Water Collection, Filtering and Purification

SmokerBill · 06-02-2011, 09:56 AM

I failed to fill my water tanks before I headed up the mountain road to my dispersed camping spot, figuring I'd be able to get water at the nearby official campground ($14 a night- I spent almost $400 in diesel driving from Moab to western Washington, and don't really want to spend another dime for a while)

Anyway, the water at the campground was difficult to get out of the ground, and I only got 4 or 5 gallons. I found a nice spot and leveled my trailer, truck still hitched on because I know that next time to move, I'm moving on to somewhere else.

I had 3 gallons of good drinking water left. The camp host brought me some water and pumped it into my fresh water tanks, but he told me he pumped it out the the nearby creek- and recommended I don't drink it. What to do? Three gallons of drinking water for me is about 2 days worth.

I woke up this morning to a nice gentle rain, which led to the bright idea of collecting the rainwater and using it for drinking and filling my fresh water tanks.

I have a few new, clean storage containers, and have been using two to collect water off the roof and awning of my trailer. I set up another container with a makeshift filter- a clean microfiber kitchen towel and a bottomless gallon water jug.

I've been pouring the collected water through the "filter" and into the stage-2 storage container. Once it's full (14 gallons), I'll add the appropriate amount of plain Clorox bleach (8 drops per gallon, or 1/2 teaspoon per 5 gallons) to the water, stir and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then give it the sniff test- it should smell faintly of chlorine. If not, repeat the Clorox dosage.

Once sanitized, I'll transfer the water to my 10 one gallon jugs, and my 5 gallon jug. After those are filled I'll start working on filling my fresh water tanks.

Looks like I have a job to do today.

Bill

David472 · 06-02-2011, 10:58 AM

I would be inclined to boil the water before drinking it, despite the clorox. My innerds tend to be more sensitive to drinking water quality than most folks though.

SmokerBill · 06-02-2011, 11:37 AM

I've drank a lot of chlorinated tap water in my life, so I guess I'm used to the taste. The Clorox will kill all the bugs, so I'm not worried about that. And if it's too chloriney I can let it sit in my big stock pot overnight, with a towel draped over the top, to let the chlorine disperse.

I guess more than anything, this is just something I want to try doing to see if it works out ok. It's not like I'm in dire straits for water, but it's kind of fun trying out something new.

Mike and Rose · 06-02-2011, 11:58 AM

http://www.camelbak.com/Sports-Recre...ding/Main.aspx
Would one of these work for you? Britta also makes a similar bottle.

edatlanta · 06-02-2011, 03:36 PM

Water quality from location to location is amazing. I am currently in a campground in Panama City, FL. While the water tastes fine even before going through my two stage filter, I thought all of you would like to see this picture. I replaced the first stage filter 1 week ago. You can see on the left side of the picture a new filter still in the white wrapper. Please note how brown the in use filter is especially at the bottom. Again, this was after 1 week of usage and I am a single person. The plastic housing is clear, not smoked.

The second stage filter is a carbon filter FYI.

I sure had rather this particulate matter be caught in a 1 micron filter rather than end up in my fresh water tank and all of my water lines, etc.

**norty1** · 06-02-2011, 05:48 PM

Ed, Where is the pictured filter mounted in your rig. I use a similar filter and watts regulator and always left it outside on a holder. I am thinking of mounting both in the utility cabinet after this first trip.

How often do you change the under counter filter in the kitchen?

SmokerBill · 06-02-2011, 11:08 PM

That's pretty dirty Ed.

Well, my little water collection project was a bust. After all that work, the water tastes, well, flavorful. Not from the chlorine, but maybe from pollution in the air, or from dirt or plastic emissions from the awning. I wouldn't have a problem using it for wash water, or dishes. But drinking, no way.

I think it would be fine to drink if I ran it through my carbon filter, but I'm heading out tomorrow, so it's not worth the trouble.

Oh well, it kept me occupied for a few hours. :hihi:

Bill

edatlanta · 06-03-2011, 04:44 AM

Here is where my two stage filter is located norty1. It isn't actually mounted since I haven't actually screwed it to the wall. It just sits there, but it hasn't ever moved traveling, so I just leave it there. It is easy to take out for filter changes and I don't spill water inside doing it.
I don't use the under sink filter. I have this two stage filter with both the particulate filter and the second stage charcoal filter being 1 micron. I figure that is enough.

SmokerBill · 06-03-2011, 06:44 AM

Nice looking filter setup Ed. I have a Brita filter for my drinking water that screws onto the kitchen faucet, and that works well. Makes bad tasting water taste good.

I always use one of those inline RV filters you can get at Walmart when hooking up to municipal water, and also when I fill my tanks. I know I should use a particulate filter instead of a carbon filter when filling my tanks (to leave the chlorine in the water) but haven't bought one yet.

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