An RV water filter is more important, in some ways, than a home or office water filter because so many different water supplies are used during your travels than when you are stationary. If you don't know the quality of your water supply and water treatment you are well advised to use a quality water filter for consumption and general use.
Recreational vehicles give one the freedom to travel and visit out-of-the-way places. An RV provides independence and self-sufficiency. But when it comes to drinking water, RVs are dependent on local water supplies which are often of questionable quality.
Water supplies throughout the United States are monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency. But many small water supplies serving 500 or fewer users frequently fail to meet EPA standards, and the number of small water supplies is growing. The tiniest water supplies, with fewer than 25 users, are not monitored at all. Such small communities are exactly the kinds of places that RV owners seek.
Campground water supplies are often provided by family operators who lack the resources to maintain high water quality. Even national forests' camp sites advise visitors that they cannot guarantee that drinking water is free of contaminants.
RVers' water quality concerns range from exposure to potentially deadly microbes to unpleasant taste or smell caused by industrial and petroleum-based chemicals. Some water supplies may be turbid clouded by silt and other suspended particles.
Choosing an RV water filter system involves decisions different from those made when choosing a home system. RV water filter systems are specifically designed for the needs of many kinds of RVers. Unlike stationary water filtration systems, which deal with one water quality profile continuously, RV water filters must handle a variety of water quality issues as their owners travel from place to place. RV water filters that are used only during vacations must be designed differently from systems that are on the road year round. Space constraints in RVs also affect water filter choices. RV water filter buyers must answer some questions.
How much of your water do you want to filter?
RV water filters that treat only cooking and drinking water are less expensive and take up less space than all-uses systems. They are usually under-sink models that treat water right before it comes out of the tap. The least expensive models use carbon filters to remove turbidity-causing sediments and chemicals that affect taste and odor. More expensive ceramic filters and systems that expose water to intense ultraviolet light can eliminate hazardous microbes.
Treating all of the water used in an RV is often done with an in-line cartridge filter that attaches to the hose used to fill an RV's water tank. These smaller, inexpensive filters have limited sediment-filtering capacity and must be replaced more often. But they may be sufficient for infrequent RVers.
Cartridge water filter systems may use one, two, or three cartridges. Each cartridge filters different kinds of contaminants. A one-cartridge filter must be filled with material that filters a wide variety of contaminants. One of the most popular two-cartridge combinations is a 1-micron disposable sediment cartridge paired with a solid-block carbon taste/odor cartridge. A third cartridge may be added to filter contaminants specific to a given RV’s itinerary.Reverse osmosis water filters provide very high quality water. But they waste three gallons of water for every gallon of filtered water they yield, and they consume a lot of electricity.
Distillation systems evaporate raw water and condense it into absolutely pure water in a collection reservoir. Distillation provides the purest water, but it is very expensive and produces pure water slowly.
An RV water filter is an essential investment for anyone who wants to enjoy the open road and wilderness. Choosing the right RV water filter system should be taken seriously.
