Water purification?

[Scubawise]

We will be in the Colorado mountains for 4 days.
No access to rv water spigot.
They do have a drinking water area.
We have a 5 gallon bpa free bucket and a battery pump to fill mh drop in water system.

What dropin charcoal or any filters have folks used to purify water?

[lwmcguir]

I use 3% peroxide if it is potable water. Approximately one ounce per 5-10 gallons. Since it is simply hydrogen and oxygen, makes it innocuous to use.

Bleach is always the easiest and easy to test for a free residual, but I hate the smell and taste so have never used it in 60 plus years of RV'ing and have camped in CO numerous times in out of the way sites.

Some folks like potassium permanganate since it is easy to carry and use. It is becoming popular in surface water treatment as it helps to kill off some species of mollusk which are becoming a huge problem. Zebra Muscles are now in the Midwest as well.

Creek water is a different story due to the giardia that is almost always present and often coliform as well. It can be treated if it is the only source.

[Scubawise]

Originally Posted by lwmcguir

I use 3% peroxide if it is potable water. Approximately one ounce per 5-10 gallons. Since it is simply hydrogen and oxygen, makes it innocuous to use.

Bleach is always the easiest and easy to test for a free residual, but I hate the smell and taste so have never used it in 60 plus years of RV'ing and have camped in CO numerous times in out of the way sites.

Some folks like potassium permanganate since it is easy to carry and use. It is becoming popular in surface water treatment as it helps to kill off some species of mollusk which are becoming a huge problem. Zebra Muscles are now in the Midwest as well.

Creek water is a different story due to the giardia that is almost always present and often coliform as well. It can be treated if it is the only source.

Thx Dr lwmcguir

[Chateau_Nomad]

If you're near or downstream of mining areas in Colorado be very careful about drinking unfiltered water... not so much bacteria but residual contamination.

Just me, but I won't drink water from these areas unless it's either been RO filtered, or sourced from a municipal water facility.

[lwmcguir]

Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad

If you're near or downstream of mining areas in Colorado be very careful about drinking unfiltered water... not so much bacteria but residual contamination.

Just me, but I won't drink water from these areas unless it's either been RO filtered, or sourced from a municipal water facility.

i have a 5 stage RO on board for drinking water and the OM filter housing is in line for tank use for tank use. Back in the day we used the 20-micron hose filter or the tank and tried to fill in known water quality spigots.

Water quality has dropped in most areas unfortunately.

[ducksface]

We drink .5 liter bottles water on the road.
Consistent, no fear, easy to carry, Wal-Mart available by the case.

We'll shower in anything that's wet.
We're fresh water lake and river and abandoned well and cattle pond scuba divers. If it's wet and unmapped, we're in it.(treasure and artifact dives. We're not fish LOOKER-ATTERS)
None have caused any malady.

Some folks on this forum have oft showered in what smells more like diesel than it should. The things that grow in a ships tank are borderline sentient.

Water worries are highly over rated.
Media fear driven.

[Chateau_Nomad]

So... you have to consider your "perceived" risk tolerance. Are you an Angel's Landing, shelf road driving, ice ledge climbing, base jumping type?

Do you chock all 4 wheels on your motorhome?

Do you wear a bicycle helmet?

Do you ride a bicycle barefoot?

Only YOU can decide what is "safe" for you.

The only way to assess risk is to educate yourself with facts and statistics... just like an insurance company does. Then you'll have a good handle of what works for you.

If you're unsure, apply your risk tolerance.

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

Originally Posted by ducksface

We drink .5 liter bottles water on the road.
Consistent, no fear, easy to carry, Wal-Mart available by the case.

We'll shower in anything that's wet.
We're fresh water lake and river and abandoned well and cattle pond scuba divers. If it's wet and unmapped, we're in it.(treasure and artifact dives. We're not fish LOOKER-ATTERS)
None have caused any malady.

Some folks on this forum have oft showered in what smells more like diesel than it should. The things that grow in a ships tank are borderline sentient.

Water worries are highly over rated.
Media fear driven.

So, you would drink a glass of dysentery from a stock pond? While most of us could drink from a freshwater stream with no ill effects the fact is that some could get deathly ill from things that can often be swimming around in an untreated water source. Even a deep well might be contaminated. In Colorado mining activity could have left high levels of mercury in the environment for example.

[ducksface]

I've rinsed my mouth with some nasty stuff after having nastier stuff in it.
But

I think OP is talking about where thousands have thirsted before, not a buffalo wallow that hasn't been seen in 90 years.

[lwmcguir]

My RO is for ice maker and fridge dispenser water, also coffee

All other water used comes from the best available tap water when it is time to fill the tank

[Chateau_Nomad]

If I had only two options... a buffalo wallow that hadn't been seen for 90 years versus a creek polluted by unregulated mining/industrial waste and human feces... the buffalo wallow would hands down be my choice.

For having supposed higher intelligence, humans are probably the filthiest species on earth. 90% of public restrooms prove that point.

[lwmcguir]

Should a person be immune compromised a 1.0-micron filter followed by disinfectant is decent except for colloidal materials then distilled water is best

[ducksface]

Cautions come from experience or they come from fear.
They come from no other place.

Mine are from experience not indoctrination.
Drinking 6 gallons of purest water all at once will kill you. I don't do this.
The arsenic and other goodies require millions of gallons of water drank to even supposedly proof as truly toxic. I don't do this.

Put a filter on your gray water source, drink bottles from a tested source. No need for a slight worry unless you just need an added worry.

[Scubawise]

Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad

If you're near or downstream of mining areas in Colorado be very careful about drinking unfiltered water... not so much bacteria but residual contamination.

Just me, but I won't drink water from these areas unless it's either been RO filtered, or sourced from a municipal water facility.

Good point noted

[powerboatr]

all of our water goes through a 5 micron filter , at the inlet, then through the water softener, drinking water goes through RO to use to make ice and drink and coffee.


yes it may seem ,like overkill, but our faucets are not jammed with chunks of minerals, shower stays cleaner and we dont get the mexico runs on trips

[ducksface]

Rain water
Then
1 micron
Then .5 micron
Then
600gpd ro
Then to the house
Then
an ro at the kitchen sink.

Because I can.

RV?
Bottled water to drink,
Standard blue in line filter for tank.

[Scubawise]

Originally Posted by powerboatr

all of our water goes through a 5 micron filter , at the inlet, then through the water softener, drinking water goes through RO to use to make ice and drink and coffee.


yes it may seem ,like overkill, but our faucets are not jammed with chunks of minerals, shower stays cleaner and we dont get the mexico runs on trips

We live in NM.
WHAT are mexico runs vs German runs ?

[powerboatr]

Originally Posted by Scubawise

We live in NM.
WHAT are mexico runs vs German runs ?

one has more jalapenos

[lwmcguire]

Short story

Fellow contacted the county agent regarding poor well water quality

The county agent visited the farm, which was on a steep rocky slope

He recommended moving the outhouse downhill from the present location above the well

The agent stopped by to check in with the farmer, who was very irate,

He said i moved my outhouse downhill, and a few days later, my well ran dry

[powerboatr]

Originally Posted by lwmcguire

Short story

Fellow contacted the county agent regarding poor well water quality

The county agent visited the farm, which was on a steep rocky slope

He recommended moving the outhouse downhill from the present location above the well

The agent stopped by to check in with the farmer, who was very irate,

He said i moved my outhouse downhill, and a few days later, my well ran dry