The Ultimate Caravan Water Storage and Sanitation Guide

Caravanning is a great way to explore this vast country of ours, but if you want to avoid any unwelcome interruptions to your explorations, you need to learn about water storage and sanitation before you head off on your first adventure. A plentiful supply of fresh, clean potable water and a thorough understanding of sanitation practices are essential ingredients of successful longer trips in caravans, especially if you are planning to explore some of the more remote regions of Australia. In this guide, we will cover all the water and sanitation essentials for caravan camping in Australia (or anywhere else in the world) so that by the time you have finished reading, you will know exactly what to do. You will also know what not to do: knowledge that could help you avoid unnecessary sanitation and water quality issues when travelling in remote areas of the country. As retailers who specialise in caravan and camping accessories, we can supply much of the equipment you will need to achieve these important aims.

Water Tank Storage and Maintenance for Caravan Camping

If you want to ensure that you always have a supply of clean, potable water when travelling in your caravan, the first thing you need to do is ensure you have enough storage tanks that are clean and in a good state of repair. 

Water Storage Solutions

There are several types of water storage options from which to choose when deciding how you would like to carry your grey water and potable water supplies:

• Built-In Tanks – Some caravans have built-in water storage solutions, including freshwater and greywater storage tanks. If you own a caravan with built-in water tanks, all you need to worry about is where and how often you need to fill them up.
• Tanks on Trolleys – It is possible to purchase tanks on trolleys, which are designed to slide under caravans and be connected to the internal plumbing.
• Portable Tanks – If you don’t have built-in tanks and you are not keen on trolley tanks, another option is completely portable tanks that are designed to be rolled when full. Such tanks are easy to transport from water-filling areas to your caravan when camping at official sites. You may also elect to carry traditional jerry cans if you prefer but this is only a practical water storage solution for shorter trips.

Portable tanks are the least expensive option but for remote caravanning, they may not be practical. If you are planning to head to an area of the bush where no fresh water is available, large onboard water tanks are a necessity as far as most people are concerned. If you decide to install onboard tanks, don’t forget to use food-grade hoses for all your connections.

Cleaning and Maintenance of Water Tanks

Whether you opt for built-in water tanks, trolley-mounted water tanks or completely portable water tanks, you will need to keep them hygienically clean and in good condition. You can best achieve these aims by taking the following steps:

• Inspect Tanks and Fittings Before and After Every Journey – Look for leaks, cracks and any other signs of damage before and after every trip. It is also worth briefly inspecting your tanks every time you refill them.
• Filter the Water When Refilling Tanks – The best way to keep the water quality high throughout each trip that you take is to filter all water when refilling. Also, keep the water tank filler caps and surrounding areas free of dirt and debris, to ensure you do not introduce contaminants accidentally.
• Clean Your Tanks and Hosing Regularly – You should aim to clean your freshwater tanks at least twice a year, more often if you are a frequent camper. Grey water tanks should be cleaned every 2 weeks when travelling and at the end of every trip. You can make tank cleaning fluid using a mixture of baking soda, vinegar and other ingredients or purchase commercial tank cleaners. In either case, regular use will help to prevent a buildup of bacteria and unpleasant odours in your water tanks.

By following these steps carefully, you can make sure the water you carry and consume on future caravan camping trips remains fresh and uncontaminated from the moment you set off to the moment you return.

Sanitation Essentials for Caravan Camping

Having settled on a suitable water storage solution and implemented a sensible tank cleaning and maintenance regimen, the next task on your pre-trip checklist should be reviewing (and amending if necessary) your caravan camping sanitation practices. This review should include waste management, facility maintenance and personal hygiene practices.

Waste Management

All caravan campers should adopt effective waste management practices if they have yet to do so, especially those who often stay at larger communal campsites across Australia, including the following:

• Waste Disposal – Proper waste disposal facilities must be provided at communal camping grounds and every caravan owner should be encouraged to empty their bins daily.
• Recycling – Before disposing of daily waste, it should be sorted into recyclable and non-recyclable materials, and disposed of accordingly.
• Using Washable Cutlery and Crockery – Discouraging campers from using disposable crockery and cutlery will benefit the environment, and therefore humanity, in the long term.
• Create an Area for Hazardous Waste Materials – If you are responsible for organising a site, be sure to create a designated area for the disposal of hazardous materials and objects, such as empty gas cylinders, exhausted batteries and chemical cleaning fluids. By doing so, you can make your campsites safer places for everyone.
• Provide Pet Waste Bags and Bins – If you or other campers enjoy taking pets on extended caravan camping trips, you need to take waste bags for the collection of pet waste. These bags can be disposed of in a designated pet waste area, where proper facilities for the treatment of such waste should be located.
• Install Composting Toilets – These eco-friendly toilets use natural biological processes to break waste down rather than flushing it away, a design that saves water and enriches the soil at the same time. By using them, you can reduce your carbon footprint when caravan camping.

