WATER: VITAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Here are some important drinking water safety points to keep in mind, and an overview of what is available in the Reno area.
The bottom line: 1.5 gallons of water per day per person.
Now a few words of caution:First, on using used containers: even if the container is rated as "food grade" and you thoroughly clean and disinfect it, there is still a high probability that there will remain a taste from the previous contents. Keep in mind that if your water tastes crappy, you will be less likely to drink it and will risk dehydration (which can lead to serious injury, even death). It is highly recommended that if you do bring water in used containers that you use that as utility water for cleaning and bathing, running mister systems, and such, and keep your drinking (and cooking) water only in new containers.
Second, never use garbage bags to store drinking water. The lining of garbage bags is usually impregnated with chemicals that retard spoilage and suppress odors, and are not safe for human consumption.
Third, keep your water bottles out of direct sunlight and away from strong odors. Sunlight is energetic enough to cause chemical reactions in the bottle's plastic, imparting unpleasant odors and tastes to the water. Also, if there is anything in the water, like bacteria or algae, the sunlight will foster growth, which could cause illness as well as bad taste. Keep in mind that the "milk jug" style plastic (polyethylene) breaths, allowing outside air to reach your water. Do not store your bottles near any chemicals or other things with strong odors -- don't store in a box next to a bag of onions unless you like onion flavored water!
And lastly, store your empty bottles with the caps loose or off. The desert heat can make the air in the bottle expand and alter the bottle's shape (round bottom or ruined handles) and can even split the seams.
Where to get water in Reno and Sparks?
Reno and Sparks lay in a basin called the Truckee Meadows, an area of former wetlands through which flows the Truckee River. There are currently six establishments in the Truckee Meadows devoted exclusively to water and water products, both in Reno: Simply Water is in the south-central part of town, near the airport off of US-395, Miller Water in north Reno near US-395 and Pyramid Highway, the Spring Water Depot, just south of downtown, Fresca Water in Sparks, Red Rock Water near the Grand Sierra, and Sparklett's Water in east Reno. Additionally, the Save Mart on Keystone Avenue in West Reno will also have a large-scale Aquafill water-dispensing operation during Burning Man, and a variety of your other water needs can be met there onsite.
Save Mart at Exit 12 on Keystone Avenue may be your best option if you are driving through Reno on I-80. In 2009 Save Mart is again coordinating with Aqua Fill Water 2 Ice to now meet this convenience for you. Water purified through reverse osmosis ("r/o") at 35 cents a gallon will be housed in a mobile water station in the parking lot, with various taps and hoses to fill any-sized container, including your RV. Aqua Fill vending machines will also be available inside the store for smaller containers. Save Mart will also have 15 and 55-gallon water barrels available, pumps and spigots, and of course plenty of bulk water in 2.5 and 5 gallon sizes. If you’re travelling east on I-80, simply turn right at the Keystone exit, and then right again immediately at the first stoplight.
Simply Water has moved and is now near the Reno-Tahoe International Airport off US-395. Purified by reverse osmosis ("r/o"), Simply Water’s drinking water runs about 44 parts per million (ppm) total dissolved solids (tds) and and their steam distilled water is 0. Simply Water sells their water for 40 cents per gallon, and is able to fill any sized container – even your RV! Simply Water also stocks a wide variety of bottles and jugs in sizes from 1/2 liter to 5 gallon. Simply Water is at 1070 Gentry Way, right next to US-395 and the airport, in the south-central part of Reno. From US-395, take the Moana Lane exit. If travelling northbound, turn right on Moana. At the next stop-light, turn left on Neil Road. Neil Road will soon then end at Gentry Way, turn left and Simply Water will be immediately on your left. Or if you flown in and are exiting from the Airport, turn left on Terminal Way, and down about 3/4 mile, past the rental car agencies, past the airport, Terminal Way will run right into Gentry Way and Simply Water. Their Summer hours are 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday, and 11:00 am to 5:00 Sunday. However, they will be staying open until at least 9 pm or later for Burning Man – call ahead! For maps and also to see what else may be of interest in the area, please check out the Moana or Plumb shopping hubs in the Reno Pages.
Spring Water Depot is just south of Downtown Reno, and gets is water supplies from Sparkletts Water. If you bring your own containers you can fill them up at their coin operated vending machines at 40 cents per gallon. You can also get distilled water from these machines. These machines are outside and operating 24 hours, perfect for folks who arrive after business hours. You will not be able to purchase any containers at this location though. To get there from Downtown Reno: from I-80 take Sierra Street south to California Street, turn left and then a block down where California Street ends into Virginia Street, turn right. Down about 1/2 mile, turn left on Taylor and Spring Water will be on the corner at Center. For maps, or if you are looking for something else in the area, please check out both the Downtown shopping hub of the Preparation – Reno Pages.
Miller Water is in north Reno, near both US-395 and the Pyramid Highway, where you’ll be happy to find steam-distilled water, bulk water, and demineralized ice that lasts up to 5 times longer than regular ice! You can also find a variety of water containers, including 5 gallon polycarbonate water containers and 30 to 300 gallon emergency water bags, as well as PureWater distillation systems, pumps, and a good ol’ hose with all the tap water you want to fill your RV. Open 9am until 7pm Sunday thru Friday, closed on Saturdays. Call ahead to inquire about longer hours of operation. Outside vending machines are available 24/7 for your convenience. To get there from US-395, take the Northtowne/North McCarran exit, and travel east about 1/2 mile – it will be on your right. From the Pyramid Highway, turn left (west) on McCarran, and it will be on your left about 1/2 mile. Please check out the Northtowne and Pyramid hubs in the Reno Pages for more on how to get there and for what’s in the area.
