Some kind of RV water filter system is a necessity for RVers. But especially for those who travel a lot. That’s because the water supply at some campgrounds can leave a lot to be desired.
You will find bad tasting and awful smelling water, along with dirty water that has sediment in it. And since we all understand how important it is to have clean water for drinking, bathing and washing, here are a few ways to make sure that your water is safe to use.
Disclosure: Please note this post may contain affiliate links. This means – at no additional cost to you – I earn a commission if you make a purchase using our affiliate links. I only link to products and companies I use and feel comfortable recommending. The income goes toward supporting the free content on this website.
Table of Contents
- Use An RV Cartridge Filter
- Higher Quality Whole-RV Filter System
- High Quality Drinking Water Filtration
- The Berkey Water Filter VS Installed Filtration
- Conclusion
Use An RV Cartridge Filter
One of the most popular RV water filter systems in use is an outside cartridge filter. These can be placed somewhere in line with your water hose before it attaches to the RV.
It doesn’t really matter much whether it is attached at the water faucet or by the RV water inlet. Just as long as you have it inline before the water from the campground goes into your RV.
The beauty of these kind of RV water filters is that they will treat all of the water that is going into your rig. So whether it is kitchen or bathroom water, it is being filtered before use.
All you have to do is take a stroll through almost any campground in the country and you will see these filters in use. They are usually blue in color and easily spotted.
And for most people they work very well as they filter down to a 20 micron level. In fact, out of almost 3,000 reviews on Amazon, they have a 4.5 star rating. So a lot of people are happy with what they do.
There are certainly other RV water filter systems that filter water to a higher degree. But for most people this little filter does the job very well. And the cost is affordably low.
So this is a good place to start when filtering the water going into your RV. Just click the links below to read the reviews on these filters.
Click here for the outside blue cartridge water filters that we use
(This is an affiliate link for the product on Amazon. It does not cost you any extra to buy the product using my affiliate link if you choose to do so)
Higher Quality Whole-RV Filter System
Now if you want to take whole-RV water filtration to another level, there are plenty of options. But one of the most cost-effective is to use a higher level carbon filter that filters down to 5 microns or so.
Some RVers use this filter instead of the blue ones mentioned above. But some also add in this kind of filtration in addition to the blue filter. That’s what we do in our motorhome for our water used for washing and bathing.
Again, for most people this will be just fine. You can either use this kind of filter on the outside of the RV, or install it permanently inside. Either way, it is simple to use and the filter cost is very reasonable.
In fact, they usually last for about 3 months at a time if being used on a regular basis. We use this kind of filter along with the blue filter above and we are happy with the water quality we get for bathing and washing.
You can also use almost any 10 inch filter that you find at a local Home Depot or Lowes store for replacement filters. Check out the reviews on this product at the link below.
Click here for a low cost, higher-quality whole-RV filter system
(This is an affiliate link for the product on Amazon. It does not cost you any extra to buy the product using my affiliate link if you choose to do so)
High Quality Drinking Water Filtration
But when it comes to our drinking water, most of us want to make sure that it is up to very high standards. So although the above-mentioned filters will work very well, I have another suggestion for your drinking water.
Of course, there are any number of high-dollar water filtration systems available. These include reverse osmosis, 2,3 and 4 stage filters, and even ultraviolet water filtration.
But if you look at the real world reviews of most of these products on Amazon, they are not rated any higher than the ones already covered.
But there is an RV water filter system that will virtually replace all need for bottled water of any kind. And it will be much less expensive in the long run than those high-dollar systems.
It’s called the Berkey water filter and many RVers use it for their everyday drinking water. It is a gravity fed unit so you have to refill it manually. But the resulting water is incredibly clean no matter how dirty it may be going into the filter.
In fact, the Berkey helps eliminate 99.9% of bacteria, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, viruses, and other water contaminants.
The Berkey RV water filter is also portable allowing it to be used either at home or in the RV. And since it uses no power to operate, it’s perfect for boondockers.
It also is cost-effective as it can filter 6,000 gallons of water before needing a filter replacement. So if you drink two gallons of water a day the filters will last you about 8 years!
And the replacement filters only cost a little over $100. So that means that you get ultra-safe and clean drinking water for about $12/year. You can’t get much less expensive than that!
(This is an affiliate link for the product on TechnoRV. It does not cost you any extra to buy the product using my affiliate link if you choose to do so)
The Berkey Water Filter VS Installed Filtration
One of the best features about the Berkey water filter system is that it is portable. so it can be moved from the RV to a home, or from one RV to another RV, all without need of any installation!
Reverse osmosis filters and ultraviolet filters actually work very well. But they have to be installed correctly and that usually means professional installation. So you have to pay not only for the filtration system, but the installation as well.
Then if you decide to sell your RV for any reason, you have two choices. (1) You can let the installed water filtration go with the RV, and go out and buy another whole system for the new rig. (2) You have to disassemble the installed system and re-install the old RV plumbing as it was. Then you have to pay again to install the old system in the new RV.
The point is that permanenty installed water filter systems are more suited for home use, not for RVs. This is because people don’t change homes nearly as much as they may change RVs.
This makes the Berkey water filter a great choice as an RV water filter system because of its portability. It can go wherever you go. So if you buy a different RV, just bring along the Berkey. Then you get pure, clean water in the new rig without any installation effort or costs.
Conclusion
When you bring up the subject of RV water filtration, you can get a lot of opinions about what is best. And most RVers seem to think that whatever they are doing is the best way to go.
But the truth is that there are any number of great ways to get fresh, clean, and pure water for RV use these days. Whatever fits your needs and circumstances best will be fine.
But in this article I am trying to approach the subject from a cost-effective point of view. And with that in mind, using cartridge filters for washing and bathing is a cheap way to go. And they work very well as the associated Amazon reviews testify.
Then if you use the Berkey water purification filter, you will also have the best drinking water. And this will come at a very low cost per gallon.
But if you have other suggestions for RV water filter systems that you have found to work well, please mention them in the comments below. We would love to hear about them!
In the meantime, I hope this discussion of RV water filtration has been helpful for you. Have safe and happy travels my friends!
Click the image above for the video – “Which RV Water Filter System Is Best For You?”
Click the image above for the video – “The Best RV Water Filter System For Drinking Water”