People who go RV camping are likely to have experience in tracking the best spots on the road. Just how well is water bad for RV campers? These are common things you need to know. Perhaps then you will understand, and we are here to help along the way.
People who go RV-ing are quite acquainted with the horrid water all over North America. Maybe it does not have a smell or bad taste, it does not mean it is safe. Just as you wouldn’t take a sip from your RV sewer hose, campground well-water might be just as infected.
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RV-Camping and Water Essentials
Some people like to stay on the safe side and drink and cook only with store-bought water. They use water from a municipal water source only for cleaning and washing. However, in some cases, well water can be contaminated with components that are bad for the environment altogether.
Water supplies that are suspicious in any way should be tested before use. For those who are unsure of the signs, watch out if the water has a taste/smell of:
- iron
- nasty taste
- rotten-egg odor
- stains
- high chlorine
- other undefined substances
One of the safest ways to be able to use water from almost anywhere you go is to consider installing a water filter on your RV. Water filtration is essential for safe usage. Water piped from campgrounds and wells directly into the tap of the RV can be smelly and full of contaminates.
What Do I Need to Know About RV Water Filters?
All filtration systems have the essentials quite similar. The purpose of water filtration systems is to remove chemicals, odors, and sediments from the water. There are a few types of filters that can be used in the RV.
The inline filter is the most basic. It is attached to the hose leading to the RV water tank. It filters all incoming water. However, these filters are not the most efficient they are recommended as first aid.
Reverse osmosis filter processes all water used in the RV. It is the most efficient on the market. The best combination of sediment, odor, and chemical removal. Unfortunately, quality and safety here come with a price. Reverse osmosis filters are the most expensive.
Standard Canister Filter forces incoming water through one or more canisters. The filtration system is located in this canister. It is designed to catch and hold sediments/contaminants. One of the advantages of this type of filter is customizability.
The more cartridges the cleaner water you will have. These standard canister filters are the best option for part-time RVer’s. Their only downside is that sometimes they slow down the flow rate.
Jumbo Canister Filters are like the standard ones, only bigger. They also offer a better flow rate. Due to their size and capacity, the cartridges do not require to be replaced as often. This is great for people who live on the road and spend most of their time in their RV.
A Good Source of Water Is Essential for Any Outing in Nature
Having a freshwater source is very important for quite a few reasons:
- We need a minimum daily water intake
- Washing clothes and putting out fires
- Refreshing before the next hiking segment etc
Having water from individual water objects, like wells, deserves special attention. Water must be maintained so it can be used. Today, this is less frequent, especially in urban areas. But there are still some houses and remote residences that rely on well water. Most of them are vacation spots built camping and similar outdoor activities.
Now, some of the locations of these private or public spaces are quite remote. Because of this, there is no option to attach it to the main water source. Most of them have private wells. The majority of them were dug out sometime by previous generations. For owners that do not have information on when the area was last cleaned and tested, we urge you to do it as soon as possible.
Types of Wells
Private wells can differ by many traits. They can be either dug or drilled. There can be a wall around it, but it is not a rule. The one thing that they have in common is that they source out underwater sources up to the surface. They can differ by the depth from where the water is taken. This impacts the quality of the water because of the type of soil it goes through. It can contain some traits that are not fit for human consumption.
Well Water Quality
For good quality water in any well, the water must be hygienically correct. The second thing is that the well should be properly built. Its position should be far from any potential pollutants. Other technicalities must be already present.
If drains and pumps already exist, it allows the water source to be easily maintained and safer to use. If not, it is highly recommended to hire experts and have their project, draw and build the required systems. In addition to that, we recommend that you contact the local water laboratory. It is important to have the samples of water credited by a licensed company. Only then can you be certain that the well water is safe for usage.
How Often Should the Water Be Checked?
A frequently asked question is how often should owners test out the quality of the water, its chemical and bacterial components. It primarily depends on how often the well is used. Also, depending on some soil and surrounding factors it is important to consider how often can there be a chemical change in the quality of water.
A general rule is minimally once a year. However, if the space around the well is used by campers all year round, we recommend you do it more frequently. In the slightest doubt that the water is contaminated, contact your local company and take water samples more frequently.
What to Do if the Water Is Contaminated?
If a bacteriological defect is found, which can significantly affect the health of well users, it is necessary to take measures to clean and rinse the well, and when the presence of pathogenic microorganisms is determined, the advice is to disinfect the water and the well itself.
Disinfection of drinking water from wells aims to remove pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microorganisms, and can be performed regularly 1 to 2 times a year, or extraordinarily, in cases of established microbiological malfunction of water.
The disinfection procedure is best approached after the cleaning and rehabilitation of the facility itself, as well as the landscaping (if it has not been done during the previous 3 years). Disinfection is performed with chlorine-based disinfectants suitable for widespread use.
Things to Keep In Mind for Anyone Using Well Water
Regular maintenance and disruption in the ecosystem will probably require additional cleaning. Well-water from regions that are flooded is prone to pollutants. Because of this, all well-water that people use for drinking can be medically unhealthy once it mixes with the floodwater.
To determine whether or not the water is safe for drinking, taking samples for laboratory examination is mandatory. It is recommended to do this a few times a year.
The well needs to be cleaned, washed, and disinfected every 2-3 years. Disinfecting a well implies making the existing wells to be technically sufficient. It is mandatory to do this once the wells are worn down, unhygienic, irregular, or damaged because the water is prone to pollution.
Instructions for Cleaning Wells After Floods
- Clean the area around the well: remove all visible dirt and, if necessary, remove the top layer of soil.
- If the well is damaged, repair the damaged well walls and, if necessary, fill the space between the good wall and the ground with clay.
- Prevent the well from being filled with surface water by draining the water through drainage channels.
- Pump out all the water from the well, and brush the walls of the well with a solution of chlorine-based disinfectant, prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- When the well is refilled, carry out the hyper chlorination procedure under the supervision of experts from the Institute of Public Health.
- After disinfection, the water cannot be used immediately, but in accordance with the recommendation of experts from the institute of public health (minimum 30 minutes), which depends on the dose of the applied agent.
- The purpose of the water after the disinfection procedure will be determined by the experts of the public health institute based on the assessment of the situation and the risk to human and animal health.
When using disinfectants, be sure to follow the instructions for handling. Prevent disinfectants from reaching the skin, eyes, nose, and mouth by wearing protective masks and gloves, protective footwear (boots), and clothing. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after making contact with the product.
Finally, Is Well Water Bad for the RV?
As we discussed so far, the quality of the water depends on the source, how it is transferred to the surface, and many other elements. Well-water needs to be cleaned and maintained on-site so anyone can use it. To learn more about how to maintain your RV water systems read our article about water heater drainage in RVs. Besides having access to fresh water, it is important to have storage for food, especially during the summer.
For landowners that rent out spaces for RV campers, if there is a well, it is mandatory to check the quality of the water several times a year. Keep track of users if there are any complaints or suspicions. In the slightest sign of trouble try to provide another source of freshwater until you resolve the issue and the quality of the water.
