Russ, I use one lenght of 50 ft 2inch hose which is long enough for most domestic houses. I also carry two lenghts of 25 ft hose, sometimes have to attach one extra length but very rarely need the final length. I could easily keep the machine on the van but I normally sit it just outside the customers door. I run a hose directly from the customers tap to the machine, this keeps filling the solution tank as it is being used. As the machine is constantly filling and emptying as you work you don't really worry about how much water you are using, adequate to flush the carpet well and not too much so as to leave it overwet (although the powerful vac's will take care of that anyway). I run a lenght of hose from the auto dump out to the nearest sewer drain or gulley or sometimes out on the grass. Do not have a waste tank but I understand this is the law in some places but not where I operate.