Drinking water onboard options

[TheMobileWanderer]

Not bought or installed yet - but yes, that's what I'm planning on using along with a carbon filter and some sort of pre filter at the fill up probably.

Yeh, I'm mulling over a few things about it. Two fresh water tanks, one higher than the other. Fill from the fill valve and the water will flow through a strainer into tank 1. (Strainer similar to that on windscreen washer reservoir). From there, it'll flow through a carbon filter, in its own time, and into the second tank to be stored. (Same idea as a Brita filter thing in a fridge). Then when it's flowing to taps, it'll run through a UV filter. I don't know whether I would drink it because in that case, I'd need to refrigerate it too.

 

[fishplug]

Ooo, I'd like to know more about the three stages please.

These vary from system to system but you normally have a sediment filter to remove 'large' stuff (5 microns) then a particulate filter (0.5) and finally a 'virus' filter (0.001)

To kill virus / cyst level stuff you need either nanofiltration, reverse osmosis or UV (well, distillation will also do it but that's not practical in a motorhome usually!)

Reverse Osmosis is probably the best in terms of removing everything from the water but also the most expensive. It's also quite wasteful of water and will strip all the minerals out of your drinking water and deposit them in a concentrated form into your waste.

Might make sense for full timers but for most of us a filtration system is probably the way to go. You can add UV to any filtration system as a final stage.

For my needs I think a single filter + UV stage will be fine. I'm not going to be filling up from muddy puddles or sea water.

 

[TheAleMan]

Ooo, I'd like to know more about the three stages please.

This is the system that’s being fitted to our soon to be built van. There are other bigger systems on their website.

Clearsource Ultra Mini™ RV Water Filter System

PROTECTION AGAINST VIRUSES, BACTERIA, AND CYSTS Our Ultra Mini™ system with Clearsource-exclusive VirusGuard™ filters uses NASA-developed technology to remove or reduce bacteria, cysts, and viruses. No other RV water filter on the market provides anything close to that level of protection...

www.clearsourcerv.com

 

[motorhumour]

I drink a good 2l of water every day, and I am a bit fussy on tap water, so I use a Britta type jug….
I picked up this for the motorhome from dunelm… bargain and quite small.
The motorhome hasn’t arrived yet but I’m ready…

 

[motorhumour]

I’m so glad I posted this…. Just checked the haul from Dunelm and realised that we left the filter behind as we got carried away choosing bedding for the Moho…
Will pop back and fetch it!

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[manners]

Always drink from the tank, just disinfect the tap before filling, drain down when heading home, Puraclean system before winter and descale every couple of years. Filled allover EU and never been ill yet.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

We use the 5 litre bottled water. And carry a plastic 10 litre jerrycan .
We can fit 2 x 5litre and x 1 x10 litre in our doorwell when travelling. Our main tank is used for washing etc.

 

[WESTY66]

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

Cheers,

Jock.

I ALWAYS have done Jock, I thought everyone did

Just about to do the citric treatment today, hope I get it right

 

[K R B]

Supermarkets

 

[WESTY66]

Supermarkets



View attachment 1036050

But doesn’t that mean endless amounts of plastic? Not getting on my soapbox as I waste and buy as much as the next man but if I can cut down on waste in general that’s a good thing, well that and cos I’m too tight to buy bottled water

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[TheMobileWanderer]

Hi JockandRita.
I dose my tank with Milton after every trip and run some through the lines ( OR just before a trip) then empty out and refill and run fresh through the lines.
Havn't got a filter.
BUT, my wife can still smell Milton and she has cll (on watch and wait). So we also take bottled water for her.
And we have 2 x 10L containers which We fill up with fresh water from home, again they are sterilized after every trip.
We often use white vinegar around the house for cleaning/disinfecting.
Would that be a good alternative ?

My brother has, for the last number of years (8-10 I think), used white vinegar to maintain cleanliness in his CPAP machine. Seems to work though I was sceptical when using it when de-scaling and cleaning our coffee machine. Food grade citric acid will be my choice next time, though. His list of ailments is nearly as long as my signature but not CLL.

My SO has CLL and the consultant explained most people end up living with it unknowingly, which put it in context for her. Though, for clarity, it was flagged at a time when her numbers peaked at 6.1.

