Whole-RV Water Filtration Systems
Water quality can vary greatly from location to location and some municipal water supplies throughout the country can contain high amounts of sediment, impurities, chlorine, iron and toxins. These impurities can impart odors and cloudiness as well as health concerns. When traveling on the road one must constantly adapt to different tasting water, differing water odors, and different hardnesses of water. One solution to this problem is a multi-stage filter that will addresses sediment, bacteria, heavy metals and chlorine.
NSF Water Filter Ratings
The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) tests water filters and rates their effectiveness at removing chlorine from water. To receive a Class I rating a carbon water filter must remove up to 75% to 100% of the chlorine present in the test water. For a Class II rating the filter must remove 50% to 75% f the chlorine, and 0% to 50% to get a Class III rating.
A filter element's ability to screen out a certain material is measured in microns (1 micron = one thousandth of a millimeter). A five micron filter will screen out any particle that is larger than five microns. The smaller the micron rating, the smaller the screened particle size. The down side of water filters with a low micron rating is that they tend to clog faster and can restrict water pressure. Generally, the larger the filter, the less it will restrict water pressure. For this reason, you will want to purchase the largest filter or filters that the space will accomidate.
Water Filter Types
Each type of filter is designed to remove a different component in the water. Sediment filter cartridges are designed to catch dirt, minerals, metal particles, and sand. Sediment cartridges usually have a paper filter element and are available in micron sizes ranging from 1 to 20 microns.
Carbon filter cartridges are designed to remove contaminants that can affect odor and taste. These filters use activated carbon in granular or solid block form. High quality carbon filter cartridges can remove bacteria, chemicals, giardia and cryptosporidium cysts. They are also designed to remove lead and other heavy metals.
Doulton ceramic cartridges are "bacteriostatic" and are designed to remove sub-micron particulate matter such as bacteria, cyst and fine sediment.
Combination filter cartridges are designed to remove sediment and remove taste and odor problems. Combination cartridges usually contain paper and carbon filter ellements.
A Reverse Osmosis, or RO system forces water molecules through a semi-permeable membrane achieving a high level of filtration for minerals, salts and sediments but allowing a small amount of contaminates to escape the brining solution. RO systems also produce a lot of waste water (brine), only filtering about 20 to 30% into pure water. Additionally, RO systems require adequate water pressure (over 50 psi) in order to function properly.
An Ulta-Violet water filter system can provide the highest level of filtration for biological pathogens such as cryptosporidium, coliforms, and giardia.
Multi-Filter Systems
A multi-filter system will effectively address several problems at once without significantly restricting your water pressure. If you do not have a pressure regulator, you will want to add on the maintain your water pressure at a constant psi ranging from 40 to 60 pounds.
Buy Puritec Whole RV Triple Water Filters online at Amazon.com:
Puritec UVW-3 Ultraviolet light with sediment and double carbon filters RV Filter
Whole RV Water Filtration Systems from Camping World:
Culligan RVF-10 Exterior Water Filter
TastePURE CX-90 Ceramic Water FIlter
Hydro Life Exterior Disposable Inline Water Filter
Portable Water Softeners from Camping World:
Portable Water Softener & Conditioner
PurTestŪ Home Water Analysis Kit
PurTest Water Analysis kit from Amazon.com - 32% discount:
PurTest Home Water Analysis Test Kit
