Water is Your Most Critical System
Running out of power is inconvenient. Running out of water in the Australian outback is dangerous. Get your water system right before you worry about anything else.
Tank Sizing
A single person uses approximately 8–12 litres per day for drinking, cooking, and basic hygiene. A couple uses 15–20 litres per day. For outback travel, plan for 5–7 days of self-sufficiency:
- Solo, coastal travel: 40–60 litres (refill at towns regularly)
- Solo, outback capable: 80–100 litres
- Couple, coastal: 60–80 litres
- Couple, outback: 100–160 litres (split across two tanks for redundancy)
Tank Material
Food-grade polyethylene tanks (white or translucent) are the standard. The translucent ones let you see water level without a sensor — practically useful. Ensure any tank you buy is marked "food safe" or "potable water".
Jerry cans as supplementary tanks are excellent for outback runs — cheap, removable, and you can fill them from remote bore water supplies more easily than built-in tanks.
The Pump: Shurflo Revolution is the Default
The Shurflo 2088 is the most installed 12V water pump in Australian van builds. 3.5 GPM, automatic demand switch (only runs when you open a tap), 7.5A draw, and genuinely quiet operation. Install with an inline strainer filter upstream of the pump to extend its life significantly.
Price: A$80–110
Tip: Add a 0.5L accumulator tank downstream of the pump to eliminate pressure pulsing and extend pump life
Water Filtration
For general Australian town water, a basic inline carbon filter (A$20–40, replaceable every 6–12 months) removes taste and odour. For remote bore water or creek water, a Sawyer Squeeze or Katadyn filter provides bacterial and protozoan protection. In the NT and northern WA, never drink bore water without filtering — high mineral content and potential contamination.
Grey Water
This is where most van builds fall short. You need either a grey water tank (minimum 10–15L) that you empty at dump points, or a grey water dispersion system that passes through a filter and disperses slowly — legal in many areas. Never dump grey water directly on the ground at campgrounds or in national parks.
A cheap solution: a 15L bucket under the sink that you empty at dump stations. Inelegant but functional and easy to implement mid-build.
Hot Water
Options in order of complexity:
- Camp shower bag: A$15–30, leave in sun for 30 minutes, basic but works
- Joolca HOTTAP: Instant gas hot water heater, A$280–350, needs LPG, excellent for outdoor showers
- 12V inline heater: A$150–300, slow, high power draw, not recommended
- Calorifier (diesel heater integration): A$200–400 in parts, heats water using your diesel heater's coolant — the most efficient option for builds with a Webasto/Espar