Innamincka Gathering: Some Questions
Submitted: Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 11:50
ThreadID:
58250
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9
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Gone Bush (WA)
I've been looking at the information about
Innamincka in "Places" on EO. I want to get some clear info about the
water supply there.
We will be going to
Melbourne first and then up thru
Broken Hill to
Innamincka. Our van has two 80 litre water tanks.
1. Should we avoid mixing our van water with
Innamincka water?
2. What is the last place enroute to get good drinking water?
3. As a last resort would putting local water in only one tank be a good idea?
4. Would it be a good idea to bring a water jerry can (plastic) to use local water for washing up etc?
Our last experience with dubious water was at
Thargomindah from the artesion supply. It definitely tasted different but it wasn't undrinkable. Can anyone give me a comparison between
Thargomindah water and
Innamincka water?
Hope I'm not obssessing too much here. I know that most water in the outback will be drinkable if you're really thirsty, but I hope you can see where I'm coming from.
cheers
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 12:38
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 12:38
With two 80 litre water tanks, you should have plenty for your needs while at
Innamincka. (unless you use a lot for showering)
Yes, I would avoid mixing the water.
The water from Coober Creek is "muddy" or "cloudy" but is natural runoff rather than artesian water which definitely has a different taste.
It is suitable for washing and I would drink it if necessary, but probably boil it first.
When I was last up there, we camped at
Cullyamurra Waterhole and I tried flocking the water with alum in a bucket with minimal success.
In the end I just used the water straight from the
Waterhole for a shower and washing up the dishes and used the two 25 litre containers I took with me for cooking, drinking, etc.
Bill.
AnswerID:
307093
Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 12:42
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 12:42
Hi Gone Bush
We carry Potable water in our tanks, only for drinking & cleaning our
Teeth, for cooking and general use if it is sus we always boil it, we
also have an emergency stash of plastic soft drink bottles in crates in
the truck, handy if you are bush walking ect, or need water in a hurry, the water in the tanks will last us about 10 days if we dont use it for showering, the
toilet has its own tank, and we will use the
on site amenities if available.
Cheers
Daza
AnswerID:
307095
Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 15:24
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 15:24
Daza,
If you are referring to The
Innamincka Town Common, there are no ammenities, except for a couple of drop
toilets on the site.
Otherwise a walk, or drive, to "town" where the pub and general store are, will take you to "concrete tank" structures (male & female) where there are
toilets and showers and a pay phone out the front.
Apart from that, I guess you could purchase bottled water from the store. But me, I would prefer Coopers Premium Lager from the Pub. (yum!!!)
Bill.
FollowupID:
572976
Reply By: Member - Stephen L (SA) - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 13:18
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 13:18
Hi Gone Bush
Like others have said above, I would not mix the water. If your last major port of call is
Broken Hill, top up all your supplies there and you should have no problems.
Cheers
Stephen
AnswerID:
307101
Follow Up By: Vince NSW - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 16:38
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 16:38
Be VERY, VERY careful of the water at
Broken Hill. As it is way off the mark at times. We had a coffee at the
visitors centre that was made with local water that was undrinkable.
Good water at
Fort Grey just before Cameron Cr.
There is a(or was last time I was there), a tap just outside the
toilets / showers at
Innamincka.
Vince
FollowupID:
572981
Reply By: Hairy (NT) - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 13:38
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 13:38
Youll be right..
It'll probably give the the $hiits for a couple of days and then you'll be used to it.
LOL
AnswerID:
307107
Reply By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 13:55
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 13:55
160L of
Broken Hill treated water will go a fair way - maybe an extra 20L jerry in the car ? As drinking supplies diminish, you can get 10L drinking water casks at the Trading Post - cost was reasonable as I recall although we didn't need it (
check with them on the Phone maybe ?). River water is cloudy but ok for all washing operations except her ladyship's hair (of course :-o).
AnswerID:
307109
Reply By: Isuzumu - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 16:22
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 16:22
What do they use for drinking water in
Innamincka? like is there a tap at the showers where you can fill a jerry can for drinking?
Cheers Bruce
AnswerID:
307135
Follow Up By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 18:17
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 18:17
In my many visits there I have not seen a drinking
water supply on offer - years back the Trading Post bloke told us they were drinking river water (pull the other one). I suspect they collect rainwater (there is a lot of 'tin' up there) and keep it all for themselves - quite fair IMV - the attitude may be that "if the tourists get stuck, they can buy it at the store or bring plenty".
FollowupID:
573023
Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 18:30
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 18:30
Whilst camping on the common several years ago I was asked by a local not to swim in a specific
waterhole on the creek as it was where the "Town sourced its
water supply from"
So my understanding is they do source water from the creek for residential use.
FollowupID:
573030
Follow Up By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 18:48
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 18:48
True, re sourcing of that river water - I did see the town water pipe dunked into the Queerbiddie
waterhole (just in front of the town) quite a few years back but in recent times it was dunked in about 500m upstream from the causeway - it probably moves, season to season.
FollowupID:
573037
Reply By: Gone Bush (WA) - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 19:26
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 19:26
Thanks everyone.
My question sounds like I'm a novice, but when we used to
camp in a tent, even in a camper trailer, conserving water was easy because it was always dispensed from a plastic jerry can into a mug first and we taught ourselves to conserve.
But in the caravan we've got a tap and a sink just like in the kitchen at
home, and we slip into bad habits.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Gathering.
cheers
AnswerID:
307196
Reply By: Isuzumu - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 19:43
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 19:43
I thought it would be a big problem for them with water, sounds like a bit of boiling of the creek water will be needed and find some space for a couple of containers as
well as the tank in the van.
Cheers Bruce
AnswerID:
307200
Reply By: Member - MUZBRY (VIC) - Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 09:11
Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 09:11
Gday
Looks like
Melbourne is the best place. Come and have a cup of tea and fill the tank at my place.
Wes and i are leaving on the 8.7.08 to go to Innaminka and going two different ways.
Murray
AnswerID:
307291