Apparently most labs don't flag it until it's reached 10. That has had significant affect on travel insurance.
Hth

 

[JockandRita]

Just about to do the citric treatment today, hope I get it right

With food grade citric acid Ade, it's not critical of you don't get it right..............but you might end up with a lemon taint to your tea or coffee if you forget flush through.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Happy Jack]

My brother has, for the last number of years (8-10 I think), used white vinegar to maintain cleanliness in his CPAP machine. Seems to work though I was sceptical when using it when de-scaling and cleaning our coffee machine. Food grade citric acid will be my choice next time, though. His list of ailments is nearly as long as my signature but not CLL.

My SO has CLL and the consultant explained most people end up living with it unknowingly, which put it in context for her. Though, for clarity, it was flagged at a time when her numbers peaked at 6.1.

Apparently most labs don't flag it until it's reached 10. That has had significant affect on travel insurance.
Hth

My wife was diagnosed just 1 year ago
Had just 1 follow up after 6 months, numbers were low. Next check up mid April.
Consultant said it's the low grade one and although more awkward to treat no reason why she shouldn't still be here in 10 years time.

 

[TheMobileWanderer]

My wife was diagnosed just 1 year ago
Had just 1 follow up after 6 months, numbers were low. Next check up mid April.
Consultant said it's the low grade one and although more awkward to treat no reason why she shouldn't still be here in 10 years time.

2017, I think, she was diagnosed with it. She's low grade too, well, the CLL is. Lol. There's no meds for her because, it was said, it could set it off into something aggressive.

 

[gpat]

I drink a good 2l of water every day, and I am a bit fussy on tap water, so I use a Britta type jug….
I picked up this for the motorhome from dunelm… bargain and quite small.
The motorhome hasn’t arrived yet but I’m ready…



View attachment 1025842

I don't want to be mean, but a filter like that will do nothing to improve the water.

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[WESTY66]

I don't want to be mean, but a filter like that will do nothing to improve the water.

What would you suggest to get the “chloridy” taste out?

 

[gpat]

What would you suggest to get the “chloridy” taste out?

A chlorine taste is sometimes a good thing but makes terrible tea. A carbon filter will remove all tastes and odours. But beware they can be havens for bacteria.

 

[Happy Jack]

2017, I think, she was diagnosed with it. She's low grade too, well, the CLL is. Lol. There's no meds for her because, it was said, it could set it off into something aggressive.

Same here.

 

[interbear]

We’ve always used bottled water for drinking and cooking. Did it when we had a smaller freshwater tank in our first van, carried on doing so when we got a bigger van with bigger tank. No hassle whatsoever buying bottled water in supermarkets, then recycling the bottles.

We use the onboard freshwater tank for washing, showering, washing dishes and cleaning teeth. Usually drain the tank down after each trip and every so often (in fact it’s due now) clean it overnight using Pro-Kleen fresh water tank cleaner (chlorine free) which cleans, descales and removes bacteria. So far we are surviving. According to the Pro-Kleen info we could drink from the onboard tank once cleaned, but we have stuck to our bottled water habit and it works fine for us.

 

[manners]

Pro-Kleen fresh water tank cleaner (chlorine free) which cleans, descales and removes bacteria. So far we are surviving. According to the Pro-Kleen info we could drink from the onboard tank once cleaned, but we have stuck to our bottled water habit and it works fine for us.

According to Pro-Kleen this product should NOT be used on the hot water system, which is no good for me as there's no way to stop the Truma boiler filling when the pump is turned on to flush the system.

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[interbear]

According to Pro-Kleen this product should NOT be used on the hot water system, which is no good for me as there's no way to stop the Truma boiler filling when the pump is turned on to flush the system.

Glad you posted this! I checked and you are correct. Just as well I haven’t used it on the new van yet, which does have a Truma combi boiler. The previous van had no hot water system so not an issue.

Ah well, I have 2 full 5L bottles of the stuff that I won’t be able to use now.

Will go and get some Puriclean which is apparently OK for a Truma boiler.

 

[Oldrat]

Glad you posted this! I checked and you are correct. Just as well I haven’t used it on the new van yet, which does have a Truma combi boiler. The previous van had no hot water system so not an issue.

Ah well, I have 2 full 5L bottles of the stuff that I won’t be able to use now.

Will go and get some Puriclean which is apparently OK for a Truma boiler.

