Water Filtration

The acronym “RV” stands for recreational vehicle, usually defined as a piece of enclosed equipment that can be used both as a vehicle and a temporary travel home.  RVs are also commonly referred to as motor homes or sometimes just as a brand name like “Winnebagos”.  They are designed for everything from vacations to camping to part- or full-time living, for which they are often parked in special parks designated specifically for them.  RVs are available to rent in most major cities and popular tourist destinations.
Some enterprising people use RVs as mobile office spaces, and they may outfit them with generators, extra desk space, upgraded electrical and satellite Internet capabilities.

Drinking water is always a concern, and a Crystal Quest RV water filter is another great way to upgrade an RV, ensuring the availability of quality drinking water wherever its travelers may roam.

A standard canister system is the most versatile choice for RV water filtration.  There is some different terminology used with water filters I will explain that may help you in making your decision.  Microns are sediment filters rated by the size, in microns (one one-thousandth of a millimeter), of units they remove.  Microns are either related “nominal” for approximate and “absolute” for exact.  NSF Class refers to the National Sanitation Foundation’s rating system on the ability of water filters to eliminate chlorine from drinking water.  Class I filters are the best quality; as the Class numbers get larger, the ability of the filter to remove chlorine becomes less.  When a water filter cartridge’s life is referred to, it means the number of months of service the consumer should receive under standard conditions.  Flow rate is the gallons per minute a filter will allow.

Selecting an RV water filter for your water purification system will depend on your lifestyle, budget, and volume of drinking water.  A one-canister system catches sediment and removes some taste and odor problems as well.  A dual-canister system performs a higher level of taste and odor removal while also reducing chemicals, pesticides, lead, heavy metals, and possibly bacteria.  In a three-canister system, different filters will perform different functions.  Some filters focus on taste and odor removal while others perform elimination of mineral buildup.  Another possible factor for consideration when choosing your RV water filter is the locations you are planning to visit. Water in diverse geographical areas contains different impurities and may require different filtration to make the water safe to drink.

Most disaster and RV water filter systems involve forward osmosis, which can make potable water even from muddy water. Often used by the military in both war zones and areas of disaster relief, forward osmosis utilizes a semi-permeable membrane that separates water from dissolved solutes.  Pathogens and toxins can be rejected by the forward osmosis membrane. 

Investigation of further developing of this process using hydration bags is underway. These hydration bags sometimes have the capacity to separate water from such agents as glucose and fructose, and may eventually lead to the ability to recycle urine as safe drinking water for the benefit of soldiers or backpackers, as well as the recycling of seawater as potable drinking water.