Water Filters

[grashley]

What are your suggestions for water filters in an RV? I know filters are necessary, but how far up the tree do you go?
The in line Camco air a good first step. I have seen 2 stage with sediment filters and carbon filters. Others add 0.2 Micron "virus" filters, scale filters, metals filters, and more.
I would consider the sediment and carbon necessary, but what else should be added? I do not want to spend a fortune, but I also want decent water.

I had a 2 filter system from RV Water Filter Store in the FW, and was very happy with the products and service.
Now, Blu Tech seems to be all the rage, but they have 5" filters.
Is Blu Tech worth the premium?
Will the 10" filters last twice as long? With better long term flow?

Information overload occurs easily for me. Please help me sort out real life fact from hype.

 

[Kirk]

I'm no potable water expert, but I have had advice from our family career chemist. Water problems seem to be somewhat more common nowadays, or at least they get into the news more. RVing for more than 50 years, I did become more cautious over time. By the time that we went on the road fulltime I had learned to check out the water supply anywhere that we hooked up or filled our water tanks. Most of those years I used a sediment filer as a minimum, for all of the water that entered our RV's tanks or system. If the water is from a well that isn't tested regularly you may want to take extra care. The catch is that the more that a filter does, the more it also costs. I used one of the double canister filters for the last 20 years and always kept a sediment filter cartridge in the first and most of the time I used a 5 micron carbon block filter in the second. Keep in mind that most filters will remove the chlorine from the water so when you fill the tank with it you may want to add something if it is to be stored for very long. Unless you are using water from an unknown source or some high risk source, I see no reason that your 2-filter system from RV Water Filter Store will not continue to serve you well. They offer a wide variety of filter cartridges so you should be able to get as much or as little filtration as you want. I used to get most of our filter cartridges from Lowe's.

 

[zulutron]

What are your suggestions for water filters in an RV?

For drinking water, I suggest an under-the-sink reverse osmosis system. I've used this iSpring system in a park model and two RVs I've owned. The filters are standard sized and easy to replace.

The in line Camco air a good first step.

Good for filtering out rocks. That's it.

Now, Blu Tech seems to be all the rage, but they have 5" filters.
Is Blu Tech worth the premium?

Blu Tech says this about their 5" filters:

ALERT! Please be aware that 5" filters from other manufacturers will not fit into our canisters, The Blu Technology filter length is custom manufactured for our products and is quality controlled to assure appropriate compression for quality seal.

Total BS . . . except for the part that states other filters will not fit.
This system is for suckers who like bright and shiny things.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I know filters are necessary,

I didn't know that, but it certainly is a widely held belief. Or fear. But if you are uncomfortable without some level of filtration, then I guess it is necessary.

From my view, there are three levels of water filtration/improvement. The lowest just removes rocks & sand. Moving up a grade removes some unpleasant minerals, e.g. iron, magnesium, or sulfur. That may require a water softener in addition to a filter. Above that are systems capable of removing biologic threats. (germs). A reverse osmosis or distillation system does all three levels pretty well.

We were always satisfied with just the lowest level and we didn't always use even that. Your needs may differ.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Hmm...we've been camping and Rving for 40 years plus. In that time we have never used a filter of any kind.
We use water from FS campgrounds, RV parks, BLM campgrounds, even a spigot at a park in Ely NV.
We have never suffered any ill-effects from not using a filter.

 

[zulutron]

I didn't know that, but it certainly is a widely held belief. Or fear. But if you are uncomfortable without some level of filtration, then I guess it is necessary.

My come-to-Jesus moment was the 1993 Milwaukee cryptosporidiosis outbreak. I lived in a Milwaukee suburb when it happened. Definitely a wakeup call as no-one thought this could happen to a big city water system.

I don't foresee anything like this to happen while RVing, but older folks (like me & many RVers) immune systems aren't as robust as when we were young.

So to me, a decent water filtration setup is inexpensive, smart insurance.

 

[zulutron]

Hmm...we've been camping and Rving for 40 years plus. In that time we have never used a filter of any kind.
We use water from FS campgrounds, RV parks, BLM campgrounds, even a spigot at a park in Ely NV.
We have never suffered any ill-effects from not using a filter.

And you probably never will.

I can't think of any reports of someone being rushed to the hospital after drinking campground water.

In addition, I've never heard of anyone being rushed to the hospital after smoking a cigarette. However, I still don't recommend smoking.

 

[Kirk]

Hmm...we've been camping and Rving for 40 years plus. In that time we have never used a filter of any kind.

We didn't use any filtration at first, but we also never used to wear a seat belt. Eventually we began to use both, rather than waiting to see if they are needed.

 

[Babe2201]

We are only weekend seasonals at this point but I just use and outside in line filter with a 20 micron filter and a 5 micron charcoal filter. We also have a Brita we use for drinking water. The water would be safe enough to drink but it does have a little different taste than water at our house and our system takes the funky taste out of it.

 

[SMR]

We use several filters. First is a 5 micron spun filter, then a 1 micron taste and odor filter after these I split the water. One goes to a softener the other through a .05 micron filter and then to the fridge. So far our water tastes the same wherever we go and DW is happy with it.

 

[JudyJB]

When you buy a filter, and when you buy replacements for it, make sure you read the list of things that it removes from the water. A 5-micron filter is the bare basics, but there are also 1 and 2-micron filters that remove a lot more things. Some even remove parasite eggs. The problem is that these better filters cost double or triple that the cheap carbon filters cost, so you pay for what you get.

I have drunk filtered water from my tank for the past 13 years and have a weakened immune system, but buying good filters and shocking your fresh water tank once in a while is important.