Sparkletts Water in east Reno, near I-80 and the East McCarran exit, provides water from a variety of distillation systems in 3 and 5 gallon containers. Most notable is the fact that you can return these containers to the store after the event for a refund! Reusing it baby! Open Mon-Fri from 6am to 8pm and Sat. 8am to 5pm, you can get there via the East McCarran exit off I-80. If you are travelling west through Reno, turn right on East McCarran, and down about 2 miles on your right will be Sparklett’s Water at Capital Boulevard. For more details on how to get there and for what else is in the area, please check out the East McCarran shopping hub in the Reno Pages.
Fresca Waterhouse in Sparks provides water purified by reverse osmosis normally at 35 cents per gallon, but for the week of Burning Man will be providing water at 25 cents a gallon. You can fill up your RV too. Bottle sizes up to 5 gallons, spigots and pumps also available. Open 9am - 9pm everyday during the event. Two vending machines available 24 hours. To get there from I-80, take the Rock Blvd exit, and head north about 1 mile. To get there from US-395, take the Oddie Blvd exit, head east about 1 mile, and turn right on Rock Blvd - and just around the corner. Check out the Oddie shopping hub for what else is in the area.
Red Rock Spring Water on the border of Reno and Sparks provides naturally-filtered spring water drawn from the Red Rock Spring 30 miles north of Reno. Which means it is higher-quality, tastier, and perhaps healthier water than what you may find elsewhere. Normally, Red Rock Spring Water sells 3 and 5 gallon containers, but if you have 5 gallon containers that you wish to fill, it can be filled with spring water at $1 per gallon. And, 3 and 5-gallon containers you purchase can also be returned for a deposit-refund. Spigots and pumps are also available, and you can fill up your RV tanks with tap water. Open 8am-6pm Monday-Friday, extended or weekend hours by phone appointment. To get there, take the Red Rock Exit off I-80, head south for ½ mile, and then turn left on Glendale. Down about ½ mile, turn left again on International Avenue, and Red Rock will be on Icehouse Avenue. Check out the Grand Sierra Resort shopping hub in the Reno Pages for what else is in the area.
For Water Containers larger than 5 gallons, such as barrels, you can find them at some of the Save Mart supermarkets, Twin City Surplus, and at the Sportsman’s Warehouse.
Twin City Surplus, a.k.a. "The Big Red Barn" is midway between Reno and Sparks at 1675 E. 4th Street, not far from the Grand Sierra Resort. From I-80 take the east 4th Street exit (the first exit east of the junction of I-80 and US 395) and turn west on 4th Street. Twin City will be down about 3/4 mile on your right. They try to keep 20, 30 and 55 gallon sizes, both new and used "food grade" containers, in stock for Burning Man. As they are a surplus store, their prices and stock on hand changes constantly. By the way, they also have just about every kind of camping and adventure gear and military surplus you can imagine - tents, tarps and parachutes are a specialty.
Several of the Save Marts in Reno-Sparks provide 15 and 55 gallon water barrels, spigots and pumps, as well as bulk water in 2.5 and 5 gallon sizes. As noted above, the Save Mart on Keystone Avenue will also have a large scale Aqua Fill water operation onsite for filling any capacity. However, all the Save Marts also have Aqua Fill vending machines for filling smaller containers. Check out the Save Marts in the Keystone, Plumb, East McCarran, and Pyramid Highway hubs for exact location and hours in the Reno Pages.
Sportsman’s Warehouse near US-395 in southwest Reno also carries water barrels in 15, 30, and 55 gallon sizes, as well as water pumps. To get there going north on US-395, take the Moana exit, and turn left. Sportsman’s will be on your left.
Finally, there is also a great alternative to plastic bottled water called BIOTA. It comes in a corn-based bottle that has all the characteristics of plastic but will biodegrade in 80 days without any harmful effects to the environment. Although studies on the leaching properties of toxics from plastics (i.e. PET) may be inconclusive at this time, we know that BIOTA's corn-based bottle is 100% safe, especially when used/reused under extreme conditions. BIOTA is available in 12oz., 1/2 liter, and full liter sizes at many natural and health food stores throughout California and Nevada including: Rainbow Grocery, Whole Foods, Raley's, New Leaf Community Markets and Better Nutrition stores. For a complete listing of locations, visit the BIOTA website. And for further shopping options in Reno-Sparks, visit our Reno pages.
Contact:
Water Stores:
Simply Water
1070 Gentry Way - 775-337-8111 - map
Miller Water
2990 Sullivan Lane, Ste 108 - 775-358-1900 - map
Spring Water Depot
901 S. Center Street – 775-323-5689 - map
Sparkletts Water
1312 Capital Boulevard, Ste 104 – 800-492-8377 - map
Save Mart
525 Keystone Ave - 775-786-2150 - map
Fresca Waterhouse
1196 Rock Blvd - 775- 358 - 9893 - map
Red Rock Spring Water
1145 Icehouse Ave - 775-331-5908 - map
Water Containers:
Save Mart
525 Keystone Ave - 775-786-2150 - map
Save Mart
195 W Plumb Lane – 775-786-0138 - map
Save Mart
565 E Prater Way - 775-359-9060 - map
Save Mart
9750 Pyramid Lake Hwy - 775-425-2700 - map
Twin City Surplus
1675 E 4th St - 775-323-5630 - map
Sportsman's Warehouse
3306 Kietzke Ln - 775-828-1500 - map
