I say Western USA as it is most familiar to us. Service Stations are our source of high quality water most often. Then NFS and BLM work stations in the Forests and Plains.
When we depart home on an Off the Grid Boondocking Adventure, we have no plans other than a general area as a destination. We are prepared. No reservations needed.
Our fresh water into our Trailer's Fresh Water Tank, hot water tank and bleed the air from the entire Fresh Water System is Filtered. Our water processing BEGINS as Filtered Water from our City Water. To remove whatever the City did not.
I prefer HARD Water rather than the home's Soft Water System for drinking. Compromises must be made when Trailer Living is concerned. Many compromises, which would need Separate Threads.
When you wash your... Hair... with hard well water from some Ranch Pump Well... Your hair may stand straight up like a crop of wheat in a field! Yaaa Hoooo Wyoming hair styling, for sure. Pull out the hats and all is back to normal.
Some Wyoming NFS and Ranches have water that is better than Coors Beer, but not carbonated.
Calcium is a problem for your trailer plumbing and faucets. City chlorine added has already killed off microbes within the Water Filtering Process and it does not taste that good, either.
Many travelers' bring Bottled Water to drink. Lots of it. We do, as well. Dehydration can be a big issue when driving long distances. Who wants to be making 'pit stops' at Stations or where there is an immediate need... to stop... now or else.
I get the 44 ounce Soda and Ice, get refills with the same cup for weeks and stay hydrated. Nancy says I am a Camel. I have to agree. Evolution as a Neanderthal has its benefits. She is a Human Bean needing potty stops.
We know all of the better Potty Stops. Maverick Stations are the cleanest. I like to wash my Face... never makes me look any better, but a fresher smile.
Be aware that the thin plastic bottle water bottles may crack and leak water when traveling. They tend to be brittle and split at the creases to make the... plastic stronger. How do I know? Come on... we learned the hard way.
When highway traffic has backed up and you have been sitting for two hours, no idea of what is blocking the Highway... and you sit. People 'may' begin to knock on your window... pleeeeeease can I use... Not my experience, but not out of the question.
This next trip I will have my usual FULL water system in the Airstream. I am not going to be hauling the Two Six Gallon fresh water plastic containers full of water. Water is now available everywhere and if you taste... better than City Water any day of the Year.
Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico National Forest Service water is excellent. Often well water. They monitor the bacteria count. One... they post a notice at some places. Get your filter out.
We carry a Camco Water Filter that is about 13 inches long, blue. I flush water through it to clean it out of carbon particles and when it runs with no air... can begin to use it. I also have an attachment that screws on where I can turn it on and off easily and attach it to the hose for water only.
Why carry 12 gallons of water from home, when I can load it at a Service Station or NFS or BLM? We also carry aluminum canned soda and flavored soda water. I did a Thread about the thin Soda Water cans vibrate along side each other, wearing pin sized holes that make them spray and drain their contents from road vibrations... but that is another story.
What do you do? There are chemicals you can add for River Water, but those days may be coming to an end. Flathead Lake in northwest Montana use to be safe to drink, but that was 50 years ago. Green algae water... maybe just stop in town.
Photos: Nevada water tank, Snake River, Idaho, Wyoming, west of Atlantic City