Drinking water filter questions

[tvoneicken]

I'm trying to pick an under-counter drinking water filter for our 23FB and I wonder whether some of you have experience with any of the products below... I've spent a couple of hours reading old threads but am not sure I'm that much wiser :-).

We currently haul 15gal of R.O. water from home in 5gal canisters, which works OK for extended week-end trips, but not beyond. We don't like bottled water: too much plastic and often not that great a taste either. I'm concerned as much about taste (or rather, absence thereof) as about drinking healthy water.

General Ecology Nature Pure RS2QC: it looks like this is a more affordable version of the Seagull IV filter that several people have mentioned? The >$600 stainless housing for the Seagull doesn't make sense for me. It looks like the bracket/mount is proprietary, so I would be locked into that one type of cartridge. $91/cartridge @600gal.

3M Aqua-Pure 3MFF100 ~$250/cartridge @6000gal, appears very similar to the Nature Pure filter from the specs, but it's rather confusing to me... I believe the SQC fitting allow me to pick other cartridges... It's also pretty big at 4-1/2" diameter, being really a full-flow filter...

3M Aqua-Pure AP Easy Cyst-FF ~$70/cartridge @2000gal, seems to use the same fitting as the 3MFF100, it's smaller in size, filters less but 3M doesn't make it easy to compare their own filters... I believe it doesn't filter out VOC and has less emphasis on taste...

Staying in the 3M sphere, there's the Filtrete Maximum Undersink Filter, it's a "consumer product", which means 3M doesn't put specs on their site... seems to filter somewhere in-between the 3MFF100 and Easy Cyst-FF. $29/750 gal.

The Culligan US-EZ-4 Undersink Water Filtration System Level 4 looks attractive too, probably very similar to the Filtrete Max. Unfortunately those jokers don't include the total system dimensions in either their spec or installation sheets... I'm also wondering whether the AS pump delivers enough pressure...

It's really difficult to figure out what flow rate to expect with any of the above filters when using the AS pump. The specs lists gpm but don't state at which pressure...

Sigh....

[r carl]

The only bottled water I like is Ice Mountain spring water.

[kpm]

We use a Pentek FloPlus-10 0.5 micron high-flow filter on our galley cold water line. The onboard water pump has no problem with this filter's 2 PSI pressure drop. I plumbed the filter myself with a standard 10x2.5" filter housing.

We also use a Zero Water pitcher for drinking water. The filters last a very short time, but the taste approaches RO quality.

We also use a Pentek DGD-2501 1 micron sediment filter when filling our fresh water tank. It is a standalone 10x4" housing I fitted with garden hose connections. This is a whole-house system which accommodates a large flow when filling the tank.

[waninae39]

we filter all water

dual HIGH flow pleated and carbon filter for all water behind a gates water pressure gauge

a separate triple filter just for the kitchen. it has its own tap

[Bigventure]

I would replace the nipple between the filters with a brass one. Unless you like drinking iron rust water.
At the very least use a galvanized one.

[tvoneicken]

Originally Posted by kpm

We use a Pentek FloPlus-10 0.5 micron high-flow filter on our galley cold water line. The onboard water pump has no problem with this filter's 2 PSI pressure drop. I plumbed the filter myself with a standard 10x2.5" filter housing.

We also use a Zero Water pitcher for drinking water. The filters last a very short time, but the taste approaches RO quality.

I gather the Pentek FloPlus doesn't "fix" the taste sufficiently, hence the ZeroWater?

[tvoneicken]

I asked Genereal Ecology whether the Nature Pure QC2 cartridges have the same filtering specs than the Seagull IV ones and the answer is 'yes':

Yes, RS2QC replacement canister and RS-1SG replacement cartridge share the same “Structured Matrix™” technology. Main difference is capacity and flow rate.

[MAJORJDB]

Imho, it depends on how you use your trailer as well. If your a weekender (weekday) versus a full-timer, your drinking water needs are less. We are weekenders and use an inline filter for the whole trailer, changing it every season ($20+/-). We use a portable Ber-key water filter system for drinking water, filters last 6000gals. I think @$120 each. Point is, we can/do use our Ber-key at home as well and it makes it more cost effective for us versus sitting unused in the trailer when we are not traveling. Plus it comes with us as we change RVs... Safe travels!! Jim

[Banker]

I use a portable Britta water filter. Filters are inexpensive and last several months.

[jjjourney]

tvoneicken, have you considered filtering all of the water coming into the trailer? We're 3 months into fulltiming and have been using this Clearsource dual filter. The replacement filters are reasonably priced ( $30 for a pack that contains both of them ). My wife actually likes the clean taste so much that before fulltiming she made me filter all our drinking water at home with it. Flow rate has never been an issue.

One drawback of this setup is that you obviously have to set it up outside each time, although I put quickconnect connectors on the hose so I can attach / detach it quickly.

https://amzn.to/2LSe5QF

Aloha,
John

[Halford1]

install filters under sink where you would get water for drinking? I am pretty sure that the toilet would not complain filterless water going to it...

[drbrick]

IMHO I would guess it all depends on where you get your water and if you sanitize your tank. Since at this stage we travel in Canada and water quality here is good, thus we only partical filter on fill up. We have never had any problems. However, when we plan our trip south of the border we will add a 3 stage filter system - just based on the scarry reading on the AF threads!

[GatorDave]

Water from the green hose has lasted me 71 years.

[gypsydad]

Been using the Camco 40043 with our freshwater hose when connected and we also have one "in line" under our sink. Have used since 2010. Inexpensive and does an excellent job of filtering the water. We also take along a 3 gal water container of filtered water with a pump-top filler which we use for our coffee and drinking water. When in MT, our well water is excellent quality right out of the ground; in other locations, we will fill the 3 Gal container using our filtered hose. Advantage of the extra 3 gal container for coffee and drinking is primarily to save the on-board water for showers, dishes, and bathroom needs; plus it is easily filled.

[Tomfeury]

I believe that filters more often contribute to bacterial problems in your drinking water. If in almost all areas of this country (even Flint Michigan now)
I will take my chances with the city water. If I really feel it is compromised, I drink bottled water but if heating it for coffee and such, still use the city water.
Save the money and the hassle....

[kpm]

Originally Posted by tvoneicken

I gather the Pentek FloPlus doesn't "fix" the taste sufficiently, hence the ZeroWater?

Yes, sort of. When we fill from a non-chlorinated water source, we add 5 tsp bleach to our 39 gallon tank to be safe. We have heard anecdotal evidence that not all campgrounds provide safe water. The FloPlus works very well but there is still a small trace of chlorine left. The ZeroWater removes even that.

We choose to to apply the filter only at the cold water in the galley so that, for safety's sake, there is chlorinated water running through most all of the plumbing.

We also only use our onboard water tank and use a portable water softener just after the sediment filter. Especially in south-western states the water can be very hard.

This is the system that has worked for us

[gordyfj49]

Originally Posted by Bigventure

I would replace the nipple between the filters with a brass one. Unless you like drinking iron rust water.
At the very least use a galvanized one.

yea use galvanized. Ever here of galvanized poison.
Love iron. was raised on it
just use the inline RV filter. you will be fine!