Would like to ask a question. I have found when traveling, I have problem with all the diffrent kinds of water. Have found problems with adjusting to the drinking water... sick tummy, etc. We now buy bottled water for drinking, making coffee, etc. Since doing this, have not had tummy problems, but find myself wondering what everyone else does. Do most out there do the same, or do you just do with the diffent kinds of water?

Like you, we buy bottled water - even though we double filter the water coming into the rig.  We keep at least a 24 pack of individual bottles around at all times.  We also buy water in 1 gallon or 2 1/2 gallon containers for making coffee, filling ice trays, etc.  We forgo a meal out a month in exchange for not worrying about water taste, etc.

My guess is there is a split among full-timers between carrying bottled water and just relying on filtering systems.  As with just about everything else in RVing and full-timing, there is no right way to do it.   

My guess is you are having troubles with the constantly changing variety and levels of dissolved minerals (hard/soft) in the water at various places. Have you tried one of those Brita or Pur brand type water filter pitchers?

These are very different than the "whole house" type cartridge filters. House type cartridge filters, even with a charcoal component, typically will NOT remove dissolved minerals, they only remove particulates (though some can trap down to 5-10 microns) and if they have some carbon they will remove some odor. Hence you still have inconsistent water "quality". Brita type filters can remove some dissolved minerals and dissolved chemicals - thus giving you bottled water like consistency. 

Even though I practice robust water sanititation in my rig, I only drink the Brita/Pur water from my RV tap and have never had any tummy troubles. I suspect the wide variation in water hardness/softness (dissolved minerals) we RVers see across the country might be a factor for your tummy. Hence, a Brita like filter pitcher will remove some of those dissolved salts giving you more consistent water and making it easier on your system. Bottled water (spring or filtered) typically has very low dissolved minearals (see labels) and might be why bottled water never bothers you but the local water does. Brita will give you bottle water like results. 

One caution, a Brita type filter will NOT remove micro-biological impurities (i.e. giardia, et. al.) so you need to start with water known to be potable - and of course a sanitized system. Another benefit of Brita type systems over whole house type systems is that if you have ever need to self-chlorinate your water in the RV to remove possible bacteria from an unknown water source (common for hard-core boondockers) a Brita type filter will remove the chlorine taste/smell after its done its job.

Only a water purifier (note the term purifier instead of filter) can handle mirobs on its own typically using some combination of UV light, brine solutions, and/or microb impermeable ceramic media. Brita is not a purifier.

Reverse Osmosis RO systems are very effective BUT it takes some 3++ gals of input water to yield 1 gal of output water. Not very RV friendly. RO will not handle microb contamination either. 

-- Edited by RVDude at 23:37, 2006-09-03

Of note to those that visit South Dakota.  I do not recomend hooking up to the water around Chamberland area or other areas between the Black Hills and the center of the state.  I waited to fill my tank one time account wieght and that was all it took.  The water smelled and that smell did not leave the tank until I ran a 1/2 cup of beach with a full tank & hot water heater and let it sit for a few hours.  Then drained it after running the water through the lines and rinsed the both tanks a couple of times.  Now I pour a bucket of the tap water at the sight and give it the old nose test before I hook up our home.   

-- Edited by Tom N Gina at 22:14, 2006-09-03

-- Edited by Tom N Gina at 22:16, 2006-09-03

We've been on the road for 6 years, and stayed in all sorts of campgrounds all over North America without any water problems.  We have two cartridge filters where water enters the RV - one for sediment and the other for bacteria, then have an under-the-sink filter for drinking water in the kitchen which we use to fill our Pur brand pitcher....so the water is filtered four times by the time we drink it.  The filters are changed regularly.  And we don't have to find a place to store bottles or jugs.

Goodmorning,
We have an undercounter water filter in the kitchen which we use for filling the coffee maker, cooking pots, cats water, etc., and we originally used a whole rig filter on the outside to filter all water entering the coach. Jo also buys bottled water for her personal drinking water. After a few months, I stopped hooking up the outside filter, since 99% of it was used for the toilet, shower and washing dishes. We haven't seen any negative effects so far from this practice, and I enjoy the $25. a month savings in filter cartridges.
Fred

I find the Drinking water issue to be quite important to a great many people. this is my third trailer and I have never drank the water straight from the tap ( I don't from any other tap either). I started with a britta years ago and found that although they will work to take out most of the chlorine the rest is a crap shoot. We have switched to a counter top ceramic filter system that takes out viruses and parasites as well and the servicing is cheap fast and easy ( you simply clean the elements with a tooth brush). These systems have been used for many years by missionary, expiditionary, and folks that just want good clean water. It is called the Big berky by British Bakersfield. here is a link to one of the many companies that sell them
http://www.jamesfilter.com/british_berkefeld.htm#Big%20Berkey
They come in a variety of styles and sizes. Although there are systems out there that put out pretty good water this one has been the most cost effective and trouble free for us and yes I do filter all the water in the trailer as well through a filter system built in, but still run all cooking and drinking water through the Berky. Oh and the last time I decided to clean the filters was after an eight month run through it
Just my thoughts

Thom

-- Edited by Thom at 17:33, 2007-03-20