Water for electric only locations

[CRS001]

We are looking at staying at more state parks which have electric only sites. We have only been using full hook up location and want save some costs. We don't want to haul water from home or back enough bottle water for washing etc. So the question is what water access is there to fill the water tanks at these parks, in general? Do you just pull up to any spigot, is there water access at the entrance?

Just beginner

[drsteve]

I always leave home with a full fresh tank, and a couple of 6 gallon containers too.

[mobeewan]

I usually store my 50 gallon tank with about a half gallon of water and a table spoon of bleach and sloshing it around before storage. When ready to use I give if a quick rinse and then fill it. It's already sanitized and never has any mold in it.

I do the same with my 15 gallon barrels and aquatainers but only use about a quart of water and tablespoon of bleach in them when storing.

[toedtoes]

travelnutz wrote:
We vote for bringing our own water and using it wisely and then leaving it behind at the dump stations. Our home water is pure and truly tasteless but many other locations have horrible tasting water and some that smell like swamp water or rotten eggs and taking a shower with that stuff makes you stink worse after than before the shower!

X3.

Also, while there may be spigots at public campgrounds, that doesn't mean you can just fill up your tank from them. Many do not have the water system infrastructure to fill everyone's fresh water tank. Some have limited water, some have old outdated systems. And having seen photos of the water tanks at some of these parks, I will tell you that it is NOT an appealing prospect to drink from them. There's a reason why RVs have fresh water tanks - so you can bring your water with you.

General observation: if they don't have flush toilets, you shouldn't be filling your fresh water tank there regardless of spigots.

[SoundGuy]

GordonThree wrote:
Green algae is growing in the tank.

I guess I could store the tank empty, but worry it might grow mildew which could be dangerous, compared to algae which is harmless.

Ergo, the reason I prefer multiple 7 gal Aquatainers - inexpensive, lightweight, made of food grade plastic, cubed shaped so they don't fall over and are easy to store, threaded main cap & threaded vent cap which don't leak. 4 or 5 of these 7 gal 'Tainers are plenty for us and when not in use I hang 'em on the garage wall with the caps off so they can dry thoroughly inside - never any issues with mold, mildew, algae, nada. :B

[GordonThree]

travelnutz wrote:
We vote for bringing our own water and using it wisely and then leaving it behind at the dump stations. Our home water is pure and truly tasteless but many other locations have horrible tasting water and some that smell like swamp water or rotten eggs and taking a shower with that stuff makes you stink worse after than before the shower!

x2 on that. I enjoy the taste of my well water and it's often shocking how much chemical taste campground water (city water?) has.

a few problems I've run into with my big tank:

Now that the Sun is finally out in Northern Michigan, the water in the tank is holding around 80F. I purchased some mylar space blankets to somehow shield the tank, maybe keep it cooler and help with problem number two

Green algae is growing in the tank. I must have not completely sterilized it after purchase (it sat outside the tractor store with its lid off for a long time before I brought it home). I'll hit it again with bleach or peroxide and scrub the algae out, and then hopefully the space blankets will keep it dark.

I guess I could store the tank empty, but worry it might grow mildew which could be dangerous, compared to algae which is harmless.

[travelnutz]

We vote for bringing our own water and using it wisely and then leaving it behind at the dump stations. Our home water is pure and truly tasteless but many other locations have horrible tasting water and some that smell like swamp water or rotten eggs and taking a shower with that stuff makes you stink worse after than before the shower!

[GordonThree]

Fifth wheel or travel trailer?

I love rustic campgrounds, they're usually a lot less busy, quieter and have minimal "loop tourists" unlike State Parks

Here's my solution:

65 gallon sprayer tank from the tractor store




As far as weight goes, I'm basically towing a tall plywood box down the road, a few extra lbs of water in the trunk isn't hurting the already terrible MPG.

[travelnutz]

Just remember that your gray and black holding tanks will only hole so much and when full, need to be dumped anyway unless you have sewer hookup right on your site. Nearly all state parks we've been to over the last 52+ years have fresh water available and also have a dump station too. Same for most NP CG's, county or local CG's also. With water hookup at the site with no sewer hookup, the holding tanks will fill so much quicker!

We always travel with full fresh water tanks and empty gray and black tanks and why not? That's why the tanks are there and you simply transfer the fresh water after using to the other 2 tanks and then dump'em! We very seldom stay at full hookup CG's as the sites are almost always tight as heck as it's almost a must for cost to build or for distance to the sewage ponds or public sewer hooking if in a city type area. That's too "trailer parky" like for us or just a mobile home park on a smaller scale. Give us elbow room and nature not a clear view of the RV on either side of us a few feet away or the ones in front or behind us.

Fussy old farts, aren't we?

[cmarkj]

Some state parks and a lot of COE parks have enough taps all over, within a hose length or two, that you can always refill straight from the tap into you fresh tank.
I also carry a 35 gal water approved Ag tanks that I can pump out of.

[kerrlakeRoo]

Also be aware that if you are travelling very far and in particular crossing state lines, the rest areas and welcome centers usually have spigots, You can leave home with a half tank to save weight and when possible top off near your destination there or at a truck stop.

[CRS001]

Thanks for the replies and ideas. Some of this I have thought about but figured I would ask. Thanks again.

[Dutch_12078]

I carry a couple of Aquatainers in our coach as well, but I have our onboard pump plumbed so that just flipping a valve allows it to be used to suction fill the fresh tank.

[DavidP]

SoundGuy wrote:

DavidP wrote:
I use two 7 gallon aquatainers and a 12 volt pump with filter on output side to fill the tank. All parks are different but at some point you will need to refill. Lots of info on here with different methods to do that. Most SP's have a water source(s)to fill tanks. It is more about what works for you to gather it.

This. 😉 I've always carried four 7 gal Aquatainers in the back of my Avalanche for collecting fresh water from wherever the campground supply may be, recently replaced the Av with another Silverado so I just bought a fifth 'Tainer which means I can now collect 35 gals each time.



Back at the camper I too use a pump to transfer the water into the trailer's FW holding tank.

I too use a battery box for my pump. Very similar set-up.

[SoundGuy]

DavidP wrote:
I use two 7 gallon aquatainers and a 12 volt pump with filter on output side to fill the tank. All parks are different but at some point you will need to refill. Lots of info on here with different methods to do that. Most SP's have a water source(s)to fill tanks. It is more about what works for you to gather it.

This. 😉 I've always carried four 7 gal Aquatainers in the back of my Avalanche for collecting fresh water from wherever the campground supply may be, recently replaced the Av with another Silverado so I just bought a fifth 'Tainer which means I can now collect 35 gals each time.



Back at the camper I too use a pump to transfer the water into the trailer's FW holding tank.

[Lwiddis]

"We don't want to haul water from home or back enough bottle water for washing etc."

Why? If you find a great dry spot you won't be able to stop for a day or two while saving little on gasoline etc. What if the campground shuts off its water for one reason or another? You are sunk...until you find some water. Camping in the West at great BLM, USFS, USF&W spots doesn't always come with fresh water.