our travel trailer -- it has a larger water tank and we have room in the truck to bring extra.

Well, considering I live in Indiana and not California, I have learned at state parks here the non threaded spigots are for the purpose of back flow prevention.

However, the debate on this forum regarding the California issue reminds me of the old west Television shows where one rancher is fighting with another rancher over water rights. I guess the more advanced we become technology wise, the less things improve after all. The same basic issues of raw survival have never changed. Have we REALLY advanced as a civilization after all?

Ron3rd wrote:

Woodtroll wrote:

toedtoes wrote:

Personally, as a Californian dealing with the current drought situation and having my water usage (that I pay for) limited, etc., it really irritates me when I read that Southern California State Beaches are letting folks fill their RV tanks for free. Maybe if they'd stop handing out 50+ gallons of water to all these folks, the state would have enough water to provide flushing toilets to visitors at Hearst Castle or provide minimal water to campers at Mt. Diablo they can brush their teeth, etc.

It's great that folks want to save money by traveling with empty tanks, but I am having to pay more for my residential water in order for you to do so. The water you're filling your tank with is being diverted from my paid supply.

As a recent visit to California, I was amazed to see how many parts of the state are stealing water from other folks in other parts of the state. If your bought-and-paid-for water source is local then I believe you have a legitimate gripe. If your water comes from elsewhere (including reservoirs on national land), then your argument literally doesn't hold water because you are stealing it from someone else. It is pretty upsetting to me personally that water is being stolen from the federal land in the mountains to support a population on the coast that uses more water than they have available.

That's been the story in California for over 60 years and books have been written about these "Water Wars". California's problem is Southern Calif is basically a desert with no water and most of the water comes from up north via aqueducts, ie, The California And American Aqueducts.

In many restrooms in northern CA you see signs that read "Flush twice. L.A. Needs the water."

I wonder how many southern Californians realize a sizable amount of all that aqueduct water is discharge from community sewage treatment plants.

WOW and I thought this Water Thief was to help attachment to an outlet with marred up threads. But hey What do I know. :S

DiskDoctr wrote:

toedtoes wrote:

CavemanCharlie wrote:
I disagree with this. I've found that most people if told the rule and politely explained the reason for the rule will be understanding and not only follow the rule but, bend over backward to see that it is followed fairly by everybody.

It seems some of you have no faith in humanity. I'm sorry you feel that way.

It's not a lack of faith in humanity, it's being realistic. Look through this thread. After the OP posted the reason behind a decision, folks are still saying "well, they just mean X, so I'd still do it because I'm not doing X, I'm doing Y" - when in reality, they are still connecting to a spigot against the posted rules. They've just justified it in their minds that it's OK for them to do.

And somehow I don't think most park rangers want campers to "bend over backward to see that it is followed fairly by everybody". I suspect that most rangers would say "put your effort into making sure you follow the rules and let us worry about all the others".

Therein lies the real problem.

One approach is, "You are trying to solve/avoid problem X, which I am making sure I relieve or do not contribute to by some sort of accommodation/procedure/equipment"

The other approach is, "I am the Law! Respect my Author-i-tie!"

The first is a cooperative community working to help each other. The second is authoritarian oppression.

I know a number of rangers and have only met ONE who wasn't in the first category, and he had some major personal stress at the time so it probably doesn't count ;)

So I would invite all to do their best to stay in the cooperative community and not blindly follow the "becaue I told you so" crowd.

More of a general approach really.

Yes, I agree, You maybe came across in this post a little harsh. But, I still believe if everyone is told the reason for the rule that in most cases they would understand and work together for the benefit of all. You will always have a few that don't but, that's' life. Most people are good people. Let's not judge everyone by the actions of a few.

I would politely suggest to some member that they don't make this personal/ regional/ political / or anything like that. After all why? If you do this thread will end up locked, and I understand and believe in that rule.

See how easy it is to be polite?

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

Woodtroll wrote:
Thanks for taking my original post about the water transfer the way it was intended. Reading it back now, it seems as if I was directing it specifically (and harshly) towards Toedtoes, but my intention was for it to be a more broad statement. I certainly did not mean to single out anybody, just comment on the situation.

Also, the first line of my post should have read "As a recent visitOR...". California is a beautiful state and we enjoyed our visit very much, but its politics leave me bumfuzzled.

.

Touche!

Yours (Virginia politics) leave CA residents equally bumfuzzled..:R

Be great if you suggested to any of your bumfuzzled former neighbors, friends and kin who have relocated to CA to return...:C~

Well, I have to agree with that, too. The heavily populated northeastern corner of the state (NOVA or "little DC") speaks for all the rest of us politically, now matter how much we protest it. As a matter of fact, maybe it is somewhat like California after all! :B

I don't think you'll find many of us hillbillies out there except as visitors; we like our guns and personal freedoms too much! It would indeed be a great place to live with less people and politics though... The redwoods and the mountains are absolutely spectacular!

To get back on topic, I think there are water thieves along with every other kind of political thief up there in NOVA and DC!!! ;)

Safe travels,
Regan

Woodtroll wrote:
Thanks for taking my original post about the water transfer the way it was intended. Reading it back now, it seems as if I was directing it specifically (and harshly) towards Toedtoes, but my intention was for it to be a more broad statement. I certainly did not mean to single out anybody, just comment on the situation.

Also, the first line of my post should have read "As a recent visitOR...". California is a beautiful state and we enjoyed our visit very much, but its politics leave me bumfuzzled.

.

Touche!

Yours (Virginia politics) leave CA residents equally bumfuzzled..:R

Be great if you suggested to any of your bumfuzzled former neighbors, friends and kin who have relocated to CA to return...:C

Most CA natives liked the state just fine *before* it was the most populous of the 50, LOL!

~

Thanks for taking my original post about the water transfer the way it was intended. Reading it back now, it seems as if I was directing it specifically (and harshly) towards Toedtoes, but my intention was for it to be a more broad statement. I certainly did not mean to single out anybody, just comment on the situation.

Also, the first line of my post should have read "As a recent visitOR...". California is a beautiful state and we enjoyed our visit very much, but its politics leave me bumfuzzled.