Make use if them in the grey waste?

 

[herald_400rl]

I just chuck water purification tablets in the tank and we guzzle it from the tap as normal, not a 2nd thought given. Not dead yet...

 

[B+W vanman]

Glad you posted this! I checked and you are correct. Just as well I haven’t used it on the new van yet, which does have a Truma combi boiler. The previous van had no hot water system so not an issue.

Ah well, I have 2 full 5L bottles of the stuff that I won’t be able to use now.

Will go and get some Puriclean which is apparently OK for a Truma boiler.

Can you refer me to the advice re hot water systems and Pro-Kleen please?

 

[interbear]

Can you refer me to the advice re hot water systems and Pro-Kleen please?

Of course. See the Customer Questions section lower down on this webpage: https://www.prokleen.co.uk/pro-kleen-caravan-fresh-water-tank-cleaner

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[Barriesimpson]

We’ve always used bottled water for drinking and cooking. Did it when we had a smaller freshwater tank in our first van, carried on doing so when we got a bigger van with bigger tank. No hassle whatsoever buying bottled water in supermarkets, then recycling the bottles.

We use the onboard freshwater tank for washing, showering, washing dishes and cleaning teeth. Usually drain the tank down after each trip and every so often (in fact it’s due now) clean it overnight using Pro-Kleen fresh water tank cleaner (chlorine free) which cleans, descales and removes bacteria. So far we are surviving. According to the Pro-Kleen info we could drink from the onboard tank once cleaned, but we have stuck to our bottled water habit and it works fine for us.

We do the same.

 

[B+W vanman]

Of course. See the Customer Questions section lower down on this webpage: https://www.prokleen.co.uk/pro-kleen-caravan-fresh-water-tank-cleaner

Hi thanks
They seem to recommend not using in a Truma Combi at the top of the list of questions, then okaying its use in the same system at the bottom of the list!
Not sure how many Truma hot water boilers are actually “combi” systems either.
Leaves me a wee bit confused!

 

[interbear]

Hi thanks
They seem to recommend not using in a Truma Combi at the top of the list of questions, then okaying its use in the same system at the bottom of the list!
Not sure how many Truma hot water boilers are actually “combi” systems either.
Leaves me a wee bit confused!

True. This also confused me but there seemed to be several responses suggesting it should not be used and one response suggesting it could be. On the balance of probability I'm going with not using it. I read on a couple of camping retailer webpages that Truma recommend Puriclean but when I checked the Truma website to validate this, their guidance is not so clear: "The water container should be sterilised and descaled regularly. All commercial cleaning products from camping specialists are suitable for cleaning, sterilisation and care. Commercial descaling products, vinegar essence or citric acid can be used to descale the water container. Pour cleaning or descaling products in the recommended mixing ratio into the water container via the water inlet and allow them to take effect. Connect the water container and rinse through thoroughly with clean water.I also checked the Truma website and their advice further complicates things though."

 

[B+W vanman]

True. This also confused me but there seemed to be several responses suggesting it should not be used and one response suggesting it could be. On the balance of probability I'm going with not using it. I read on a couple of camping retailer webpages that Truma recommend Puriclean but when I checked the Truma website to validate this, their guidance is not so clear: "The water container should be sterilised and descaled regularly. All commercial cleaning products from camping specialists are suitable for cleaning, sterilisation and care. Commercial descaling products, vinegar essence or citric acid can be used to descale the water container. Pour cleaning or descaling products in the recommended mixing ratio into the water container via the water inlet and allow them to take effect. Connect the water container and rinse through thoroughly with clean water.I also checked the Truma website and their advice further complicates things though."

I think I’m going to take the view that it should be ok if you make sure the whole system is well rinsed after use
I keep a container of drinking water in the fridge for drinking as well!

 

[Barriesimpson]

I think I’m going to take the view that it should be ok if you make sure the whole system is well rinsed after use
I keep a container of drinking water in the fridge for drinking as well!

We put some purifications tablets in the tank every 2nd or 3rd fill. They smell quite strongly of chlorine, I didn't read the packet coz that falls under the missus's obligations. We have a habit of only drinking water from the bottles we buy in the supermarket, because albeit our tap water in the Canaries is perfectly safe to drink (by law) it doesn't always taste very nice.

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