Best water filters for motorhomes

[Markawill]

I'm looking to fit a water filter to my motorhome, does anyone have any recommendations? Tia

 

[Guigsy]

Isn't quite a lot of bottled water from a tap? Sometimes they add more minerals, but often not.

 

[Johnchudson]

I seem to recall they used to state change the filter when the flow of water was too slow. I have the system and have moved it from van to van and am still on the second filter so that is about 10 years!

That will remove off tastes from tank water and remove chlorine. I'm afraid that's all it will do though. It won't improve the water safety.

The filter contains actvated carbon impregnated with silver. If the water needs more than that to be safe it won’t be in my tank!

 

[gpat]

The filter contains actvated carbon impregnated with silver. If the water needs more than that to be safe it won’t be in my tank!

Not sure what you mean. Carbon does not make water safe. Activated carbon will remove organic compounds. Afaik The silver impregnation is to stop bacteria growing on the carbon, not to kill bacteria in the water.

 

[JJ]

I would be genuinely interested to know what this electronic water tester is.

I bought mine several years ago from Amazon.

A Google search will offer many options.

JJ

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[bigtwin]

This thread is a bit like a ‘Reverse Polarity’ thread:

There are the believers and then there’s the science.

Ian

 

[Two on Tour]

This thread is a bit like a ‘Reverse Polarity’ thread:

There are the believers and then there’s the science.

Ian

So which are you then?

 

[gpat]

I bought mine several years ago from Amazon.

A Google search will offer many options.

JJ

Is it a chlorine tester? Is it chlorine that you wish to remove with the filter

WRT Carbon filters they have their use. I am not dissing them. They will remove off-tastes and odours from water very effectively. That will give you a grand cuppa in a morning

However, its worth noting that they are not filters as such. They work by a contact process called adsorption (not absorption) . The rough surface of the activated carbon attracts organic matter. Its the organic matter caused by reaction with chlorine that gives the TCP tastes. The human palate is very sensitive to TCP taste.
The grains of carbon are too large to trap small particles though so they are useless against bacteria, parasites etc. The carbon 'filter' will not normally block

So the dream filter would be a course filter followed by membrane device that can filter below 0.45micron (ultra filtration) and this followed by a GAC filter. The filters would need to have washing systems so that they can be flushed periodically. Like I have said many times this would cost over £1000 to assemble. Anything else that anyone has got will not guarantee water safety completely. I may give some protection against some things.

 

[gpat]

This thread is a bit like a ‘Reverse Polarity’ thread:

There are the believers and then there’s the science.

Ian

Indeed. That's the 'fun' in the forum. I am enjoying the debate and thank you to all the contributors.

It seems people are more protective about their filters than their motorhomes though. I can slag off British motorhomes and no one cares, but question whether a water filter is fit for purpose and hell freezes over

 

[gpat]

I'll forgive your bluntness

However, whilst my statement is perhaps oversimplifying the science, its far from nonsense. Saying that is rude. I'll explain by means of the example below. You seem to have at least some grasp of the science.

At work and every week at both our water treatment plants we sample the raw and the outlet water for cryptosporidium abd giardia. The water is passed through a filter which is designed to trap crypto and giardia. It an approved filter that is supplied by Seven Trent laboratories who have accreditation to test for the said parasites. Its a 45micron spiral filter. As per the approved method we filter at least 1000litres of a period of 24hours. Last weeks was 2200litres but that's not an issue. By the end of the 24hours the flow has dropped to pretty much nothing. We do the raw and for that we have to do at least 10 litres if we can. Same process and same thing. The flow is pretty much stopped after 24hours.

Now, you are correct and its not blocked with parasites. It blocked with particles of similar size that is in the water. Obviously the raw water has more of such particles. Its worth noting though that water treatment plants do not remove everything from the water. They are designed to render the water safe. The outgoing water has a suspended solids of around 0.1mg/l. This will increase as the water goes through the pipes and service reservoirs. The small amount of suspended solids will block the filter. I made the assumption that any water that has these parasites is likely (but not guaranteed) to be dirty.

So my comment about the poster saying the filter didn't block (but to be fair then saying it did block) rung alarm bells because any filter that is fine enough to block these tiny parasites will block if you pass tap water through them and if it doesn't block then its not working

Here is a picture of the filter going on today. Its on the treated water. I'll send you a picture of it tomorrow when it comes off.

Note - This is a Drinking Water inspectorate approved filter cartridge. They cost a few quid each.
View attachment 843294

Just for completion here is todays filter showing how much stuff has been collected from treated water in just 24hours. The filter is blocked and we got 2000 litres through it.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[bigtwin]

There are the believers and then there’s the science.

So which are you then?

I believe in the science.

Ian

 

[Two on Tour]

I believe in the science.

Ian

A tank drinker.

 

[Two on Tour]

View attachment 843569Just for completion here is todays filter showing how much stuff has been collected from treated water in just 24hours. The filter is blocked and we got 2000 litres through it.

Just goes to show that we need to filter our tank water then.

 

[Lenny HB]

I'm in the "water in Europe is safe" camp always drink from the tank but do use a cheap carbon filter inline with the kitchen cold tap to remove the nasty tastes.

I've been under the impression that a lot of the nasty tastes come from a reaction between the minerals in the water and the plastics in the van, and that's why it varies depending on where you filled up.

I was surprised in Greece a hot southern Mediterranean country where you might expect problems but just turn on a beach tap or shower and you could smell the cholrine.

