Looking For Answers About RV Water Filter Systems

RVers encounter different water quality every time they change campgrounds. Since you don’t know what kind of water you have, you need to consider a water filter system for your rig. Some folks use a dual filter system that uses a first stage sediment filter followed by a second stage charcoal filter. Others, like me, just use a sediment filter. I recently turned on a water spigot at a fair ground RV site and a hand-full of sand came out with the first few spurts of water. This kind of sediment will quickly plug up your shower head and faucets. It’s always a good idea to run some water out of the spigot at a new campsite prior to actually hooking up to it. I’ve used many kinds of water filter systems for RVing and have settled on a personal preference of using a sediment filter in conjunction with the Brita counter top charcoal filter for drinking water. We find this arrangement works well for us. The big issue for me is that whole house inline filters drastically reduce water flow, and I personally like to have some water pressure when I take a shower. I use a light weight sediment filter and change it every few months. You may have to change your filters more frequently depending on how dirty the water is where you’re camping. Be aware that if you are using a charcoal filter and your water begins to have a foul smell, then your filter is past due for a change. If you are not sure about the quality of the water at your new campsite, don’t drink it. It’s always best to purify it first through a charcoal filtration system of some kind. If you do this you won’t run the risk of getting sick and spoiling your outing.

Keeping you informed - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar