Drinking water onboard options

[Lenny HB]

Apologies if you have covered this elsewhere, but which carbon filter have you used?

Thanks.

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

www.filtapac.co.uk

You can replace the filter in it about £7 a go.

 

[TheAleMan]

Anyone who has ever suffered e-coli or similar water-borne infections, or from others people poor hygiene standards would not be so glib. You ride your luck as much as you like, but I shall continue to play safe as no doubt will most Funsters.

That’s why we have opted for a three stage water filtration system on our new upcoming van. It will also allow us to fill the tanks from lakes, lochs and rivers if need be when off gridding for it not to be a concern.

 

[treblid]

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

www.filtapac.co.uk

You can replace the filter in it about £7 a go.

Perfect! Thanks.

 

[Happy Jack]

A practice that we carry out often Mandy, including where we are staying at now at a CL in Cambridgeshire. So many vaners take their toilet cassette and water containers together to the facilities. You just know what one they are going to do first don’t you..yeah, you guessed it it, the toilet cassette. It’s then after doing that that they decide to fill up the aquaroll, or water bottle/watering can. Can’t believe how many do this with no consideration for others. we are forever disinfecting the water faucet after our observations. If they had half a brain cell they’d be really dangerous.

And over the years I've seen many a man who having been to the toilet leave without washing hands.
Which will have been the case many a time then they go fill up their water containers for the van.
Oh and if they had half a brain cell they'ed be Trump.

 

[fishplug]

My old van's water 'system' consisted of two plastic jerry cans and a Whale foot pump.

It worked well but for the new build I've decided to have hot water and a pump and all the good stuff!

I looked extensively at water systems and was pretty much decided on a three stage filtration system despite them taking up a lot of valuable space until....

I'd always ruled out UV systems because the mercury lamps and sleeves needed annual replacement etc. However, these days you can get LED ones which last 8 years and are much more efficient.

So, my current plan is to put in a single filter and combine it with a really compact UV water treatment thingumy....

I'll probably also use a pre-filter of some sort on the inlet hose / fill point to get rid of any larger debris.

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[JockandRita]

And over the years I've seen many a man who having been to the toilet leave without washing hands.
Which will have been the case many a time then they go fill up their water containers for the van.

And you would think that after the pandemic, folks would be more particular of their personal hygiene standards.

I keep a bottle of hand sanitiser in the MH garage, for sanitising my hands after emptying the cassette............even though I wear gloves for the job.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Happy Jack]

And you would think that after the pandemic, folks would be more particular of their personal hygiene standards.

I keep a bottle of hand sanitiser in the MH garage, for sanitising my hands after emptying the cassette............even though I wear gloves for the job.

Cheers,

Jock.

And you would think that after the pandemic, folks would be more particular of their personal hygiene standards.

I keep a bottle of hand sanitiser in the MH garage, for sanitising my hands after emptying the cassette............even though I wear gloves for the job.

Cheers,

Jock.

After first lockdown when we were allowed out and about we often had a walk through our local park.
We would walk in single file when passing people but did the others coming past us.......very rarely, which meant they were often much nearer than the recommended 2M.
In Supermarkets, people often got really near to others to get an item off a shelf.
Could go on but the gist of it is, a lot of people have no common sense, impatient,don't care.

 

[Flairy]

We have Seagull filter changed yearly used it for 22 years and previously 9 years ever had a problem(unless anybody knows different)

 

[PP Bear]

We only do the UK at the mo and typically 5 to 21 days at a time, March to October. Anything from 7 to 30 days between trips.
Have a new onboard tank now, went from 75 to 50L.
Thinking about using it for drinking water.
Do I need to sterilise between trips every time?
Can you suggest dosing quantity for a 50L tank?

No Jack, just at the beginning of your travel season.


Roughly 40grams per litre, or a tablespoonful per 5 x gallons. Add a bit extra to cater for the hot water tank too.
Doses are similar to those for sterilising home brew kit.

To descale the hot water tank, after pulling the mixture through all taps, close them, then heat the water for 20 x minutes, and leave for a good few hours until cool. Pull the mixture through all hot and cold taps again and drain down completely.
Fill up, flush through, and drain down again. That will set you up for months unless you allow water to stagnate.

Draining down after each trip and filling with fresh before each trip, helps the system to stay fresh, due to the chlorine in our UK water.

Cheers,

Jock.

Then decant the citric solution through all the pipes and shower, making sure that I keep the showerhead in the tray so gravity keeps in the head, hence helping descale that too, then fill up the grey tank and it gives that a clean too. Great stuff and well under-utilised unless you’re in the know

I also just add the full bag into the tank, but diluted and mixed with warm water first. I’ve been known to put 2kg bags in before, just depends on what I’ve got.

Whilest it’s decanting from the taps into the grey tank, I fill the kettle and run it through the coffee machine and they are completely descaled as well.

Even been known to throw half a bag into the cassette just before I service it and that’s sparkly too

 

[TheAleMan]

And you would think that after the pandemic, folks would be more particular of their personal hygiene standards.

I keep a bottle of hand sanitiser in the MH garage, for sanitising my hands after emptying the cassette............even though I wear gloves for the job.

Cheers,

Jock.

Your as OCD as me Jock, I do exactly that, incl the gloves.

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[Happy Jack]

Then decant the citric solution through all the pipes and shower, making sure that I keep the showerhead in the tray so gravity keeps in the head, hence helping descale that too, then fill up the grey tank and it gives that a clean too. Great stuff and well under-utilised unless you’re in the know

I also just add the full bag into the tank, but diluted and mixed with warm water first. I’ve been known to put 2kg bags in before, just depends on what I’ve got.

Whitest it’s decanting from the taps into the grey tank, I fill the kettle and run it through the coffee machine and they are completely descaled as well.

Even been known to throw half a bag into the cassette just before I service it and that’s sparkly too

Will look at that, but would stick to the dose recommendations if only for economical use.
Would it be good for washing machines instead of calgon?

 

[PP Bear]

Will look at that, but would stick to the dose recommendations if only for economical use.
Would it be good for washing machines instead of calgon?

That’s a great question. Probably not as it’s the main ingredient in bath fizz bombs and the like and there’s no telling what it would react like when put on a wash, but never tried it.

 

[Verteuil Man]

Anyone who has ever suffered e-coli or similar water-borne infections, or from others people poor hygiene standards would not be so glib. You ride your luck as much as you like, but I shall continue to play safe as no doubt will most Funsters.

We do not ride our luck, I sterilise the fresh water tanks and water system twice a year. I my view you can get more harm from microplastics drinking water from plastic bottles. Also drinking water from taps is produced to a quality to which natural bottled water does not have to comply with. Not gung ho at all.

 

[Littlewheels]

I think l might be the odd one out (l know those who are agreeing) l actually use a Charcoal filled cylinder filter when l filling the tank not when l am drawing it,works for me.

 

[gpat]

Only if the tank is kept clean

Try cleaning pipes and tanks with citric acid and see what comes out

Citric acid will only remove limescale which is harmless anyway. Not dissing your post as removing limescale now and again is a good thing if you are in a hard water area. However it doesn't mean the water in your tank will harm you if you don't clean it. I would drink the water from the tank gladly. I don't though as it tastes horrible (especially in tea).

We use the tank water for everything else (and even tea in an emergency). Its fine for cooking, washing, cleaning teeth etc.

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[gpat]

We do not ride our luck, I sterilise the fresh water tanks and water system twice a year. I my view you can get more harm from microplastics drinking water from plastic bottles. Also drinking water from taps is produced to a quality to which natural bottled water does not have to comply with. Not gung ho at all.

Isn't your tank and the pipes made from plastic?

 

[Whippet93]

Sorry, but we might be the exception to the rule, (however we are not unique in that category), having a Nature Pure filter system installed, ie, all our drinking water comes from the fresh water tank.
Others have similar filter systems installed, some of which are simple installations of an inline filter from the likes of B&Q or Wickes, etc, which are changed annually. Others are more sophisticated.
Some just use the water filter jug with a charcoal filter installed, giving 30 x days use per filter. Easy peasy and cheap as chips.

It depends on whether you will be travelling to exotic locations, where the water quality may be considered questionable, or in our case, an occupant of the MH has a medical condition whereupon the meds adminstered, leaves them in a position of being immune deficient, requiring a bit more care and attention to the potential of infection from possible contamination.

Twice annually after filter removal, I sterilise our fresh water system with citric acid anyway, (hot & cold lines), just for general hygiene, despite a filter system installed.

Cheers,

Jock.

Have you seen the price of chips lately?

 

[AdrianChen]

We have Seagull filter changed yearly used it for 22 years and previously 9 years ever had a problem(unless anybody knows different)

Had those on the boat - expensive re-fills but worth it I think. Haven't yet sorted anything on the van, so far so good.....

 

[Happy Jack]

That’s a great question. Probably not as it’s the main ingredient in bath fizz bombs and the like and there’s no telling what it would react like when put on a wash, but never tried it.

View attachment 1018440

Might well try it on a clean cycle.

 

[Verteuil Man]

Isn't your tank and the pipes made from plastic?

Not PET.

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[gpat]

Not PET.

I honestly was not aware that either PE or PET were any better or worse than each other for microplastic contamination/degradation products

 

[JockandRita]

Will look at that, but would stick to the dose recommendations if only for economical use.
Would it be good for washing machines instead of calgon?

2 x cups of vinegar in the empty machine, and setting it on a boil wash once every couple of months, will do the job admirably.

Have you seen the price of chips lately?

If that was banter, or meant to be funny, then sorry but it was lost on me, ie, WOOSHHHHHHHH.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[bobandjanie]

I use a Berkey water filter.

Google Image Result for https://theberkey.com/cdn/shop/products/Travel-Berkey-Water-Filte.jpg?v=1687236926

JJ

We Have the same as JJ in the camper it travels in the sink while moving, we also have the large one at home so much better than lugging bottle water, we clean our tank / water system with white vinegar a couple of times a year.

 

[Happy Jack]

And you would think that after the pandemic, folks would be more particular of their personal hygiene standards.

I keep a bottle of hand sanitiser in the MH garage, for sanitising my hands after emptying the cassette............even though I wear

2 x cups of vinegar in the empty machine, and setting it on a boil wash once every couple of months, will do the job admirably.


If that was banter, or meant to be funny, then sorry but it was lost on me, ie, WOOSHHHHHHHH.

Cheers,

Jock.

Will try that, we use white vinegar for allsorts.

 

[Whippet93]

2 x cups of vinegar in the empty machine, and setting it on a boil wash once every couple of months, will do the job admirably.


If that was banter, or meant to be funny, then sorry but it was lost on me, ie, WOOSHHHHHHHH.

Cheers,

Jock.

just a quip on your comment;
Some just use the water filter jug with a charcoal filter installed, giving 30 x days use per filter. Easy peasy and cheap as chips.

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[Lenny HB]

Yb

If that was banter, or meant to be funny, then sorry but it was lost on me, ie, WOOSHHHHHHHH.

You did say in your post Jock "as cheap as chips"

 

[CAB96]

My old van's water 'system' consisted of two plastic jerry cans and a Whale foot pump.

It worked well but for the new build I've decided to have hot water and a pump and all the good stuff!

I looked extensively at water systems and was pretty much decided on a three stage filtration system despite them taking up a lot of valuable space until....

I'd always ruled out UV systems because the mercury lamps and sleeves needed annual replacement etc. However, these days you can get LED ones which last 8 years and are much more efficient.

So, my current plan is to put in a single filter and combine it with a really compact UV water treatment thingumy....

I'll probably also use a pre-filter of some sort on the inlet hose / fill point to get rid of any larger debris.

True Blue Travellers on YouTube have a similar system, they put it on their Land Rover and the Delivery Van conversions they did.

 

[CAB96]

From the tank.

It's new, and small, but tastes fine.

Mostly Stockport's finest corporation pop, some of the softest water in the UK.

I recall reading that it was not advised to refill the disposable water containers you buy from the supermarket, as mains water leaches stuff from the plastic that the spring water doesn't, maybe it's the chlorine?

 

[Neilfg]

We drink from the tank, like many others sterilise the tank and pipes at least once a year, we always empty the tank if not using van for week or so. Have a carbon filter on the tank fill hose and 3m HF10 Microbial inside, we like the 3m as it is easy to remove and bypass when cleaning.

Used to be just the kitchen tap that was filtered, but in new van we will put in just after the pump, so all taps and shower. This will be one of our first mods .

I can sort of understand those who do not drink from the tank but we both drink water and bottled water would very quickly become tedious, so keeping our fresh water tanks clean and the water safe is very important to us.

 

[fishplug]

True Blue Travellers on YouTube have a similar system, they put it on their Land Rover and the Delivery Van conversions they did.

That's where I got the idea from!

I had researched UV systems six or seven years ago but hadn't come across LED versions then (don't know if they weren't available or if I simply didn't find them) but they didn't make sense at the time.

The company in my links is the same one they used, really helpful people and very quick response to my questions.

The UV unit I linked to is the 'updated' version of the True Blue Travellers one which is even smaller and uses less energy. 10 litres per minute is plenty for a van IMO and I love how compact the system is.

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