Iron in Water

[2PawsRiver]

Could be a stupid question but......in Michigan well water tends to have a lot of iron in it. I think most campgrounds are rural and tend to have well water. When you hook up to a water source is there a way to keep that water separate from your tank, or does the water go into the fresh water tank and fill the tank as water is used from it.

If the water goes to the tank has anybody made a water filter to filter water from the source to the tanks....hope that made sense.

[TXiceman]

Talk to a water specialist. Iron is hard on a water system, but can be removed with the proper equipment.

Ken

[filters4water]

Iron in water is in 2 forms: ferrous and ferric. If you can't see it (water is clear) then it turns orange with exposure to air it's ferrous. Sediment, carbon filters will not remove it. The systems that aerates the water and then passes it through a removal medium is effective. The media needs to backwash every 2 days max (depending on volume used).
Watts makes a media called filox that works and as long as it is washed regularly it lasts.

I don't know if it comes in a small system. Check Watts water quality.

[Clay_L]

TechWriter wrote:
Get a standard (10 x 2.5) clear filter housing and a 6-pack of 1-micron sediment filters.

Now you can see when your filter turns red (brown or whatever) and easily remove and clean it.

BTW, keep the filter out of direct sunlight. Otherwise, you're asking for an algae bloom.

That will only work for visible iron.
Filtering clear water iron as opposed to particulate iron requires special filters.
The cartridges also remove manganese, and some sulfur compounds.

We were volunteers at a state park in ID and the iron content in the water was horrendous.
After we left it took half a day to remove the stains on the sinks,shower,and toilet.

I used Iron Out which worked better than anything else I tried. The rangers furnished it to us while we were at the park.

However the fumes were so irritating that I borrowed my sister in law's hazmat mask she used when she was spraying her orchard so I could do the job.

[doxiemom11]

Use a filter for any water or your shower,toilet and sinks will look awful. It's not just a drinking water issue. High iron contents will stain everything and make it look like rust. Clothing too if you don't filter the water used to wash them. Only other thing to do - go further north for clean, good water.

[TechWriter]

Get a standard (10 x 2.5) clear filter housing and a 6-pack of 1-micron sediment filters.

Now you can see when your filter turns red (brown or whatever) and easily remove and clean it.

BTW, keep the filter out of direct sunlight. Otherwise, you're asking for an algae bloom.

[ppine]

I carry a separate water container for drinking water from home. For longer trips I fill it at locations with good quality drinking water. I do not drink out of my RV tank.

[2gypsies1]

Here's an excellent link for everything you want to know about filtering your water. The company is very helpful on the phone, too.

https://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/

[2PawsRiver]

Thanks for the information, will have to do some research.

[SidecarFlip]

If you run campground water, the check valve at the pump keeps that city supply from filling the FW tank if it's working properly.

I agree on the iron, we have it too here on the farm. I'm used to that water and use it to fill my on board FW tank but I run it through a filter to remove the iron first.

2 kinds of iron, ferric, which you can see, and dissolved which you cannot see but can smell.

Camco sells an inline disposable filter you can use that will eliminate 99% of the iron and minerals.

[Johno02]

Our RV has only one inut connection, and a valve to determine if it goes to the lines, or to fill the tank. Problem is that the tank fill is only from a pressure line, such as a hose, and no way just to pour water in as some folks need. For us it is OK. All my connections use BRASS snap fittings, and we have a cannister filter with snap fittings that we can use or not depending. If you are in an area with high iron or other minerals, I would always use the filter inline from the source, and use that for tank filling, as well as daily use.

[arhayes]

I always use a charcoal water filter at the spigot in addition to our in rig water filtration system. When we were in MN a couple of years ago, I noticed our water pressure dropping. It turned out the spigot charcoal filter was totally plugged with iron. However, it had done its job as my in house filter remained clean and the water was clear. I write the date on the filter when I install it and change them at least every 90 days. I change our in house filter every 6 months.

Any water going into the tank also is run though this filter.

[Optimistic_Para]

My understanding is that MOST RVs have separate inlet for filling the tank and for direct water hookup from shore. In other words, if you have a hose running from a campground faucet to your RV, it will NOT fill your tank.

If iron is a concern, there are filters designed just to deal with that. Spend some time at:

https://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/