Are Water Filters a Major Concern
Looking for info on water filters. For 40+ years we’ve been primarily in MI and have not had problems with water quality. At times a smell but we now use bottled for drinking and cooking. I do re...
Forum Discussion
Chances are if you are usually in a CG supplied by a municipal water distribution system, the only issue you may have is the chlorine.
If you are going to be travelling around and also staying in some CGs that have their own private well, you should be concerned. You just have no idea what the water quality is like. A photo below is the filter screen off the inlet on the side of our TT a couple of months after the end of the last camping season. I am almost positive it came from a CG on the west coast of Washington. I have no idea what it is but I sure don't like the idea of ingesting whatever it is.
At the very least, I recommend a sediment filter. Question is, how low a micron rating should you use? Myself, I don't recommend the exterior inline filters. Better than nothing for sure, but are more of an entry level filter IMO. They are rated 100 microns and have a low flow rate. You're better off using a whole house filter cartridge. I would recommend using a 5 micron filter but you'll want another sediment filter ahead of that like around 50 microns so that the 5 micron doesn't plug up quickly. The inline ones also are combo type that remove/reduce chlorine and I don't recommend that.
Unless you are really bothered by chlorine, I wouldn't bother with a carbon one. Chlorine concentration levels will dissipate over time and in a CG, can be quite low. If you remove it, you will not have the system inside your RV protected. I think you are better off trying to retain whatever might be there. A point of use carbon filter is a solution at the kitchen sink.
If you want to reduce micro-organisms and some other contaminants, you'll need a filter that is down around 1 micron. I would have no problem with drinking water from a filter like that, but some won't. DW will not drink our high quality well water at home and only drinks bulk filtered water from a local grocery store. That filtered water uses a UF ultra-filtration filter of 0.2 microns or better.
When using any cartridge, you want it to be a type that does not promote bacteria growth. Some have KDF or silver to prevent it.
I am about to install a 4-stage filter arrangement shown in the photo below. What's in the photo was for testing to ensure no leaks. The blue lines will be going to different points in the TT. The first filter is a 3/4" spin-down Rusco sediment filter with 61 micron rating. The 2nd is a string-wound cartridge sediment cartridge rated 5 microns. After the 2nd filter, it will supply everything except the kitchen sink. The 3rd is a ceramic cartridge with 0.9 micron rating. This will supply the kitchen sink cold faucet. The 4th is a UF cartridge down to 0.01 microns and will supply a RO type faucet for drinking water only. The final filter will produce water quality close to what DW drinks from the store. The filter assembly is 31" wide and will fit nicely under the kitchen sink at the back where it's out of the way. With all parts and cartridges, the cost is around $200.
Along with the filters, I'm also installing a Watts 263A regulator inside. I also removed the inline check valve from the water inlet and am installing a better inline one ahead of the regulator. Everything is designed for max. flow and low pressure drop. Now we should be able to handle just about anything any CG anywhere can throw at us.
Filter info.:
spin down filter
5 micron sediment filter
ceramic filter This filter can be cleaned and re-used 50 times.
I was expecting a low flow rate after the last filter. On our 45 psi well system at home, I was getting well over 1 gpm and probably more like 2 gpm. I'm very happy with the flow. I may end up running the kitchen cold faucet off the last filter.
UF filter
UF filter
UF filter
If you use your holding tank and city water, you will need to decide what to do with the filtration setup because the water inlet is at different locations. We only use city water but I may do something that will let me supply the holding tank after the filtration by running a hose from under the sink to the holding tank inlet, for the rare occasion we are in a dry camping site at a CG. For a fresh water holding tank, instead of using chlorine for disinfection, you could consider food grade hydrogen peroxide as an alternative and then you won't have a chlorine odor or taste issue.
If you are going to be travelling around and also staying in some CGs that have their own private well, you should be concerned. You just have no idea what the water quality is like. A photo below is the filter screen off the inlet on the side of our TT a couple of months after the end of the last camping season. I am almost positive it came from a CG on the west coast of Washington. I have no idea what it is but I sure don't like the idea of ingesting whatever it is.