Some of these measures may be unnecessary for smaller, private campsites but they should be considered as essential practices for all communal caravan campsites in Australia.

Maintaining Clean Facilities

In addition to following recommended waste management practices when disposing of personal waste materials, you should make sure that all facilities at your campsites are well maintained and regularly cleaned.

• Showers – Communal showers should be rinsed out by each camper after use and thoroughly cleaned at least once every day. At larger campsites, it may be necessary to clean communal shower rooms twice or even 3 times a day.
• Toilets – Toilets should also be cleaned at least once a day and preferably 3 or 4 times a day at busier campsites. It is essential to keep communal toilet facilities spotlessly clean if you want to avoid unpleasant odours and the spread of unsavoury pathogens.
• Communal Dining and Recreation Areas – Communal picnic and barbeque areas should be kept clear of litter with regular raking and campers encouraged to take their rubbish home with them instead of leaving it outside.

By providing adequate supplies of soap, body wash and shampoo in communal shower rooms, you can encourage all caravan campers staying at your sites to follow good personal hygiene regimens. 

Personal Hygiene Tips

Everyone who stays at a caravan campsite can help to maintain a high standard of cleanliness by following excellent personal hygiene practices:

• Pack at Least Two Outfits – You may enjoy travelling light but will need at least two full outfits so that one can be washed and dried whilst the other is worn.
• Use Hand Sanitiser – Using hand sanitiser after every trip to the bathroom and before every meal helps to reduce the transmission of communicable diseases at campsites.
• Wear Moisture-Wicking Materials – Wearing clothing made from moisture-wicking materials will help to keep you dry and retard the growth of unpleasant bacteria.
• Use Biodegradable Soap – If possible, pack biodegradable soap for your camping trips as this will reduce the impact of your activities on the natural world.

If you are staying at a remote site and will not have access to a water supply, it is important to take as much as you need to at least wash your undergarments whilst at the campsite. Even if you do not have built-in tanks or a portable storage solution, you can take enough bottled water for this purpose.

Ensuring Water and Food Safety

Following official food and water safety guidelines helps to prevent contamination and subsequent health risks. Among the most important of these are the following:

• All Campers should bring water filtration equipment or fresh, bottled water. Either way, they need to ensure they have access to plenty of fresh drinking water at all times.
• Drinking water should be stored in sealed containers, whatever its source, to ensure it is not contaminated.
• If water is drawn from local streams, rivers or lakes, it must be properly filtered and treated before being consumed.
• All food should be stored in sealed, food-grade containers and refrigerated if necessary.
• Raw meat should be stored separately from other ingredients and thoroughly cooked to avoid issues with contamination.

By taking all of the above precautions, you can minimise the chances of food or water contamination leading to upset stomachs or worse at your campsite.

Educating Campers on Sanitation Best Practices

Camper education plays a vital role in maintaining campsite facilities in a sanitary condition. Without the help of every visitor, it will be impossible to maintain acceptable conditions.

• Erect Clear Signs – Many campers are willing to follow sanitation best practices but are unaware of the location of campsite waste disposal areas and other important facilities. Clear signs will eliminate this specific issue.
• Provide Easy-to-Follow Instructions – If you want campers at communal campsites to follow sanitation guidelines, they will need clear instructions.
• Make Yourself Available for Consultation – Whether you are in charge of a small, private campsite or a large communal one, ensure you are always available for consultation.

If you take the time to educate people on sanitation best practices, you may be surprised at just how much information they take on board and how quickly their attitudes change.

Regular Inspections and Cleaning Schedules

The best way to ensure that standards of cleanliness and sanitation do not slip is to conduct regular inspections of key areas. Showers, toilets, communal dining facilities and children's play areas need to be inspected at intervals throughout each day. The busier your campsite, the more often these inspections should take place.

In addition to organising regular inspections, it is important to implement a system of constant evaluation and improvement. Use the results of campsite inspections to identify weaknesses in sanitation routines and practices and rectify them. On large, commercial campsites, such duties will be performed by the housekeeping team. On small, private sites, individual campers should be assigned responsibility for various inspection and evaluation duties.

Conclusion

Caravan camping is a fantastic way to explore Australia and sample life in areas where more conventional accommodation is unavailable. However, you need to familiarise yourself with water and sanitation essentials for caravan camping before embarking on your first adventure. By keeping your water tanks clean and free from defects, you can ensure that you always have access to safe drinking water and that your wastewater is properly stored until it can be disposed of. Familiarity with food storage and preparation essentials will also stand you in good stead when visiting campsites across the country.

You can purchase all the water storage and food storage solutions you need right here at RV Parts Express so don’t forget to check out our range before you leave.