Sediment, microbes, and water filters

[Hudsoner]

Originally Posted by TechWriter

That's why I'd suggest using UV sterilization -- just a UV bulb in a pipe -- but it's expensive.

That would provide a high level disinfection, but not sterilization, which means, quite a few microorganism would still find their way top the faucet.

But, to be realistic, we do not plan an y kind of surgery in our RV's, but we just want to drink the water or cook with it. If we cook with it, microbial contamination are no problem, because we boil them to death, and the stomach of most of us can stand city water without any problem. It might not taste that great, but it must meet pretty stringent standards (if you don't live in Flint, Michigan)

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by Hudsoner

That would provide a high level disinfection, but not sterilization, which means, quite a few microorganism would still find their way top the faucet.

NSF certified UV systems are available that will disinfect water to a "safe" level.

Originally Posted by Hudsoner

But, to be realistic, we do not plan any kind of surgery in our RV's, but we just want to drink the water or cook with it. If we cook with it, microbial contamination are no problem, because we boil them to death, and the stomach of most of us can stand city water without any problem.

What about the water you drink? Boil that too?

[Hudsoner]

Originally Posted by TechWriter

NSF certified UV systems are available that will disinfect water to a "safe" level.



What about the water you drink? Boil that too?

You could, but I buy bottled water if I am not sure about the water quality at a location.

It is always a question what one considers a safe level. I made my living in infection control and prevention research, and what I consider to be a safe level might be different from what this commercial product considers to be safe.

[Arch Hoagland]

Get Your Children Good and Dirty - WSJ

Germs are good for you!

[BKWDS]

Sediment: Guess its my Southwestern river-running heritage showing. Filtered crud out of the water all the time. I agree, sediment is unlikely...just don't want any in my tanks. Microbes: I've experienced Giardia. No fun. Don't ever want a repeat.

[twogypsies]

Contact a Grand Canyon River Rafting company and ask what kind of filter they use on the trip. We drank and cooked from the river water itself.

[RunawayJim]

Originally Posted by Hudsoner

If you want to filter out microorganism, you need a hepa type filter in line. However, you could forget about any flow rate with such a filter installed.

I think what we have is an in-line filter but not sure. Question regarding flow rate. (I'm just guessing here) If the filter is located pre-tank than it would take longer to fill the tank, but then water is being pulled out of the tank ie; faucet, shower shouldn't be effected by flow rate due to no filter post-tank... correct? Do you run a filter both pre and post tank. Or are we talking city water where the tank is being by-passed? The reason I ask is our new MH came with a filter just sitting in the cabinet under the kitchen sink and I cannot figure out where it goes. It has a gray plastic deal on top that turns Left/right and pops off (to replace cartridge). The filter cartridge itself has a diameter a little larger than a beer can and is only about 3-4" tall. On top of the gray plastic deal there are two threaded male hose fittings (guessing 1/2'') in size. It looks to me like one would pop this unit in-line for one sink or water source. I thought most filters where located out in the water fill/drain compartment but this one looks like it might be a dedicated sink filter. I'm not with the MH right now but will post a picture of the filter if anyone might know more about this. Might be what you are looking for BKWDS.

[twogypsies]

RunawayJim: Your filter at the kitchen sink is dedicated to the sink. It's most likely just a 'taste' filter.

You need to use an additional filter before your water even gets into the RV - at the source.

Go to the link for filters that I posted above. Lots of good reading on that site on what kind of filters you need to filter out whatever you're trying to do.

[Smitty77]

Twogypsies is spot on about rvfilterstore. Take sometime to read thru the site. Determine what level water filtration you feel you want to obtain Then call and talk over options with them.

When thinking things thru, consider at least three items:

-Sediment in general
-Degree of filtration and protection desired for whole house usage (Remember when you shower, and say brush your teeth, this is water coming either from shore or tank. And they can introduce bacterias and or cysts to you and your family, as easy as cooking or drinking water can.)
-Drinking and cooking water.

Another consideration, is that store bought drinking water. Or the water coming out of the 'bring your own bottle and pay to fill' stations. Are only as good as the maintenance and care of the equipment putting the water in the bottle. I had a wake up call on this. When a local Southern California news station did an investigative report. They bought several off the shelf drinking bottles of water. They also went to a I think it was 5 of the different kiosks self serve where you fill your own bottle. And finally, they filmed the reporter filling a bottle of water from their unfiltered kitchen faucet at their home, from the local water supply.

