Waste water totes for fresh water

[no-logic]

When my wife and I are on longer trips we often have to add more fresh water in order to shower, wash up, and do dishes. In the past we've used 2 x 5 gallon jugs to add fresh water. I devised a system where using the house water pump we can pump it into the fresh tank. But we are getting older and these jugs can be hard to deal with. We want to buy a new Rhino 15 gallon waste water tote in order to replenish our water as it has wheels and would make life easier. A friend told me that these are not safe for potable water. We don't drink from our fresh tank and won't store water in this tote. It would strictly be for topping off the fresh tank. Has anyone else done similar or have any input on doing this?
Thanks!

[no-logic]

MFL wrote:
Agree on using a proper bladder for your refills.

I've never been one to care too much, what other people think. However, using an obvious sewer tote, to refill my fresh water supply, is not something I'd want my camping neighbors to witness.

Jerry

We thought about this. I personally don't give a #@#$ what my neighbors think. But We will definitely mark it for potable water only.
I will look into the bladder though. It might be tough to make room in my short bed pickup. When we travel there's lots of stuff in there.
Thanks for all of your thought and suggestions!

[pinesman]

I use a spray tank with the pump already mounted on it (never had anything in it put potable water). I took off the spray hose and attached a garden hose quick connect and for the electrical changed the alligator clips to a standard rv plug. You can get these sized from 15 to 50 gallons or more.

[MFL]

Agree on using a proper bladder for your refills.

I've never been one to care too much, what other people think. However, using an obvious sewer tote, to refill my fresh water supply, is not something I'd want my camping neighbors to witness.

Jerry

[valhalla360]

I think a bladder in the truck makes more sense (easier to store and transport when empty) but getting a new poop tank that's never been used for poo should be perfectly fine. Talk about the plastic leaching is paranoia.

Don't be surprised when the neighbors freak out though if they see you filling your tank.

[Dutch_12078]

I use two 7 gallon Aqua-Tainer jugs to haul fresh water to pump into our fresh tank as needed on non-water sites. The only concession I've made to my advancing age was the purchase of folding dolly that makes moving them easier when full. Our portable waste tank is reserved for... waste.

[dedmiston]

I'm not a picky person and I believe in the five second rule. I assume that anything on the list of stuff that's going to kill me has probably happened and is already fermenting in my body somehow, waiting to spring into action when I least expect it.

But drinking from the stinky tote (even if it's never been stunk up yet) is definitely on my personal No-Fly List, especially when there are better ways to do it.

The bladder in the bed of the truck with a portable pump sounds like a winner to me.

Even if you aren't afraid of the cooties or tumor pills inside the tote, think about the weight. If you're already struggling with your 5 gallon jugs, then a tote is going to be even worse even if it has wheels on one end.

I guess one more option though would be to just buy more of the jugs and don't fill them to the point where you can't carry them. Four jugs with 2.5 gallons would be more manageable than two jugs with 5 gallons. Maybe that's easier said than done though, because I typically fill my 5 gal fuel jugs with 5.5-6 gallons because that's what my caveman brain tells me to do (bring as much as will fit into the container).

Anything but the tote though for me. And my queen would nix that plan even faster than I would.

[ktmrfs]

Since waste water tanks are focused on waste not drinking water, there are lots more materials they can use, including "regrind" or waste plastic that has been reprocessed. If so, not knowing what material was used, once could end up with stuff leaching into the water that you don't want around you. Look on the tank and see if it says X% recycled material. If so I'd be concerned. That recycled material could be food grade regrind or it could be reprocessed assorted who knows what.

If the tank is approved for potable water don't see any issues as long as you can make sure it isn't accidentally used for non potable water.

[IAMICHABOD]

I see no reason not to use a new unused tote you described.It is made out of HDPE it is widely approved by both standards organizations and code agencies for potable cold water applications.

[Matt_Colie]

I had a collapsible wagon that I put lots of things in to move them and one was a marine water bladder. The bladder was just that and the wagon could be folded up and stowed on board.
Matt

[camperfamily]

Second something in bed of truck. A 12v pump isn't terribly expensive to use to pump the water from there into your fresh tank (if your current arrangement can't do this). At the end you have no heavy lifting or moving and a bladder is easily stowed away.

Would I use a waste tote for potable water? Likely not. There's other options.

[Lwiddis]

I wouldn't do so unless the plastic container is approved for drinking water.

[agesilaus]

You can buy a 30 gal, or larger, bladder that will fit in the back of your truck. And much cheaper than one of those totes. Amazon has them

29 gal

[BB_TX]

Do you use the fresh water tank for cooking? Dish washing? Tooth brushing? Even if you do not normally, I still would not put any questionable water in the fresh water tank.

Some of the totes are made with HDPE plastic which is considered safe for food and drinking water. As long as the tote was never used for anything but clean potable water and sanitized periodically I see no reason not to use one to transport fresh water. Use a large permanent marker to mark it POTABLE WATER ONLY.

[TexasShadow]

I can't think of a reason against using a new water tote for fresh water, but I would be sure to mark it clearly as potable water ONLY.