Water flteration.

[johns4104s]

In between houses we are living in the 9 for now, Spending a fortune on spring drinking water. Which way should I go on a go for a  filtration system. Is there a system out there that can be used for the incoming hose that will allow the system to be drinkable? That will not cost a fortune in filters and that would not restrict the flow rate?

John

[oldmansax]

I am looking for the same information The water where we are is good to drink but has a lot of iron in it.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi John,

I use a commercial system by Everpure in my bus, my house, and the shop. We install and service this system to

restraunts, hotel/motels, and many homes. They eliminate bacteria, taste, oder, and color down to a 1/2 micron.

Here is info on them
http://www.nbadame.com/catalog/i16.html

Let me know if you need more info
Nick-

[rv_safetyman]

My approach might be a bit different. 

I do not try to filter anything except drinking water.  My approach is to run a water line to a standard two filter unit (any big box store) and then run a line to a separate water faucet on the sink and also a water line to the fridge for the ice and water dispenser.

I then put a bit of Clorox in the tank every so often (especially if I the bus will not be used for a couple of weeks).

I am not a expert, but I think the first filter is charcoal based, and the second filter gets rid of the bad stuff that will make life unpleasant .  Before I chose the unit, I did a lot of reading and felt that the unit would serve my needs. 

The filter does a great job of getting rid of the chlorine smell and taste in the drinking water (can still smell it in the sink and shower faucets).

There are folks that say that chlorine is bad for you (even shower water).  I don't subscribe to that school of thought.  There are folks who spend a lot of time in swimming pools that are pretty healthy.

Not very expensive and it seems to get the job done.

Jim

[JackConrad]

We use 2 "house type" filters from a big box store.  The first filer is a sediment filter and all water goes through this filter before going into mour fresh water tank. The second filter is an activated charcoal and filters the water before it goes "upstairs".  This works for us, YMMV.  For further filtration, you could purchase a muti-stage R/O under sink unit with a separate faucet.  Jack

[johns4104s]

Jim,

Do you remember what make ans what you paid?

Thanks

John

[jjrbus]

Not a filter, but might help till you fidn and install what you want, I have 7, 1 gallon jugs, In the toad I have a 6 gallon crate. I do not want to carry and store 5 gallon bottles and 1 gal fits in the fridge. When I need water I take a gallon out and put in an empty. Most stores have osmosis machines, when I go near or to the store I fill any empty bottles,  25 to 30 cents a gallon.  Works for me.  HTH Jim

[Jerry Liebler]

To no one' surprise I chose a bit different system.  All  water coming into my bus goes through a Dulton ceramic filter, then an ultraviolet 'steriliser'.  The ceramic filter filters down to 0.9 micron which catches molds, bacteria an even some viruses.  The ceramic filter is cleanable but it is also quite a bit of restriction so I only use it for 'city water'.  The UV steriliser kills any living things left and has almost no restriction.  The incoming water can be used directly or put, through  valve, into the tank.  Water from the tank goes through the  pump then the UV steriliser.  Water to the cold tap in the kitchen sink also goes through a carbon block filter to remove any chlorine or other taste.  For the price of 15 watts to run the steriliser I know that I have safe water, regardless of the source. A couple of check valves let one steriliser work on water going into and out of the tank.
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120 

[Merlin]

I use a commercial system by Everpure in my bus, my house, and the shop. We install and service this system to

restraunts, hotel/motels, and many homes. They eliminate bacteria, taste, oder, and color down to a 1/2 micron.

Here is info on them
http://www.nbadame.com/catalog/i16.html

Let me know if you need more info
Nick-

Nick,
How tall is that unit? Also considering I need a tad of space to change the filter, I'm wondering if I could fit it under the sink in our bus.  Also what is the cost of a replacement MC2 cartridge?  A few years back we purchased a great filter system for our home sink, but when it came time to get a new filter, the company no longer made them.  Bummer for sure and I can't locate a filter that will fit, so the house "system" is caput.

We are doing pretty good with just a Brita pitcher filter for the house now, but for the bus I think the fridge is not large enough for it, unless we don't put much food in there.

For initial water filtration in the bus, I've set up a two-filter rig (with water softener) that will set outside the water bay while I'm filling the tank.  It can be stored in a bay after the tank is filled.  Best I could design considering the scant space available in the water bay itself.  No room left for filters, or water softener.

Merlin

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

I use a commercial system by Everpure in my bus, my house, and the shop. We install and service this system to

restraunts, hotel/motels, and many homes. They eliminate bacteria, taste, oder, and color down to a 1/2 micron.

Here is info on them
http://www.nbadame.com/catalog/i16.html

Let me know if you need more info
Nick-

Nick,
How tall is that unit? Also considering I need a tad of space to change the filter, I'm wondering if I could fit it under the sink in our bus.  Also what is the cost of a replacement MC2 cartridge?  A few years back we purchased a great filter system for our home sink, but when it came time to get a new filter, the company no longer made them.  Bummer for sure and I can't locate a filter that will fit, so the house "system" is caput.