At the very least, I recommend a sediment filter. Question is, how low a micron rating should you use? Myself, I don't recommend the exterior inline filters. Better than nothing for sure, but are more of an entry level filter IMO. They are rated 100 microns and have a low flow rate. You're better off using a whole house filter cartridge. I would recommend using a 5 micron filter but you'll want another sediment filter ahead of that like around 50 microns so that the 5 micron doesn't plug up quickly. The inline ones also are combo type that remove/reduce chlorine and I don't recommend that.
Unless you are really bothered by chlorine, I wouldn't bother with a carbon one. Chlorine concentration levels will dissipate over time and in a CG, can be quite low. If you remove it, you will not have the system inside your RV protected. I think you are better off trying to retain whatever might be there. A point of use carbon filter is a solution at the kitchen sink.
If you want to reduce micro-organisms and some other contaminants, you'll need a filter that is down around 1 micron. I would have no problem with drinking water from a filter like that, but some won't. DW will not drink our high quality well water at home and only drinks bulk filtered water from a local grocery store. That filtered water uses a UF ultra-filtration filter of 0.2 microns or better.
When using any cartridge, you want it to be a type that does not promote bacteria growth. Some have KDF or silver to prevent it.
I am about to install a 4-stage filter arrangement shown in the photo below. What's in the photo was for testing to ensure no leaks. The blue lines will be going to different points in the TT. The first filter is a 3/4" spin-down Rusco sediment filter with 61 micron rating. The 2nd is a string-wound cartridge sediment cartridge rated 5 microns. After the 2nd filter, it will supply everything except the kitchen sink. The 3rd is a ceramic cartridge with 0.9 micron rating. This will supply the kitchen sink cold faucet. The 4th is a UF cartridge down to 0.01 microns and will supply a RO type faucet for drinking water only. The final filter will produce water quality close to what DW drinks from the store. The filter assembly is 31" wide and will fit nicely under the kitchen sink at the back where it's out of the way. With all parts and cartridges, the cost is around $200.
Along with the filters, I'm also installing a Watts 263A regulator inside. I also removed the inline check valve from the water inlet and am installing a better inline one ahead of the regulator. Everything is designed for max. flow and low pressure drop. Now we should be able to handle just about anything any CG anywhere can throw at us.
Filter info.:
spin down filter
5 micron sediment filter
ceramic filter This filter can be cleaned and re-used 50 times.
I was expecting a low flow rate after the last filter. On our 45 psi well system at home, I was getting well over 1 gpm and probably more like 2 gpm. I'm very happy with the flow. I may end up running the kitchen cold faucet off the last filter.
UF filter
UF filter
UF filter
If you use your holding tank and city water, you will need to decide what to do with the filtration setup because the water inlet is at different locations. We only use city water but I may do something that will let me supply the holding tank after the filtration by running a hose from under the sink to the holding tank inlet, for the rare occasion we are in a dry camping site at a CG. For a fresh water holding tank, instead of using chlorine for disinfection, you could consider food grade hydrogen peroxide as an alternative and then you won't have a chlorine odor or taste issue.
dalenoel wrote:
Looking for info on water filters.
For 40+ years we’ve been primarily in MI and have not had problems with water quality. At times a smell but we now use bottled for drinking and cooking. I do remember using lake water and drinking from a hose and yet we are still alive. What I am concerned about is a trip to AZ on the southern route coming back through SLC, Rushmore, and I-90 on the northern route.
During my working life I ran across some city supplies that were not the best. My real concern is sediment in the tanks if we fill them or crud throughout the valves when on a FHU site. I did see the Culligan HF-150A 3/4-Inch mentioned but also can’t find the flow rate and I’m looking for that to be as high as possible and be economical. As a fluid power engineer I understand the dynamics of fluid flow. Concern for super-filtration is not there but damage to the TT systems is the main reason for looking at filters.
Is my concern of solids getting into the tank and lines justified or should I ignore the problem and go without a filter. As mentioned, in MI there has not been a need with state parks are private ones but I’m not sure of other states.
We will be going through IN, IL, AK, TX, NM, AZ, UT, WY, SD, and IA. The route follows the interstate system but we stay away from most major cities except Mesa and Lake Havasu City as family is there.
After returning from this trip I feel the camping in Michigan will show very little need for the filter system so I do not want one that is high maintenance with expensive filters. Yet, I don't want to go too cheap and not get the protection I need on our trip.
Thanks for the info.
