Has anyone else noticed that many NF campgrounds that DID have Potable Water in the campground no longer provide water? I have been planning our August-September trip to Southern Wyoming and Colorado and I have been reviewing the NF Campground web pages to make sure they were currently open... I keep coming across "Notices" stating that there is "No Potable Water since June or July of 2017". Some campgrounds that we have previously camped at in 2016 no longer provide Potable Water. These water spigots are inside the campgrounds, not at dump stations ... Anyone know why this is happening? Are these notices true or some left-over notices from the 2017 season? Anyone camped in Snowy Range campgrounds this summer? Specifically, Sugarloaf or Brooklyn Lake, or other NF campgrounds that have shut down the potable water supply? Thanks!

Many of the campgrounds had the water trucked in and put in a tank. Cost is likely the factor.

You have to understand to have a public water system it needs to meet certain EPA standards. Many small parks that has become cost prohitive.

Where do you think they'll get the $1.5 billion in budget cut on the Interior/National Park Service.

Always thought that is what bottled water was for... Keeping Ice Mountain in business and offsetting my taxes (Ice Mountain is located in my township here in Michigan).

If the campgrounds have water which is accessible but not potable, you might want to consider a tedious but effective alternative: water filters like backpackers useThese filters come in many sizes from individual to group use. When choosing a filter, pay particular attention to how it is cleaned - replace a cartridge or just clean and reuse? You could put non-potable water into your tank for toilet and such and filter other water into bottles for drinking and cooking. Drain and sanitize your tank after the trip.

Where has the Potable Water gone in the NF Campgrounds

18 Replies

Boon_Docker
Explorer III
Jul 30, 2018
^^ I do the bleach thing all the time with water from rivers and streams, works just fine.
DiploStrat
Explorer
Jul 30, 2018
Actually, there is s simple solution to this: 1 tsp of household bleach per 10 USG of water. More if the water is cloudy or really dubious. Let stand at least 30 minutes. Will make better coffee if you run it through a filter before drinking. (Tiger and many other RV's include a water filter as standard equipment.)

This is basically what your city does.

Over at the EXPO Portal you will find huge discussions of this, comparing reverse osmosis units, multi-stage filters, etc. All of these work, but bleach is simple, cheap, and available almost anywhere in the world. One bottle will last months.

There are also tablets which are pricier, but perhaps easier to carry.

Chlorox Tables
toedtoes
Explorer III
Jul 30, 2018
Some is caused by forest fires. The fires run through and destroy the water system. No money to fix it and/or it takes several seasons for the repairs.

Also, if flooding occurred, it could have contaminated the water source so it is no longer potable.

I always bring a full tank of fresh water after having seen photos of various potable water tanks at public campgrounds. Not are all as "potable" as expected.
Tiger4x4RV
Nomad
Jul 30, 2018
If the campgrounds have water which is accessible but not potable, you might want to consider a tedious but effective alternative:
water filters like backpackers use

These filters come in many sizes from individual to group use. When choosing a filter, pay particular attention to how it is cleaned - replace a cartridge or just clean and reuse? You could put non-potable water into your tank for toilet and such and filter other water into bottles for drinking and cooking. Drain and sanitize your tank after the trip.
SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Jul 30, 2018
Always thought that is what bottled water was for... Keeping Ice Mountain in business and offsetting my taxes (Ice Mountain is located in my township here in Michigan).
Yosemite_Sam1
Explorer
Jul 30, 2018
Where do you think they'll get the $1.5 billion in budget cut on the Interior/National Park Service.
donn0128
Explorer II
Jul 30, 2018
You have to understand to have a public water system it needs to meet certain EPA standards. Many small parks that has become cost prohitive.
sgip2000
Explorer
Jul 30, 2018
Many of the campgrounds had the water trucked in and put in a tank. Cost is likely the factor.

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Where has the Potable Water gone in the NF Campgrounds

18 Replies

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