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punomatic's avatar
punomatic
Explorer
Jul 10, 2014

Bad tasting water

We usually camp where we are hooked up to city water. We use a Camco filter between the white water hose and the camper city water inlet. I have sanitized the water system in the camper several times. Nevertheless, the water that comes out of the taps tastes like it has aspirin dissolved in it. Even coffee made with this water is nearly undrinkable.

Anybody got a solution for this problem? I know a lot of people carry bottled water, but I prefer not to. It seems that using city water ought not to taste this bad. BTW, we camp mostly in Oregon where the water is usually soft and tastes good, so I am thinking this is something that has to do with my water system.

My system includes brass pressure regulator at the campground spigot; white, food-grade water hose; Camco Taste Pure water filter attached by a flexible hose (comes with the filter) to the water inlet on the camper.

Thanks in advance for any ideas for sweetening our water! :)

15 Replies

  • We put a Pur Water filter on our sink faucet. You can get them at WallMart, or any Home Depot or Hardware style store too. We also have one in our house on the kitchen sink faucet. That works better than anything we've found. For drinking water, you can also get a Pur water pitcher. It does the same time. But we like the one that attaches to the sink faucet better. This helps keep room in the refrigerator.
  • first thing i would look a would be the filter, but i spose you have already done that.
  • Should we assume that this bad taste follows you all over the Northwest, and occurs at every campground, numbering in the dozens in at least two states?

    If you have repeatedly and recently sanitized the entire system, then that is not the problem.

    The temporary workaround until you solve the mystery, is of course to carry bottled water. I know that you prefer not to do that, but you may have no choice, either for the long haul or for a temporary measure. I suggest rather than buy the little bottles, get a large one you can refill/reuse. But that's just me. On long trips, we've also bought water in 2.5 gallon spigoted jugs at the local grocery.

    Another possibility is that your existing Camco filter needs replacement. those things do not last forever, you know. If it hasn't been replaced very recently, that would be my first step.

    You might also consider that it isn't necessary to filter-to-taste even the water needed to flush the commode, and try one of those Pur brand pitcher filters from Lowes or Home Depot.

    Drinking water that tastes bad sucks. Been there, done that. Good luck, and hope you find a solution that works for you.
  • My wife has a thing about bad water, she trusts no one elses water supply, so we just drink bottled water in the camper.......
    At home, we are on a well with iron filter, water softener, UV filter and RO for drinking water
  • Nothing like Bull Run water around the Portland area and suburbs.We have found anywhere else we go in the state the water does have a different taste, not bad just a little different like you describe.We have noticed it in every RV we have had so I don't think it's the RV.It doesn't bother me but my wife has it in her head that she has to bring bottled water just to make coffee, even though I don't think I could really tell the difference

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