We are doing pretty good with just a Brita pitcher filter for the house now, but for the bus I think the fridge is not large enough for it, unless we don't put much food in there.

For initial water filtration in the bus, I've set up a two-filter rig (with water softener) that will set outside the water bay while I'm filling the tank.  It can be stored in a bay after the tank is filled.  Best I could design considering the scant space available in the water bay itself.  No room left for filters, or water softener.

Merlin

Hi Merlin,

From the top of the guage to the bottom of the cartrage is 27" The replacement cartrage is 19"
I sell the replacement cartrages on my site.
I also have been a dealer for Everpure for 13 years and no end in the future.
Camping world sells a shorter version of the everpure like ours but, their cartrages only last a few weekend trips...
I replace my cartrage once a year in my bus.
In my house, I have a 4 cartrage head with a pre filter and 3/4" inlet and outlets
http://www.everpure.com/catalog/productview.asp?type=Tab2&sub=cf&ProductID=EV9437-10&category=foodservice&appn=Combination&market=4&brand=Everpure&app=7

Nick-

[Lin]

We use an Aquacena two cartridge system that attaches to the faucet with a diverter valve.  It noticeablyimproves that taste and supposedly takes care of chemicals, cysts, amoebas, etc.  Filters that do serious filtering will seriously effect flow.  Since we are only filtering drinking/cooking water, that would be acceptable too.  Jerry's ceramic/UV system is probably the most substantial, although I do not think we are generally in areas that require that level.  I once read that US embassies do something similar.

Another thing to consider for extreme circumstances are the portable devices designed for backpackers and foreign travelers.  There are even pen-size UV lights that you mix around in the water.  I am told there are some little hand pump filters that can suck water out of a mud puddle and deliver a pristine drink.

[Hartley]

I use a whole house carbon filter for the main supply and to fill my tank.

Then inside if I run from the tank I use a smaller house carbon filter with the onboard pump.

For drinking water next to the kitchen sink I use a high capacity carbon filter
like used for icemakers that runs to a second carbon block filter with a replaceable twist-lock cartridge (.5 micron) available from Lowes that has a valve and hose (icemaker tubing) that is long enough to reach the sink and coffee pot.

This is what I have for use with the bus (fulltime)..

Whirlpool Whole House filter. $54 ( about $30 per cart )
TMI 20,000 gallon icemaker filter. ( $19.95 ) good for a year.
Whirlpool cartridge icemaker filter.($ 21.00 ) good for 6 to 12 months.


Externally I have a 6 inch (Big Time Sour Sulfer) water well. I send that water to a 300 gallon open holding tank and treat with chlorine and air bubbler. Then through a double sediment filter system and water softener then to a whole house carbon filter. Makes it usable and not stinky. I have to change the carbon filter once a month usually.

The inside system of filters gives me perfectly clear and taste-free bottled water quality whether it's from the onboard tank or from the well.

[HB of CJ]

Wow, GREAT thread.  Thanks everyone.  I learned/relearned a lot here.  What I seeing is that water fulturation/purifying and sterilization is a very important system of our Bus Conversions.

Believe we all, at some time, have been "dosed" with bad water.  Let's all remember how much FUN that was NOT!  It can ruin your day, week or month.  I can even quickly KILL you sometimes.

My point here is that this may be an important area where we do not want to cheapen things up.  Dedicate the "cubic," (physical space) pay the $price$ and get an excellent system. HB of CJ/RN 

[Nusa]

I've been using a reverse osmosis system at home (two homes, actually...I moved it when the buyer didn't want it): http://www.wattspremier.com/watts/showdetl.cfm?&DID=15&Product_ID=25&CATID=1.
I originally bought mine at Costco about 8 years ago for ~$130. Standard 10" filter size...you aren't locked into buying filters from Watts. Haven't had to replace the RO membrane yet, even though it's past its advertised life.

Absolutely worth it for me...around here you can smell and taste the algae in the supply water at times, although it's technically drinkable as is. The reservoir means there's always enough on hand for what I need. I also put a T in and ran the RO water to the icemaker in the freezer.

My neighbor, with the same supply water, just uses a diverter filter attached to her kitchen faucet. That seems to take care of the taste and smell issues also. But overkill can't hurt.

[rv_safetyman]

Wow, somehow lost a whole post.  Well, lets go for it again.

John, we are on the road and I don't have the file with me.  I looked and we are using a GE Smartwater system.  I did a quick look and found this site:  http://www.geappliances.com/smartwater/dw_dual.htm.

I am not sure which model I have (can't see any numbers), but I think it might be the 55F  You can see that all of them have some pretty good protection.

We have been in some campgrounds over the years where the water looks terrible after it sits in a glass. 

On the first day of a trip or two back, I forgot and got some water from the main tap.  It had a very strong chlorine taste.  I emptied the glass and the water that came through the filter tasted great.

We store our bus with as full of a tank of water as possible.  We are on well and we have to be careful because of many years of drought.  I add maybe 4-6 ounces of Clorox to the tank (maybe more, since I am an engineer "if a little is good, a whole lot more is better" )  The bus never sits more than a few weeks, so the Clorox is a good solution for us.

Jim