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way2roll's avatar
way2roll
Navigator II
Apr 26, 2024

Anyone ever install an R.O. in their RV?

Due to poor water quality in our area (well most areas) we have an under the sink RO in the stix and brix. Currently our trips are confined to a week here and there and we get by with a 5 gal jug filled with RO from the house. As we transition to Part-timing and eventually full timing, seems like it would make sense to install an RO. For those that have, did you install under the sink? Pretty limited room there and I have thought about installing it in a bin. Did you go with a smaller tank to save space? What do you do about waste water? I was thinking of plumbing the waste line to just drop in the ground, fill the FW - or use a shut off valve on the supply side to keep it from running too much. A little bit of a balancing act though and diligence and risk if you forget to shut it off. Of course it only produces waste water if while the unit replenishes. Maybe there is an RV specific RO unit I am not aware of.   I've looked at table top units but I want something a bit more installed to limit counter space. Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks!

  • way2roll's avatar
    way2roll
    Navigator II
    Apr 28, 2024

    Excellent point on the rejection/waste water and one of my biggest concerns. I thought about running a valve to be able to change the rejection water to the FW tank or dump on the ground but that would require diligent monitoring so the FW doesn't overfill. A re-circulation pump would be power draw difficult to measure and control.

     

    • StirCrazy's avatar
      StirCrazy
      Moderator
      Apr 29, 2024

      myself, I would go with something like this or you could just get the genaric filter housings like I did and build your own set up.  I went with 4 stages but two are just carbon blocks

      • MNtundraRet's avatar
        MNtundraRet
        Navigator
        Apr 29, 2024
        StirCrazy wrote:

        myself, I would go with something like this or you could just get the genaric filter housings like I did and build your own set up.  I went with 4 stages but two are just carbon blocks

        I would not buy anything from this company. They do not even tell us what is in each filter except for the 0.2-micron filter. The unit is extremely overpriced. 

        A deionizer cartridge and carbon filter would fit in 1/3 of the space. The 0.2-micron filter is a nice feature but may cut down considerably the flow rate. No mention of volume or flowrate information, or how long the cartridges last, We would have to be crazy to purchase this unit.

        😕

         

         

        on

  • MNtundraRet's avatar
    MNtundraRet
    Navigator
    Apr 27, 2024

    I had one of the very first Reverse Osmosis units used in the hospital industry way back in the late sixties. 

    I had to install it myself. The first units ran at 250 lb. per square inch pressure. and had a rejection rate of 10 to 1.

    You are more or less creating salt water rejected from the system, but you create ultra-pure water. A real over-kill here. A deionizer column and a carbon filter will work fine for drinking water with no water rejected. This is easy to find and install in an RV. 😁

     

    • way2roll's avatar
      way2roll
      Navigator II
      Apr 28, 2024

      I'll have to do some research on the de-ionizer. Always had RO systems as they are the only way to remove some of the pharma pollutants in this particular area (Gen X). But for travelling it may be overkill. Thanks!

  • MNtundraRet's avatar
    MNtundraRet
    Navigator
    Apr 26, 2024

    I would think the easiest and cheapest way would be to just bring another 5-gallon jug of RO water.

    It may be a long time before we see a RO water unit in any RV.

     

     

    • way2roll's avatar
      way2roll
      Navigator II
      Apr 27, 2024

      I hear you. I have been known to create a solution in search of a problem. An extra jug would work for an extra week, but as we start part timing for a month or more at a time that wouldn't be enough. Some grocery stores do have RO fill stations so that's a possible solution. But an RO system that's about the same size as a 5 gal jug tucked away in a bin would eliminate having to lug the jug and taking up floor or counter space and be a one and done solution. I've seen a few videos of folks doing what I am thinking and I may be over complicating it. 

       

      • StirCrazy's avatar
        StirCrazy
        Moderator
        Apr 27, 2024

        the problem with RO is the rejection rate and the rate at what it produces water.  I have a high pressure system at home that can put out a very high amount of water per day as it uses a high pressure pump.  I used to have this for my salt water aquariums,  but at a 4 or 5 - 1 rejection rate its a big water wast.  is it something that can be done with a 3 stage filter instead of RO?  or the grocewry water fillers are good also if you can time it to hit one on the way by.  

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