 

[garyb1st]

We dry camp much of the time. For us, a filter would not do much since we've only sanitized the water tank once or twice during the 8 years and 50,000 miles we've driven the motorhome. But we drink bottled water and only use city water when connected to make coffee. We do however use a filter when connected to city water.

 

[Kirk]

But we drink bottled water and only use city water when connected to make coffee.

We have friends who drink bottled water and also use it for coffee. If I were you, I would still use at least a sediment filter to prevent getting any grit into your water system. We had a well for water one place where we lived that had excellent quality water but it also had very fine sand that would be carried with it. The sand was so fine that you couldn't see it but if you left a glass full of water sit for a day there would be a film along the bottom that settled out. I had to use a water filter on the water to the washer because it was enough to wear out the valves in a year or two. I later added a sediment filter to the outlet of the pressure tank.

 

[CharlesinGA]

Water in many locations has a high amount of arsenic in it, which causes problems to remove and makes water more expensive. I recall reading that the ground water in virtually all of New Mexico was loaded with arsenic. Hopefully if water is being provided in campgrounds, it has been tested.

When researching the campgrounds in the Lincoln National Forest, around Cloudcroft, NM, I learned that the water was all trucked in and I assume this was due to the arsenic contamination.

AI Overview
Learn more

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in New Mexico's water, particularly in groundwater, and some areas have levels that exceed the safe drinking water standard of 10 micrograms per liter (mcg/L). The state has a complex groundwater system with varying concentrations of arsenic, with higher levels often found in central and south-central New Mexico.

Key Points:

• Natural Occurrence:
  Arsenic is naturally present in New Mexico's soil and rocks, including shale and volcanic rocks.
  
  
• Groundwater Contamination:
  Groundwater, which is the primary source of drinking water in many areas of New Mexico, can become contaminated with arsenic as it seeps through the soil and rocks.
  
  
• Varied Concentrations:
  Arsenic levels in private wells can vary significantly between counties and even within the same county.
  
  
• Safe Drinking Water Standard:
  The EPA sets the safe drinking water standard for arsenic at 10 mcg/L (10 parts per billion).
  
  
• Health Concerns:
  Long-term exposure to high levels of arsenic in drinking water can lead to various health problems, including certain types of cancer.
  
  
• Potential Solutions:
  Residents can have their well water tested, consider installing treatment or filtration systems, or explore alternative water sources to reduce arsenic exposure.
  
  
• Examples of Areas Affected:
  • Albuquerque: While Albuquerque's water treatment plant treats water to reduce arsenic levels, recent reports showed arsenic levels slightly below the MCL of 10 ppb.
    
    
  • Sunland Park: A community in Southern New Mexico has faced dangerously high arsenic levels in its drinking water for over 16 years, prompting state intervention.
    
    
  • Doña Ana County: The Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) in Doña Ana County has faced issues with high arsenic levels, including incidents where treatment plants were bypassed, leading to "do not drink" orders.
    
• Geological Factors:
  The geological formations in New Mexico, particularly in the Jemez Mountains, can contribute to high arsenic levels in groundwater due to volcanic activity and geothermal fluids.

 

[Lou Schneider]

We have friends who drink bottled water and also use it for coffee. If I were you, I would still use at least a sediment filter to prevent getting any grit into your water system. We had a well for water one place where we lived that had excellent quality water but it also had very fine sand that would be carried with it. The sand was so fine that you couldn't see it but if you left a glass full of water sit for a day there would be a film along the bottom that settled out. I had to use a water filter on the water to the washer because it was enough to wear out the valves in a year or two. I later added a sediment filter to the outlet of the pressure tank.

When I was in my 20s I bought a mobile home in an older park north of Santa Rosa which used well water. After being there a couple of months I got a used washing machine that had a water leak from the recirculating pump. After washing a couple of loads of laundry the leak stopped, when I inspected the pump calcium build-up sealed the leak. I drank bottled water after that.

 

[John Stephens]

I have RV'd off and on since 1980, and have had my last motor home for eleven years. We have taken trips in it every year that last no less than five weeks, and usually three or four months. I have always filled my tank with my house water before leaving, and use a Camco filter on the intake hose. That's all. We use bottled water for drinking anything that isn't in a can or bottle, i.e., tea, lemonade, coffee, Sodastream, etc., and use the tank or campground water for showers, toilet, and dishes. We have never had a problem, although I won't say we never will.

 

[House Husband]

Filters? We've been RVing for 30 years and just fill up with what the locals drink.
Of course I grew up drink well water from the Missouri river valley. The old locals squeaked when they walked, from drink iron water all their life.

Richard

 

[garyb1st]

Kirk, only filter we use is the basic camping world $20. filter. Don't know what a sediment filter is. That said, the previous owner had a filter in one of the bays. It's quite large and that may be what you're referring to. However since we don't drink the water I've never replaced the element.

 

[Wasillaguy]

Most bottled water is not filtered to remove chlorine. Found out the hard way when I couldn't get my sourdough starter to rise.
A few brands are supposedly low/no chlorine- Fiji, Ozarks, Evian for example.
Now everything I bake with goes through a Brita pitcher, regardless the brand.

Fun fact- chlorine evaporates pretty quickly so they often use chloramine instead. Chloramine is a by-product of mixing chlorine and ammonia. Yummy!

 

[Kirk]

. That said, the previous owner had a filter in one of the bays. It's quite large and that may be what you're referring to.

If you are using one of the filters from an RV supply store, that connects to the hose inline then it should do the job.

Most of the built-in filters are of the canister type and those accept a wide range of filter elements. The sediment filter cartridges for them will cost you less than the hose filters and probably last significantly longer. If you are not going to use the one in the RV, I strongly recommend that you remove the filter element from it if there is one there, because a contaminated one can harbor algae and other things. The canister filters look like this.