Water along most of the AZT is sparse. A good strategy is never to pass up a water source. Most water sources are “tanks” intermixed with some springs and some water caches from trail angels.
The trail angels on the AZT provide water, rides, shelter, and even sometimes trail magic, showers, laundry, and food; they do this for at most a donation. Water is the most welcome, and trail magic is the most dreamlike. Trail magic is often some snacks that are not hiker food, cold drinks, and sometimes beers. Trail angels are amazing!
In Arizona, the concept of tanks is often a human-made ditch for livestock and other animals. They are cow ponds. Some tanks are steel structures and are what I consider a tank. Tanks are sometimes dry, and unless a recent Guthook comment says there is water, I never counted on a tank and saw my fair share of dry tanks. Unless there were positive Guthook comments, I would not go off-trail to a tank unless I was down to just a few gulps. If the tank water was accessible to animals, i.e., a pond, I filtered and purified the water.
There were sometimes large puddles of water from snowmelt and rain. I used these water sources if they were not muddy. I would filter and purify. Unless I am desperate, I don’t take water from puddles near a well-traveled road to avoid oil and rubber pollutants. Likewise, I skipped water sources near strip mines due to possible contaminants.
Wildlife tanks are usually concrete and have a collector. The tanks typically have algae and floaters, such as insects, plants, and swimmers. I would prefilter the water so my filter would not clog, filter the water, and then purify the water.
Springs are naturally flowing ground water and are usually collected in a structure, e.g., a bathtub on the AZT. Since the water was flowing, I just filtered the water. Usually, water from springs was cool. Springs and running creeks are my favorite water sources.
The AZT taught me to take advantage of all kinds of water sources and that I could carry less water, e.g., 1.5 liters or less if 10-15 miles away from a known water source. Initially, I was too conservative and would carry 2.7 liters when leaving a water source.
Next: Food and Resuppply