*The Best Water Storage?*

[thk127]

I was wondering how most people store their water at Burning Man. I know there are tons of ways to store water, but on the Playa what’s the most efficient way?

[ygmir]

I use 30 gal. opaque, HDPE barrels, and, the HDPE water tanks in my trailer.

[AntiM]

We use a combination of 15 gal., 5 gal, 2.5 suitcases and a few gallon jugs. That way if one springs a leak or gets contaminated, you have back up. The gallon jugs are great for hauling greywater back out if needed.

We tried the 55 gal drum. What a pain in the ass for a smaller camp.

[CapSmashy]

We're gonna run with the 7 gallon aquatainers this year,



In price shopping them, we found that the evil empire of Wal Mart is selling them in the $8 range vs $16 to $20 everywhere else for them.

I built out the bed deck in the bus with these specifically in mind and we can ride up to 21 of them in their own little hidden space centered over the rear axle to carry the weight.

[mudpuppy000]

I don't need much, so I have a mix of stuff. Frozen plastic water bottles are nice instead of ice the first few days. You don't have to deal with any grey water. I'll also bring a couple of larger containers (gerry cans) for washing or refilling my camelbak.

[kman]

I bring standard 5 gallon water bottles (like the Sparkletts bottles on the water cooler at work). A small hand pump pulls the water up and out. The empties can be used for gray water, or left ... empty. Re-use them the following year, or years, or recycle them back to your water supplier.

I bring the empties with me for the long drive from LA (ensuring I have room!), and fill them at the water shop closest to the playa, to minimize fuel consumption. Just careful of weight distribution.

Note that the 5 gal bottles with the handles (see below) are a lot easier to move around, BUT that handle is a failure point. I've seen them break off, and it sucks to lose that much water at once. I tend to have a couple with handles, that get moved around more often, and a base of plain bottles that I can rely on.

[phil]

I'd say there's no one efficient way for one camp. Water weighs about 8.5 lbs per gallon, so I don't use big containers - they're too heavy for us to manipulate. But big is relative.

Try different stuff based on the comments here and see what works for you. But remember how much weight you're putting in your vehicle with each gallon.

[theCryptofishist]

Suitcases.

[Bling]

I'm not getting the point of any containers larger than 1 gallon. The 1 gallons are free (with the water), lightweight, and 4 of them fit into a plastic milk crate. If one breaks or leaks, no biggie. And they are BPH-free.

[Eric]

I'm not getting the point of any containers larger than 1 gallon.

If you camp alone & don't share water, that may work for you. But figure in a larger camp environment, those 1 gallon jugs add up to a lot of space (2-3 gallons per person, per day over 5-7 days......)

Our RV has found that, for us, the 2.5 gallon suitcases work really well. We keep the shower & bathroom open until Reno, then load those up with the suitcases. With 5 people in the RV we go through 3-4 a day. That would be 70+/- one gallon jugs, or 28+/- suitcases.

For actual space they take up they're about the same. For the ease in transporting, stocking & moving around..? Suitcases win in a landslide (again, for us. YMMV)

For larger camps & communal kitchens the 1 gallon jugs and suitcases become even more of an issue. For them it's easier to deal with the barrels.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution.

[Fire_Moose]

I keep my water in shot glasses

[Bling]

If you camp alone & don't share water, that may work for you. But figure in a larger camp environment, those 1 gallon jugs add up to a lot of space (2-3 gallons per person, per day over 5-7 days......)

Ahhh. Thanks! We're camping with a group, but everyone's on their own for food & water, so I was thinking small.

[Eric]

If you camp alone & don't share water, that may work for you. But figure in a larger camp environment, those 1 gallon jugs add up to a lot of space (2-3 gallons per person, per day over 5-7 days......)

Ahhh. Thanks! We're camping with a group, but everyone's on their own for food & water, so I was thinking small. :D

Even for just yourself the suitcases might be easier to deal with.

Figure it this way:
Each day: 2-3 gallons per person
5 days= 10-15 gallons per person total (adjust for the days you're attending)

Thats around 15 individual gallon jugs or just 6 suitcases at 2.5 gallons.

