Potable Water

[guygaland2newfs]

Our new MH (new to us) has a spigot on the kitchen sink for drinking water. Though I'd never use it for drinking, I'm wondering, since it's being filtered, could I use it to cook so long as I'm boiling it? And why would they put an ice maker in the freezer? Am I being overly cautious? The filter has been changed since we purchased it.
Thanks, Linda

[Ajones42]

Shearwater wrote:


Filters either remove sediment or absorb bad flavors in the water. None of them sterilize it.

Not entirely true. We have been offgrid for 3 years as South Texas gate guards and routinely drink/cook with water from questionable sources. No ill effects at all during this time period.

We use sediment filters, charcoal filters, a sterasyl ceramic filter and a UV light filter to attain this level.

More info on my blog should you so desire....

MyOldRV

[Bumpyroad]

Shadow Catcher wrote:
yes it goes down to the virus level.
F

I'm curious as to what company with household type systems claims virus filtration?
bumpy

[1775]

Check my article here that includes sanitizing fresh water tanks. Though we have different rigs the process is the same.

http://roadtrek190popular.blogspot.com/2012/05/de-winterizing-and-sanitizing-fresh.html

We drink the water from out fresh water tanks. When I fill the tank I use a filter on the hose filling the tanks and I have a household filter on the faucet. Double filtered and when we start a trip all of the water is from my own house. There is no reason not to drink it.

[Shadow_Catcher]

All water going into our teardrop trailer tank goes through one two or three filters depending on source. I can pump water from a river or lake and make it potable the final most exclusive filter being General Ecology NBC filter, nuclear biological chemical, and yes it goes down to the virus level.
For good very effective filters check.
http://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/

[WyoTraveler]

There is so much chlorine in most RV parks my dog won't even drink the water. It burns my eyes when I take a shower. City folks are just used to drinking that much chlorine and don't notice it.

[bukhrn]

DutchmenSport wrote:
I did a survey on these forums a few months ago about winterizing and drinking from your RV's water system. About 50% of the folk that responded (very unofficial results here), drink from their RV. The other half uses bottled water for drinking and cooking. So it all comes down to you own choice.

If you are careful with the water system in your camper, if you sanatize, (or at least are hooked up to a city water instead of a well ... because city water already has chlorine in it, and if you drain your tanks, your water heater, and don't invite risky water, there's no reason why you should be concerned about drinking from your own RV. It's only as safe as the water you put in it.

Now, if you're pumping directly from a sludge pool, well ... you better boil.

Far too often they use way to much, I've had city water taste like drinking from a Clorox bottle, I'll keep using my well water, thank you.(Unless you have sulphur water)

[tenbear]

I use Sodium-Dichlor... to sanitize my water tank and plumbing, the same chemical that is used for spas. I use about a teaspoon which is more than I need. I drink from the tank/campground all the time.

[Allworth]

NSF recommends 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach for each 25 gallons of tank capacity and a holding time of at least 8 hours.

You can use about one fourth as much chemical if you use liquid pool chlorine, but that stuff can take your skin off if it spills and is probably not a good idea.

[Jim_Shoe]

I used to go through all that, but now I just buy distilled water in gallon jugs for coffee and cooking. It doesn't have the 'local' taste of drinking water which can be a little nasty. For brushing teeth, I just pour some water out of the jug into the cup where my teeth spend the night. 🙂

[DutchmenSport]

I did a survey on these forums a few months ago about winterizing and drinking from your RV's water system. About 50% of the folk that responded (very unofficial results here), drink from their RV. The other half uses bottled water for drinking and cooking. So it all comes down to you own choice.

If you are careful with the water system in your camper, if you sanatize, (or at least are hooked up to a city water instead of a well ... because city water already has chlorine in it), and if you drain your tanks, your water heater, and don't invite risky water, there's no reason why you should be concerned about drinking from your own RV. It's only as safe as the water you put in it.

Now, if you're pumping directly from a sludge pool, well ... you better boil.

[TexasShadow]

keep in mind that while you are out and about with your rig, when you fill your tank with potable water from state and national parks, rv parks, etc. you are getting chlorinated water, so you are "disinfecting" your tank more than you realize.
But do it yourself at home a couple times a year.

[guygaland2newfs]

I'll definitely look up the disinfecting info. It sounds very similar to what we had to do when we put in a deep well at our home when we bought it. Again, thank you.
Linda

[mowermech]

Rather than go through the whole thing (mainly because I may not remember it correctly, and I don't want to go out to the coach to find the book), I will simply recommend that you find the instructions in your Owners Manual Package for treating the water system.
Or, you could do a search of the topics on these forums that have appeared in the past.
But, basically, you add a certain amount of chlorine bleach to the tank, fill it, run the solution through all the lines, let it sit overnight, then drain, flush, and fill.
I don't remember how much chlorine bleach is recommended.
We have a well, and I only do this once a year.

[guygaland2newfs]

Thanks everyone, what do you do to disinfect the water holding tank? We have well water here. Linda

[pappcam]

Jim-Linda wrote:
Why would you think you need to boil water that comes from a water supply that is treated AND being filtered before use? We have similar setup, drinking, coffee cooking and anything else we need water for. Don't overthink stuff.

Jim

This. I use RV park water for coffee and cooking all the time unless they tell us specifically not to.