Either eliminate the supply, or create another source just for them. Then they might leave your water be.

we have to haul our own water ... I bought a 55 gallon blue plastic food grade barrel along with a few dollars of PVC caps & faucet. Have a water hose to gravity feed into our trailer from the bed of the truck. Not that difficult. could also use a RV 12vdc pump to off load.

if you have electricity, you could always put up an electric fence around your tank at varying heights, but they would probably just cut it.

Dang, sorry to hear tlk! Kinda like the idea of a hazard sign. Maybe put a sign in Spanish with its "chemicals"? Could be enough to get somebody to think twice at least. Good luck!

If it weren't a life and death situation I might suggest a few "additives" that could make it interesting for the thieves. And as wrong as it ALL is that your water is being stolen, for those doing the stealing it could very likely be life or death. I'm not saying I'd make it easy, I would likely implement half-measures moving forward so it didn't look I supported the activity, because I don't. But just enough to where if it truly meant life or death for someone they could access the water somehow. There are very few reasons I can think of that would make me deny a person dying of dehydration a drink of water.

Any way you go about it, I'd track expenses and send bills to Abbott each quarter. I know it would be futile, but I would feel better licking that stamp a few times a year.

Do the illegals get into shipping containers? Could the water tank be placed in one?

I understand what you are saying. Here is the problem. A couple of years ago when all this illegal traffic really escalated we would have a couple of them walk up to the fence that goes around our camp and ask for food and water. We would feel sorry for them and give them bottled water and a little food. Unfortuantely the word then gets out (maybe through the coyotes who are guiding them) and next thing you know they were looking for our camp for the handouts.

When we were not in camp we left bottled water on the steps of our mobile homes and trailers. Then in the past 2 years they started breaking into our living quarters. This summer they started draining our large water storage tank.

As far as each member (10 of us) hauling our water in each trip that is not an option for us -

We considered building a locked cover around the spicket at the bottom of the tank and also rigging a lock on the lid. Problem with that is we are afraid they will then just shoot holes into the tank or cut it somehow.

Anyway we will figure it out - thanks for everyone's ideas and thoughts.

Electrify it and shock the ever-lovin' tamales out of 'em.

Uh yeah - works great until I forget and walk up and touch it myself - lol

As long as you don't inadvertently pee on it, you're good.

Buck up and bring your own water. It’s just not that difficult.

Not going to happen - we are too spoiled - been here 13 years - we will get through it

I've hunted S Texas all of my life and I can say this.......sympathy and empathy is all good until it isn't. Give them an inch and they will take a mile, it's just what they do. They are desperate and do not care. You can laminate and post signs asking them to please don't do this or that, look over there we have set out some bottled water and canned food for you - please don't break our stuff. They will do it anyway then drop dueces all over your camp in return for your kindness. There is only one solution to this problem but that's not going to happen anytime soon.

Im with you on the being spoiled. We all work hard at the deer lease and most of it can be enjoyable and rewarding. But when the season comes I want to enjoy the fruits of that labor. I would not want to haul water every trip(unless I had to.) Good luck with your solution.

You may be in a better spot than we are. Last year, we had to rework the pump at our well and when we did it, we dropped it to 520 feet when the water table was at 412. It ain't working again.

When you work out in the heat all day filling several feeders, come in and eat, finish the day with a little whiskey, then head to the camper for a shower before bed and there’s no water, you’ll twice about how easy it could’ve been to bring your own water. Or drive 4+ hours to get to camp, and find out there’s no water. And it’ll be 2 days to get some delivered.
Just sharing some real world experiences.

Thirsty people can become very clever, resourceful and not care about damage. I’ve been pondering this and cannot think of how you could keep someone out using legal methods or very expensive ones.

When our well casing collapsed a few years ago we used 3 plastic 55 gallon drums with lids to haul water in. Pain yes but better than doing without.

It is strange. Back years ago we had wets come through on a regular basis. Some were hired if work was needed. But most were just traveling through on the way up north. I have not seen any now in probably 20 or more years. They must be getting rides after they cross the border now. I remember back when my parents bought the place we had a shack out in the pasture where they would stay if they were doing work for us. They made $2 per day and we provided food for them. They would work as long as they wanted or until we had no more work for them. Then we would take them back to either Del Rio or Eagle Pass and drop them off. Many before they left we would take them into Bandera and they would buy themselves a new shirt, jeans and boots or shoes before going back home. We never had any trouble with any of them. They were good people just needed to have work and some money for themselves and their family. How times have changed.

Haul that water in using barrels as Red Chevy suggested. Maybe get a small pump to move it into the place in which you need it to be. Sadly I think they are going to continue coming in for a long time.

I rigged up an RV water pump powered off of my trailer plug. I can pump 25 gallons into my RV holding tank in just a few minutes.

Good plan and easy to do.

We always slid the barrel into the loader bucket on the tractor and used gravity to fill the travel trailer tank. When we were going every weekend or more we would leave the barrels in the truck or on flatbed all the time.

If you need water and not wanting to do with out, or beg those that did what they needed to do, you'll find a way even if it means hauling it in with gallon milk jugs.

I have the same setup with a transfer pump.

Call Biden, Harris, or mayorky (spelling) and you can be sure they will take care of it!!! N