Leave no trace water practices

Water makes a place feel alive. It also carries whatever we put into it for miles downstream. Leave no trace water practices are about keeping soaps, food waste, fuel, and bacteria out of creeks, lakes, and springs while still meeting daily needs. With a little planning, you can cook, clean, and stay fresh without leaving a mark on the watershed.

Water moves quickly across camp. Rain can push crumbs and suds into nearby channels. Wind lifts light trash into gullies that feed streams. That is why distance is your first tool. Keep all washing, bathing, and waste at least 200 feet from the edge of any water. Two hundred feet is about 70 adult paces. That buffer lets soil filter tiny particles before they ever reach a channel.

Soaps are not harmless in the wild. Even biodegradable soap needs soil contact and time to break down. In water it persists and can harm insects and fish. Use very small amounts of soap only when necessary, and never wash directly in a lake or creek. A damp cloth, a quick rinse with plain water, or a tiny sponge bath can replace a full shower most days.

Food scraps create a different problem. They alter animal behavior, pull wildlife into camp, and rot in slow moving water. Strain every pot of dishwater through a fine mesh or cloth, pack out the solids, then scatter the liquid in a wide area on dry ground at least 200 feet from water. Dispersal spreads the load so soil microbes can do their work without overload.

Bold weather matters. In desert canyons a small trickle can be a town’s drinking source downstream. In alpine zones shallow soils and fragile plants cannot handle concentrated greywater. When the environment is delicate, use an even lighter touch. That might mean skipping soap, packing out all dishwater in a sealed container, or using pre moistened cloths you bag and carry to a proper trash.

The water footprint outdoors

Think of water as a traveler. Anything dissolved or suspended in it will travel too. Sunscreen, bug spray, and even fine toothpaste foam can push nutrient loads that change a stream’s chemistry. Choose products without microbeads, apply lotions far from the waterline, and spit toothpaste into a cat hole or into a wide broadcast on soil, not into a creek.

• Keep all washing 200 feet from water
• Use minimal soap and never in streams
• Strain dishwater and pack out solids
• Scatter greywater broadly on soil
• Store fuels and oils away from drainage

Smart water sourcing and storage

Fill containers at approved sources. A clear stream can still carry pathogens. Treat all natural water with a filter, boil, or approved chemical treatment. Cap containers tightly, and keep lids off the ground to prevent contamination. If you draw water from a hand pump or spigot in a campground, avoid letting hose ends sit in dirt where bacteria collect.

Washing, dishes, and camp showers without pollution

Kitchen cleanup sets the tone. Eat everything you cook, then wipe plates with a small piece of bread or a reusable cloth before washing. Heat a small basin of water, add only a drop or two of soap, and scrub with a dedicated sponge. Strain the water. Pack out the bits. Scatter the liquid across a wide area on absorbent ground like duff or gravel far from water.

Showers in wild places call for restraint. Wash body and hair with plain water when you can. If you must use soap, pick a spot on bare soil or durable surface well away from water. A solar bag or pressurized portable sprayer lets you control flow so you use less water and reduce runoff. When temperatures are low, choose a quick wipe down to keep sweat salts in check without creating puddles.

Laundry is best done in town. If you need to wash a single item, use a small bag or basin and pack out the water in a sealed container for disposal at a restroom or dump station. Never rinse clothing in a stream. Fabric sheds microfibers that become microplastics in aquatic food webs.

Camp kitchens and dishwater protocol

• Scrape and wipe dishes before washing
• Use one small basin and very little soap
• Strain all greywater with a fine mesh
• Pack out solids with your trash
• Broadcast the liquid well away from water

Human waste, greywater, and vehicle systems

Human waste requires careful handling to protect water and public health. In many places you must pack it out using a bag system approved for landfills. Where cat holes are allowed, dig a hole six to eight inches deep and at least 200 feet from water, trails, and camp. Cover the hole completely and disguise the site. Urinate on durable surfaces away from water and away from camp to reduce salt attracted wildlife.

Toilet paper should be packed out in a sealable bag. Wet wipes should also be packed out. Never bury wipes. In cold or high elevation zones, decomposition is slow, so packing out waste is often the only ethical choice. Check local rules before you go. If you use a portable toilet, empty it at a designated dump station, not in vault toilets unless clearly allowed.

Vehicles and gear can threaten water when spills or wash water run downhill. Never wash a vehicle in a creek or on riverbanks. Park for maintenance on flat, durable surfaces where drips can be contained. Carry a spill kit with absorbent pads. Refuel away from shorelines. When boats or boards are part of your trip, drain, clean, and dry them to prevent moving invasive species between watersheds.

Greywater from rigs and camp sinks

If your setup includes a sink, collect greywater in a container and dispose of it at a dump station or a restroom with permission. Some public lands require all greywater to be packed out. A quick connect sprayer at the rear of a rig can rinse mud from gear over gravel, not near ditches. Always verify local guidance, since rules vary by park and season.

Build choices that protect water

Thoughtful equipment can make leave no trace water practices easier to follow. Closed water storage, metered faucets, high efficiency fixtures, heat safe basins, and true greywater containment all reduce risk. Clear labeling, simple hose routing, and a dedicated spot for spill response gear keep good habits automatic when you are tired or packing up in the dark.

Bold choices where it counts

• Choose durable camp surfaces for washing
• Keep soap out of streams and lakes
• Plan waste disposal before you depart

Turn principles into build choices with OZK

When you want these best practices built into your rig, we can help. OZK Customs integrates sealed water storage, food scrap management, filtered fill ports, greywater tanks with proper vents, and exterior spray ports placed where runoff can be controlled. We also plan for dump station access and label everything so responsible habits are effortless on the road. Explore recreational vans for inspiration, see our custom build vans process, or browse mainstream vans platforms that finance.

Want a water wise build that protects creeks and lakes without sacrificing comfort? Tell us how you travel and we will design the right tank sizes, filters, fixtures, and disposal plan. Our team makes responsible water management simple, durable, and easy to use from day one.

Ready to plan your rig

• Start with recreational vans
• Review our custom build vans
• Consider mainstream vans that finance

What we do

OZK Customs designs and builds complete adventure vans and overland upfits with practical water and power systems, storage that actually fits your life, and handoff support at our Fayetteville Arkansas headquarters. We do not rent vehicles. We do not provide DIY build assistance. We deliver finished rigs and partial upfits that help you travel clean, safe, and confident.

Form invite

Schedule a consult and let us map your water system around your routes, seasons, and favorite camps. We will recommend a responsible, easy to operate setup that keeps waterways clear and your travels stress free.