I use a Filtapac Econoflo filter, only £25.50 & £6 for refills, I've been using them for years never had a bad cupper.

F201 Filtapac Econoflo Inline Filter | Filtapac - Water Filtration Simple :: Reliable :: Economical

www.filtapac.co.uk

 

[gpat]

I'm in the "water in Europe is safe" camp always drink from the tank but do use a cheap carbon filter inline with the kitchen cold tap to remove the nasty tastes.

I've been under the impression that a lot of the nasty tastes come from a reaction between the minerals in the water and the plastics in the van, and that's why it varies depending on where you filled up.

I was surprised in Greece a hot southern Mediterranean country where you might expect problems but just turn on a beach tap or shower and you could smell the cholrine.

I use a Filtapac Econoflo filter, only £25.50 & £6 for refills, I've been using them for years never had a bad cupper.

F201 Filtapac Econoflo Inline Filter | Filtapac - Water Filtration Simple :: Reliable :: Economical

www.filtapac.co.uk

That's a very sensible approach

It most likely a reaction between the chlorine in the water and biofilms on the tank (which are very difficult to remove). The biofilms are harmless. The tank can impart a small taste itself by reaction with the chlorine. The tastes are caused by what is known as Disinfection biproducts. The DPDs then react with the tea which makes things even worse. The human palate can detect below the detection limits of sophisticated and expensive test equipment. Carbon eats DPDs for fun.

I confess. At the Water plant we have a carbon filter under the sink in the kitchen as the water straight from the plant makes a terrible cup of tea.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

I confess. At the Water plant we have a carbon filter under the sink in the kitchen as the water straight from the plant makes a terrible cup of tea.

 

[CAB96]

That's a very sensible approach

It most likely a reaction between the chlorine in the water and biofilms on the tank (which are very difficult to remove). The biofilms are harmless. The tank can impart a small taste itself by reaction with the chlorine. The tastes are caused by what is known as Disinfection biproducts. The DPDs then react with the tea which makes things even worse. The human palate can detect below the detection limits of sophisticated and expensive test equipment. Carbon eats DPDs for fun.

I confess. At the Water plant we have a carbon filter under the sink in the kitchen as the water straight from the plant makes a terrible cup of tea.

Thanks for that, just bookmarked that post

 

[Tony50]

I'm not a Scientist!! but, a Anglian Water person testing water in their Laboratory told me when testing our mains water as I complained about our water and should we filter it, said two things ,
1. If you filter water to take something away you are also in fact be adding something to your water from the filter, it's impossible not to do so.
2. By Law mains water has 20 plus tests, bottle water only has less than 10 tests , ( this info was given to me years ago and I can't remember exact figures, he said ,as he would Mains water is safer than bottled water.)

 

[bigtwin]

By Law mains water has 20 plus tests, bottle water only has less than 10 tests , ( this info was given to me years ago and I can't remember exact figures, he said ,as he would Mains water is safer than bottled water.)

Of course it is, the bottled spring water has spent (according to the marketeers) 100s, nay 1000s, of years wending its way through the various rock strata so will be well past its best before date!

Ian

 

[gpat]

I'm not a Scientist!! but, a Anglian Water person testing water in their Laboratory told me when testing our mains water as I complained about our water and should we filter it, said two things , I hope he got fired! That is not their message
1. If you filter water to take something away you are also in fact be adding something to your water from the filter, it's impossible not to do so. I think someone is confusing water softeners with filters. That's ion exchange
2. By Law mains water has 20 plus tests, bottle water only has less than 10 tests , ( this info was given to me years ago and I can't remember exact figures, he said ,as he would Mains water is safer than bottled water.) Tap water is subjected to a more strict testing regime than bottled water that's true. Doesn't necessarily make it better quality though. I think its because bottled water is a choice not a necessity. Everyone relies on tap water and therefore its right that it should be rigorously tested. I don't think bottled water is any more safe or less safe than tap water. However bottled water is often tap water that has been carbon filtered and then UV treated.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[JJ]

Most of the time I draw water from my (deep) borehole into my motorhome tank.

I then transfer some as required to my Berkey which I drink (after cooling it in my fridge).

Away from QMJ, I fill my tank from the nearest tap using my watering can and then proceed as above.

I don't waste any of my limited thinking/learning time on stuff like chlorine or rare metals or any other impurities.

The water from my Berkey is beautiful and fresh.

I am still alive...

JJ

 

[PatapscoPaul]

Then you will be filtering out the chlorine that keeps the tank clean.

No, these pre-barge/van filters are for particulates; they don’t remove chemicals. On the barge & in the van we had/will have a separate filter between the tank & tap. The particulate filters keep the rust & other crud out of the tank and keep the on-board filter cleaner to do its (different) job. Never really found it an issue to attach the in-hose filter when filling the barge but will be using it more often for the van, so may be more of a faff. Also, easy to completely drain the van’s tank which couldn’t be done on the barge.

 

[gpat]

I am still alive

But so is everyone on here

 

[gpat]

The particulate filters keep the rust & other crud out of the tank and keep the on-board filter cleaner to do its (different) job

The filters on the barg fill lines are quite course. Just filter out course solids. Just a mesh/screen really

 

[PatapscoPaul]

The filters on the barg fill lines are quite course. Just filter out course solids. Just a mesh/screen really

Yep, as I said in the post. 10 micron and then 5um They both collect a lot of crud. On-board filter takes out smaller nasties & chemicals.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[ceejayt]

But so is everyone on here

Can you be sure? AI may be responding