Conserving water while RVing, especially when dry camping or boondocking is an essential skill to learn. There are several ways to conserve water, and over time you’ll learn what works best for you and your family. The goal is to make your fresh water, gray water, and black water tanks last the length of your stay.
Essential Gear You Need for RVing Off the Grid
The size of your RV tanks, the number of people camping, and the length of your stay will determine how much water you need to conserve. Unless you always have access to full hookups (water, sewer, and power), you’ll likely need to conserve water at some point during your RV travels. These tips are also helpful if you are camping in a winterized rig.
Tips for Conserving Water While RVing
Whether you stay at a campground with partial or no hookups or boondock for extended periods, these tips will help you save water while RVing.
Limit Water Usage
Dishes
Doing dishes with limited water can be a tedious task, but it’s worth it to extend the length of your trip. Turn the water off as much as possible while washing and rinsing. Even better, fill a dish tub with only the amount of water needed to wash your dishes. Then, use a spray bottle to rinse the soapy water from the dishes into the sink.
Flushing Toilets and Handwashing
Your black tank requires water to break down waste properly, so don’t eliminate it completely. Avoid filling the bowl with excess water and only use the amount needed. Or, if you plan to boondock often, replace your standard RV toilet with a composting toilet, which doesn’t use water.
Everything You Need to Know About RV Toilets and Black Tanks
Instead of washing your hands with soap and water every time, consider using hand sanitizer to save water when appropriate.
Reuse Water
If you need to be extremely conservative, you can reuse your gray water. Use dirty dishwater or shower water to pour into the toilet when using the bathroom instead of using your fresh water supply.
Purchase Additional Water Jugs or Bladders
Use water jugs for drinking water or to refill your fresh water tank. We keep two 7-gallon jugs in our tow vehicle and refill them when we get supplies.
Invest in a Water Filter
When camping near a lake, stream, or river, get extra water by using a filter. There are simple, gravity-fed camping filters or specific RV filters that can produce several clean gallons of water quickly.
The Best Water Filters for Your RV
Conserving Water While Showering and Alternatives
When dry camping or boondocking, be mindful of your shower routine. Your best bet is to take quick showers. If you have long hair, avoid washing it every day if possible. Much like doing the dishes, it takes some practice to use less water when showering.
Install a Showerhead With a Water Shut-Off Mechanism
These types of showerheads turn the water flow off with the click of a button. If you plan to dry camp or boondock often, replacing your RV showerhead is a simple, effective, and inexpensive way to save water. Essentially, you turn the water off when lathering and back on for a quick rinse.
Take Sponge Baths
If you need to be more extreme with water conservation, you can take a “sponge bath” instead of showering as needed. You can also buy towel-sized wet wipes, which are designed for body-washing on the road.
Use Campground Showers
When dry camping at a campground or camping with partial hookups, use the campground bathhouse facilities. This way you can take a long, hot shower without using your fresh water or needing to fill your gray tank.
Get a Gym Membership
Consider purchasing a membership to a gym chain, like Planet Fitness or Anytime Fitness, with locations around the U.S. to use when on the road or when campground facilities aren’t available. Many full-timers, especially those who travel in vans or Class Bs, utilize this tip. If you’re considering this option, select a gym with locations in the areas you’ll be traveling and account for it in your monthly budget.
