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Old 06-01-2016, 02:50 PM   #1
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Question Filter water or not?

My new surveyor 245BHS did not come with a water filter (WaterPur Water Treatment System). Is it really necessary? What other options do I have instead of going through the work of installing one?
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Old 06-01-2016, 02:52 PM   #2
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Only filter with no worries is an outside filter.

Camco Water Filter with Hose - Walmart.com
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Old 06-01-2016, 03:03 PM   #3
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We always bring our own bottled drinking/cooking water. Traveling around from one area to another, quality of water always changes, as does taste. For everything else we just use campground supplied water, unfiltered.
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Old 06-01-2016, 04:31 PM   #4
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I do not use a filter for tasty water, it's to keep sediment out of the tank and pipes.
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Old 06-01-2016, 04:33 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford Idaho View Post
Only filter with no worries is an outside filter.



Camco Water Filter with Hose - Walmart.com

X 2


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Old 06-02-2016, 11:48 AM   #6
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I use a sediment filter, two carbon filters and a water softner. Best water anywhere.
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Old 06-02-2016, 11:59 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford Idaho View Post
I do not use a filter for tasty water, it's to keep sediment out of the tank and pipes.
X2

If you want to avoid bringing bottled water (which, IMHO, is a PITA) you should (at minimum) run the Camco sediment filter, then a whole house filter and, just to be safe, a Brita pitcher filter.

I have a friend in the Berkshire Owner's Group that is a fanatic about clean water. His suggestion is to shop for filters here:

RV Water Filter Store: Standard Filter Canisters for Whole RV
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Old 06-02-2016, 12:14 PM   #8
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You can get the individual canisters off amazon for $15

http://www.amazon.com/DuPont-WFPF130...ilpage_o06_s00

Coarse filter for $5

http://www.amazon.com/DuPont-WFPFC40...ilpage_o06_s00

1 micron filters for $13

Amazon.com: Purenex 1M-4PK 1-Micron Sediment Water Filter Cartridge, 4-Pack: Home Improvement

and finally carbon filters for $9

http://www.amazon.com/DuPont-WFPFC80...ilpage_o06_s00

I put three of the canisters together with brass pipe fittings for around $20. For a total of about $100, I had a three stage filter system that would cost close to $500 (or more) if you bought everything together in one system. The coarse filter gets the big particles. The 1 micron filters the small stuff and the carbon filter takes out the bad taste.
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Old 06-02-2016, 12:36 PM   #9
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We bought a gravity feed Big Berkey. http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/big-berkey-water-filter.htmlAbout 258.00. It is amazing and gets all the chemicals, pesticides, cryptosporidium, even fluoride and arsenic. The filters last for 6,000. Plus refills (2.25) gal. It is stainless steel and looks nice and could (in an emergency) filter creek or pond water and we can still have clean healthy water.
We love it! Way cheaper than buying water or messing around with an in system filter. And we can use it when we are not hooked up to "city" water.
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Old 06-02-2016, 01:00 PM   #10
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Water is one of my favorite topics and one that I have been experimenting with for many years.

First of all, remember that the better the filter, the slower the water flow. So, if you use one of those "cheapies", you will have great water pressure and flow when hooked up to city water. It tickles me when I read user comments about a particular water filter and it reads "does a great job and doesn't reduce the water pressure".

Another factor is water quality. If you plan on staying in places like "RV Resorts", then you expect good, clean water. But, do you want to take that chance, think of Flint Michigan for example.

Regarding the water flow, if you look at the filter's flow rate, you can get an idea of how good the filter is. So a filter rated at 5 gpm (gallons per minute) seems to a normal "cheapie". The lower the gpm rating, the more stuff the filter will block. If you cannot find a filter's gpm rating, then the micron size (lower the better) is another measure.

Personally, I use a "cheapie" one to remove large particles, then a water softener, then a 2 gpm filter that filters everything including bacteria, heavy metals, etc. Probably the water is better quality than home!

