Water

Water sources.

You can get water from almost anywhere. You can get water from garden taps, washroom taps, shops, caravan parks, even mountain streams. I would strongly recommend against obtaining water from wash rooms or toilets though. As people go to the toilet, they may spread germs to wash room taps.

Some of the best sources of water are chilled and filtered water taps. These can be found all over the places. In shops, libraries, businesses and more.

Water storage.

Water is best stored in plastic containers. There is no special size or type of container that is more suitable I do recommend though that you store the water in a dark location. Light can cause the growth of algae and slime in water storage tanks. I also suggests that you wash the storage containers out periodically using baking soda. Baking soda is a base substance, so it is mildly caustic. However if you rinse the container out completely afterwards any remaining baking soda will be so diluted that it will not cause any harm. Alternatively you can use vinegar for cleaning out water containers. It may have a sharp tangy taste left over though. Water tanks can also be washed out using mouth wash. None of these substances are poisonous so are safe to use.

You can wash out water tanks with detergent but you will need to really rinse it out thougrally The use of a bottle brush may be required to wash the containers.

I recommend against using glass containers for water storage. They weigh more than plastic. They break a lot easier and leave sharp and dangerous remains. They are also a lot more prone to condensation.

A cheap bit of civilisation. Water on tap.

So you're living in your car, van, ute, pickup, whatever and you've got some water in a storage container. That's not really civilisation is it? Pouring water from a bottle in to your cup is no fun. So, how about water on tap for less than $40? Okay, it isn't quite water on tap, but it is the next best thing. You can buy a hand operated pump from many caravan parts dealerships, boating supplies stores or online for $30. You can attach a bit of hose to the bottom. If you dip the hose in to a large storage tank like shown in the picture below you have a working water system. To make it look neater you can stick the pump into a bracket or drill a hole in a bench and attach it using a washer. It will be a simple system, but it allows your water to be separated from the storage container, which minimises the chances of infecting the water. It is also a cheap way to put a little civilisation in to your vehicle.