However, most water bottles only hold about 20 ounces of water. That's usually okay for a few hours in the car, but sometimes it's not. Particularly in the summer, when it's hotter and drier and everyone is thirstier.
Given the distances we drive and the unpopulated areas we're driving through, water is absolutely essential. It's not even just a matter of comfort. If our vehicle broke down somewhere and we were stranded for a day or so, having water is really more a matter of survival.
In addition to the humans in the car, there is also the car itself to consider. If a car is overheating, you need water for the radiator to get anywhere so it can be fixed. This goes for our own vehicle, of course, but also for the many people we have stopped to help who are stranded because their own vehicles are overheating.
Having extra water on hand has allowed us to help quite a few people over the years.
This is why we never leave our property without at least a gallon of extra water. For longer trips, we have two or three. This allows us to re-fill the smaller water bottles if necessary, and to have some in case of emergencies.
You can start with buying a gallon jug of water that you then refill. Having a screw-top is important, so you don't end up with water spilled all over. We usually use a washed-out maple syrup jug.
The emergency jug, ready and waiting in the van.
In addition to drinking and car salvage, this jug of water has been used to rinse sticky hands, slosh vomit off the floor of the van (kids are fun!), rescue Cubby when he got in the car after a very hot football practice and couldn't wait ten more minutes to get more water . . . you get the idea.
It's just a good idea to have a lot of water in the car. If you always have a jug in your trunk or wherever, and are diligent about re-filling it as it's used (or if it's been sitting for a long time, just to keep it fresh), I predict you'll find uses for it you never even considered.
Also, if you're planning a roadtrip anywhere in the west, it's not even just a good idea to have extra water, it's a necessity. You need it, no question.
Water=peace of mind. And who doesn't need more of that?
An easy enough way to have peace of mind.
ReplyDeleteDo you get your water from a well, or what? Do they have “public water” out there? What about the school and nearby businesses? Have you ever run short or had issues?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: The villages have public water. So do we, of a sort. Post all about that here: https://going-country.blogspot.com/2021/07/remote-living-part-11-utilities-and.html
ReplyDeleteWe use our maple syrup jugs for water, too. We have some to take water our for our chickens. We have a couple to take good drinking water down to our church (which doesn't have good water for drinking). Recently when the teenagers had a waffle dinner/hangout time at church, I sent down an actual jug of maple syrup, but I had to put a tape label on it that said, "This is NOT water. It is actually syrup."
ReplyDeleteJody: Our syrup/water jug is locally famous. All the other kids in our community know we always have it. I think they like that it looks like an old-school whiskey jug. :-)
ReplyDeleteAlways smart to be prepared. I don't consider that a lot of water though, especially during hotter weather. I have at least 2 full gallons in the truck right now, a smaller bottle in the door to rinse my hands and my 32oz sports bottle of water. When someone else was with me constantly I had even more. I estimate 3/4-1 gallon per person and 2 gallons back-up for the truck/washing. I don't change out the latter too often. I also have a small stash of food. I've gotten stuck one too many times in my life including last year. It was only 12-13 hours thankfully and my cell phone was connecting. I was so thankful for the water as it was the high 90's. I hadn't eaten in about a day already due to emergencies, so was able to snack while I waited.
ReplyDeleteFWIW, the house has way more water stashed too.