Obviously, I would not get a good water flow in the RV with this arrangement - I would hate to try to take a shower with a 2 gpm flow. So, I fill my water tank, turn off the city water, and use the water pump in the RV.
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Old 06-02-2016, 01:32 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by aerohead34 View Post
You can get the individual canisters off amazon for $15

http://www.amazon.com/DuPont-WFPF130...ilpage_o06_s00

Coarse filter for $5

http://www.amazon.com/DuPont-WFPFC40...ilpage_o06_s00

1 micron filters for $13

Amazon.com: Purenex 1M-4PK 1-Micron Sediment Water Filter Cartridge, 4-Pack: Home Improvement

and finally carbon filters for $9

http://www.amazon.com/DuPont-WFPFC80...ilpage_o06_s00

I put three of the canisters together with brass pipe fittings for around $20. For a total of about $100, I had a three stage filter system that would cost close to $500 (or more) if you bought everything together in one system. The coarse filter gets the big particles. The 1 micron filters the small stuff and the carbon filter takes out the bad taste.


Seriously...I'd like to see your setup - sounds awesome (Only thing I would add is a water softener)
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Old 06-02-2016, 02:51 PM   #12
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Drink Proper Filtered Water Only

We have had a Big Berkey for years and use it at home. That unit was too big to lug around unless you have a big bus . . . When we downsized, the boss found a quart size Big Berkey that came with a travel pack. Now we can carry the smaller unit and dip out of the cold stream we are hiking next to and enjoy safe water. The quart size stays in the RV and we fill up jugs to keep a good supply. I will shower in water anywhere . . . but I don't trust it to drink or cook with. If you buy tea to go from one of the fast food restaurants, we use those gallon "jugs" for the water. We like the ones are at like heavy duty baggies and fold up when not being used. If I remember right, both Berkey bottles and travel bag were around $100.
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Old 06-02-2016, 03:04 PM   #13
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Thought I had one on my cell. Will take one of the set up and post it.
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Old 06-02-2016, 03:22 PM   #14
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I also use a outside water filter.
I also don't drink the water from my fresh water tank
even with a filter. I can just think what the tank is made of
or what is in it. I don't think that made in China are the best quality tanks.
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Old 06-02-2016, 03:36 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by whj77372 View Post
I also use a outside water filter.
I also don't drink the water from my fresh water tank
even with a filter. I can just think what the tank is made of
or what is in it. I don't think that made in China are the best quality tanks.
Once sanitized properly, why not? Of course, filling the FWT via the filtration system would be a must.
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Old 06-02-2016, 03:48 PM   #16
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I prefer an external filter. In addition to simplicity, upon return home, I put the filter in the fridge at home until next trip. I am not convinced that a partially filled filter sitting in an RV basement in 90 heat for a few weeks is something I want my water running thru. To see what I mean, fill a glass half full from your tank leave it sit covered on the counter in the RV between trips. While loading for the next trip, decide if you are OK using that water. I do the same with my water pitcher filter.
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Old 06-02-2016, 07:16 PM   #17
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Our Zero Water pitcher works well and fits in fridge.
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Old 06-03-2016, 08:18 AM   #18
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Originally Posted by ccsvolsfan View Post
Our Zero Water pitcher works well and fits in fridge.
X2 - For camping longer than a weekend, I'll hook up a "whole house" filter (available at home centers). You can choose what type of filter you want to use (sediment / charcoal / etc). The Zero Water works great. Even removes any funny taste from the fresh water holding tank.
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Old 06-05-2016, 08:51 PM   #19
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Here's a few pics of my setup.NPT Pipe fittings in the middle. NPT to female hose fitting/ NPT to male hose fitting on the ends. I pulled the flexible hose ends from a couple self contained water filters I had used previously.
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Old 07-28-2016, 11:27 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by myezlife View Post
My new surveyor 245BHS did not come with a water filter (WaterPur Water Treatment System). Is it really necessary? What other options do I have instead of going through the work of installing one?
20 years rving. Our 2016 mini lite has that system. Bottom line my wife loves it out the tap.....we carried bottled water tell this trailer. A great simple system for sure.
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