Independent lab blind tested all of these. Results included bacteria, minerals and cysts found. Not in all, but amongst the group. As I recall, about 60% of the bottle water had some sort of problems. And half of the kiosks did too. The municipal water tested OK.

I tell that story, as we would buy bottle water for cooking and drinking as we traveled. After seeing this report. I researched how to improve the water safety in our coach. And now I have my own series of filters, and I maintain them on my schedule.
(Sediment up front. Whole House bacteria/mineral/cysts protection, and then under the kitchen charcoal and due to the full size filter I use under the counter, a combo filter that also redundantly removes bacteria/mineral/cysts.

One last story. While to the best of my knowledge my wife and I have never been sick from the RV water supply from our rigs over the years. I do know of some people that have been. One the Escapees members had a bad experience with a parks water supply - and that was his wake up call.

So, while it may never happen to all of us, it could happen to some of us - so why not take the extra precautions to make our water supply as safe as possible? Heck, I spend good money on filters for our diesel fuel, engine oil, air filters - so why not some good quality filters for our bodies?

And my experience with the Richard at RV Water Filters has been very positive. Sure I read many threads like this, some I agreed with some I was wondering what they were thinking! So, after several posters I respected suggested rvwaterfilterstore.com - I decided to check them out. Richard will help you sort thru the options, and you can determine the level of filtration you desire.

Best to all, be safe, have fun,
Smitty

[donnandon]

Originally Posted by D Lindy

Unless you're using water from a stream I'd think that there's no worry about microbes, being as 99% of campground water systems are supplied by city water treatment facilities.

The quality of the water at the faucet connection at your rv site is not necessarily the same as it was supplied by the city to the campground. Having worked in a number of RV parks, the number of times that there is a water leak and dirt gets into the piping during the repair is quite frequent. Yes, we flushed the system afterward but still no guarantee everything cleared out.

We run 2 filters, one just for sediment, the other to cleanse the water. The sediment filter is white when it is installed. When removed 3-4 months later it is no longer white, and that has been pretty common wherever we have been.

[firedoc]

What micron filters do you use? Do you find pressure adversely affected by the filters, especially the smaller micron ones (the most effective ones)?

[Hudsoner]

Originally Posted by Smitty77

(Sediment up front. Whole House bacteria/mineral/cysts protection, and then under the kitchen charcoal and due to the full size filter I use under the counter, a combo filter that also redundantly removes bacteria/mineral/cysts.

Best to all, be safe, have fun,
Smitty

I understand the desire of removing sediments and certain microorganism (bacteria, fungi/mold, polyps and viruses) but I have no idea what you understand under the term cyst.
A cyst is an infectious growth of body tissue that could be the result of a contamination with certain microorganism. These could be in the water, but the cyst itself can not be there.
(I made my living in the infection contrl and prevention field)

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by Hudsoner

I understand the desire of removing sediments and certain microorganism (bacteria, fungi/mold, polyps and viruses) but I have no idea what you understand under the term cyst.

He could be talking about Cryptosporidium.

[nothermark]

FWIW - one really needs to do some homework to avoid pouring a lot of money down the water filter rat hole. Here is some very useful information to start:

source OA Guide to Water Purification

Common microorganisms and the filter size needed:
Organism
Examples General Size Filter Type Particle Size Rating Protozoa Giardia, Cryptosporidium 5 microns or larger Water filter 1.0–4.0 microns Bacteria Cholera, E. coli, Salmonella 0.2–0.5 microns Microfilter 0.2–1.0 microns Viruses Hepatitis A, rotavirus, Norwalk virus 0.004 microns Water purifier to 0.004 microns

Note: The cysts are that stage of crypto and giardia protozoa. They are transmitted in a cyst state then morph into an active state in their new host.

If you are really going after virii with a filter you are into some interesting short life and/or expensive stuff. I find chlorine a better answer. YMMV. I also ignore heavy metals in the NE. If I was venturing into the southwest and maybe a few other areas I would have a different attitude. The point is to do a bit of homework and see what you need for the area you will be in.

FWIW2 another reason for intestional upset can be changing from hard to soft water. I have seen it many times when I was young and our family traveled to our summer stop. Parents were both hit regularly. Us kids cruised. ;-) Another case of knowing what you are dealing with.