One of the biggest resources required when travelling on the road is access to clean water. Many seasoned travellers have come up with a range of tips and strategies to conserve water. In this article we’ll list a few. If you have any other tips and strategies on water conservation please don’t hesitate to contact us. We want to ensure that we provide as much practical info as possible so people can make their own decisions on which strategy or helpful hints suit their travelling lifestyles whilst travelling on the road.
Here are a few for your consideration not listed in any type of priority order:
- Fill a cup/mug of water for the coffee and then only boil this water in order not to waste water whilst boiling the jug.
- Fill a thermos flash or similar with hot water to use for multiple cups of tea or coffee during the day. Will not only save water but also save continually drawing on your power resources at the same time.
- Place a bucket or container in the shower to collect the cold water whilst waitig for the water for a shower to become hot. This water can then be used for hand washing etc.
- Swim every other day or at least have a dip at a lake or beach. Then shower on the alternate days. This might be useful in summer and warmer months, however, in winter you will need to potentiall find other helpful strategies to implement.
- Still on showering, again depending on the climate you’re travelling in, rotate shower days between you and your partner. And do a quick wash down on alternate days you’re not showering.
- Use a combined 2 in 1 bottle of shampoo and conditioner to wash your hair. This again will save water as not using 4 lots of water simply to wash your hair.
- Use baby wipes to have a quick body clean. Saves the use of water.
- Baby wipes, i.e. Huggies Baby Wipes, can also be used to wipe kitchen benches and bathroom basins.
- Have a navy shower when able to do so. Wet thyself down. Turn off shower water. Soap thoroughly. Then rinse thyself off.
- Fill a large spray bottle (the type used to contain poisons) of water and use this to have a body spring clean in between full shower days.
- Install a mist shower head and this will support you to save water whilst showering.
- Have a container to collect water from the lake or beach and use this water to clean feet prior to entering your main living area. This strategy will save your fresh drinking water for drinking rather than hand or feet washing.
- Use paper towels to wipe down the dishes of residue. This helpful hint has a number of side benefits. This will stop food residue from going down your sink downpipe. Saves water. And, the dirty paper towels can then be used to light an outside fire. (If in an area that allows outside fires.)
- Whist on the subject of washing up – place a small bowl in the kitchen sink with hot water and dishwashing liquid to do one major wash up each day. It’s amazing just how much water you can save because you’re not filling up the sink with water. Also by wiping your dishes of food residue with paper towels you can reduce the number of washing ups you do over the course of a day.
- Rather than use water to flush the toilet, have a bottle of water mixed with ecuclyptus oil or lemon myrtle to flush and clean the toilet.
These are some of the ideas, tips and strategies that seasoned travellers use to conserve their water supply. One of the best tips for travelling newbies is to monitor your water usage over the course of a day/week so you can determine how much water you need in between townships or whilst travelling off grid. This will assist you to determine what your water supply requirements are and work to accordingly.
Now we realise that some people will look at some of the above strategies with aghast. However, they are provided because no two people or families travel the same way and/or will have differing needs and requirements.
Water is our most precious resource and whilst travelling on the road it is simply not as simple as turning on a tap like we do at home.
Travel Safe. Be Happy and most of all – Have Fun.
(References: A range of FB comments from various FB pages, Lifestyle Pioneers.)