[Bling]

Yeah, but we'd have to buy the suitcases, so even at $10 each, there's another $60, plus they'd weigh 20 lbs. apiece, which is a pain in the ass for things like filling the solar shower bag or the camelbaks. And then we'd have to store them when we're not using them. Any container that holds water tends to build up biofilm (slime) that's hard to clean...

Nah, we're good.

[kman]

This was not the answer we chose on our second year.

[Bling]

Does it really take up that much less space to use larger containers, though? How many people was that for? We're planning on 48 gallons (12 crates of 4 jugs) for 3 of us.

[kman]

Eric, when you say "2.5 gal suitcase" do you mean the "2.5 gal rectangular jugs with handles" that you get at the local grocery store, like these?



Or are you referring to some aftermarket 2.5 gal water container that you buy separately and fill yourself?

[Kinetik V]

7 gallon containers and the suitcases like Kman posted is what I've had the best of luck with. The large blue cube Reliance water containers have given me trouble and are a pain to store so I got rid of those. The container above is pretty tough and I've used them as tie down points to secure a tent in a pinch thanks to the dual handles.

That being said I wish I could find a larger bulk water solution that was easier to handle...a 55 gallon drum is a royal PITA.

[AntiM]

Eric, when you say "2.5 gal suitcase" do you mean the "2.5 gal rectangular jugs with handles" that you get at the local grocery store, like these?



Or are you referring to some aftermarket 2.5 gal water container that you buy separately and fill yourself?

Two of these fit in a milk crate. In a pinch, the empties cut in half make a good foot bath.

[theCryptofishist]

yes, kman, that is a picture of a suitcase.

[kman]

Interesting, never heard them referred to that way before.

... and knowing is half the battle!

[thk127]

So the single Gallon idea is a bad one. Looks like the 2.5 "suitcase" is the best idea so far, it probably stacks better than the single gallons. Does anyone have a pix to compare to KMAN'S? Cuz that's what i was thinking the inside of my car might look like... LOL.

[Bling]

We're still going with single gallons for our small group. It's only a bad idea if you try to do it for a large group.

[EspressoDude]

Eric, when you say "2.5 gal suitcase" do you mean the "2.5 gal rectangular jugs with handles" that you get at the local grocery store, like these?



Or are you referring to some aftermarket 2.5 gal water container that you buy separately and fill yourself?

these are good because they can be stored with the spout UP, then placed as shown when you want water. this prevents wastage from leaving the spigot dripping. also do not spike them to get faster flow. they can be used for grey water( used dishwater, foot bath water, etc.) removal. also today's rinse water is tomorrow's wash water

[Bling]

So can 1 gallons.

[oneeyeddick]

I prefer to use the 250 gallon tote for most of my watering needs.
Only one jug and I never seem to run out of water.

[Bling]

So, it weighs a TON? Where do you keep it?

[oneeyeddick]

It all stays in the jug.

[Gage]

We froze 15 1-gallon water jugs and kept them in our dry ice cooler at the vent. Then each day we would pull 2 jugs out, put then in our smaller frig-temp cooler to keep things cool, then set them out to thaw more for drinking. Freezer-support to Frig-support to drinkable water.

Just be careful when you freeze them in your freezer. The jugs expand, and once they froze, we had a hard time getting them out! Ahahahaha!! It was like watching Rasputia slide down that water slide... We had to wedge them out, but when we did, they came SHOOTING out!

[Jackass]

7 gallon containers and the suitcases like Kman posted is what I've had the best of luck with. The large blue cube Reliance water containers have given me trouble and are a pain to store so I got rid of those. The container above is pretty tough and I've used them as tie down points to secure a tent in a pinch thanks to the dual handles.

That being said I wish I could find a larger bulk water solution that was easier to handle...a 55 gallon drum is a royal PITA.

I've found 15 gal. food grade plastic barrels(used) in my area for $10, two bungs on one end so you can put a spigot on it.. still 120lbs. when full. Probably find some on the web, I'm using mine for wash and shower, and saving the good stuff for consumption