Water from rivers and lakes
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5083
Printed Date: 29 Apr 2024 at 7:21pm
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Topic: Water from rivers and lakes
Posted By: Inge
Subject: Water from rivers and lakes
Date Posted: 30 Jul 2014 at 10:26pm
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What do you guys think about getting a water pump and a filter and pump water from rivers or lakes into the freshwater tank? Does anyone do this? Which pump / filter would you recommend and are there any rules that I should know? |
Replies:
Posted By: Craneman
Date Posted: 30 Jul 2014 at 11:34pm
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Ever had beaver fever ????? If you have you wouldn't use water from a lake or river!!!!!! Moe ------------- Jo and Gary, 2010-174,2011 F150 
Jo and Gary 2010 174 2011 Ford 150 |
Posted By: Inge
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 1:16am
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No, I haven't. But to avoid health issues, I was thinking of a filter as I mentioned. I'm thinking about http://www.freshwatersystems.com/p-10090-aquatec-5851-1i01-b421-pump-05-gpm-38jg-24-vac.aspx - http://www.freshwatersystems.com/p-10090-aquatec-5851-1i01-b421-pump-05-gpm-38jg-24-vac.aspx and http://www.aquasana.com/drinking-water-filter-systems - I use the water filter already at home and in the office. It makes a tastable difference as it removes most of the chlorine. I haven't researched giardia organisms yet but will ask the filter company what they think about it.
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Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 6:43am
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inge: i can only assume this is possible if you can find the right filter for that quantity of water. I have drank gallons of lake/river/stream water over the years that i ran through my backpacking filter. never once did i get ill. ill check tonight what brand i have, i dont recall off the top of my head. i think it is made in sweden. the filter i have runs through a carbon and ceramic filter. hogone ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 6:57am
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inge: its made by katadyn. #1 rated filter. maybe check there website, they may be strictly backpacking filters/pumps. hogone ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 7:26am
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It is not really safe filter or not, if you boiled it first maybe. But beaver fever is not pleasant!! ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 8:25am
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actually it's a very safe filtering system. granted nothing is 100% safe, not the water from your home, not the water from campground hook-ups, etc. just giving inge some ideas to pursue which may be an option if he wishes to pursue. hogone ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 8:54am
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There are some very good filtering systems out there for backpacking etc. However getting the quantities needed to fill a 30+ gallon tank would be an issue and not really practical. For example the best filter in Inge's link would take over an hour to fill the tank and it isn't even designed for really nasty water! IF I had to depend on lake/river water I'd not drink out of the rpod system, just fill it with particulate filtered water and use for flushing and showers. I'd keep my drinking water separate and run through a very good drinking water filtration system and perhaps still chemically treat it... ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: wildfire305
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 9:26am
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Good luck trying to sell the camper ever after you mention you put river water in the tank and plumbing system. The only filter system engineered to do this and fill the tank quickly is over $40k and fits on a pallet. I'm a plumber and have installed two in off grid homes. It would be best to not use that water with a camper and stick to using it in a backpacking filter bottle scenario. ------------- 2005 Dodge Durango 4.7 V8 OLD Tow Vehicle 2004 Honda Odyssey 2015 RP179 "73b" OLD 2005 Viking Saga 2480ST popup |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 10:18am
inge: $40,000 isn't bad hogone------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 12:21pm
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Actually, if you need to do it, I would use a Big Berkey to filter it, and then transfer to the holding tank on the pod. Ours will do about 3 gallons an hour. It's a gravity filter so all you do is fill and walk away. I have lived in parts of the world where the water wouldn't make you sick, it would kill you. The Berkey systems WORK. ------------- |
Posted By: Inge
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 1:34pm
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Very valuable input, guys, thank you! I'm not worried about getting sick when the water ran through a good filter for drinking water. The pump from the link has an output of 0.5 gpm which would fit to the filter that I looked at. If I can find something faster, that would be preferred for sure. I'm not going to fill the whole tank every day and I would be ok with having the pump running for an hour. Just so you understand, why I'm interested in this: I'm planning to go on a very long trip, down to Argentina and I'll try to be not much on campgrounds if anyhow possible. So I'm looking for Solar panels for electricity, water supply and once that is figured out, I want to learn how to survive without supermarkets around  I think the idea to use the river/lake water for shower/toilet/washing only and just filter the drinking water is a very good one. I'd still think some kind of filter would be good, as I don't want to have fish in the tank. But I'm not as worried about reselling the trailer.
Hogone: I'll checkout the filters, they look promising. 40k... not really in my budget  By the way, I'm a girl :-) |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 1:47pm
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a very excellent option furpod. sorry inge, shouldn't have referred to you as 'he' in a prior post. sounds like quite the excursion. hogone ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: wildfire305
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 2:28pm
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Well you just need a basic whole house sediment filter adapted with garden hose fittings and plenty of spare cartridges. Should budget $50 from any big box store. Stainless steel mesh filter would be cleanable instead of paper filters. I would go with a shurflo 3gpm pump 12 volt for transfer (it's the same pump you already have in the camper). Those are only $70. You will want to read up on maximum suction hose length and head pressure height and stay under those limits when filling. A pump is rated by gpm at certain height and suction length. In other words the pump might not work at all if you are 100 feet from the source uphill 20 feet. You could consider a 120 volt pump and an inverter ran from the tow vehicle.
That won't help with bacteria though so I would add bleach to your holding tank so you can safely shower and wash cookware. Then I would have something completely separate for drinking and cooking with. The backpacking filter bottles should work. Argentina - invest in lots of locks and chains for your equipment. ------------- 2005 Dodge Durango 4.7 V8 OLD Tow Vehicle 2004 Honda Odyssey 2015 RP179 "73b" OLD 2005 Viking Saga 2480ST popup |
Posted By: Inge
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 2:29pm
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Just saw your message, furpod. Didn't expect there to be a second page already :-) Would you pour in the water and then just wait till it's filtered, no electricity needed? hogone: don't worry, no problem at all! ------------- "Bommel" - r-pod 182 G " Franzi" - Toyota Tundra 2007 http://blog.picturingtheamericas.com |
Posted By: wildfire305
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 2:37pm
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sorry I may have seemed a little rude earlier I just had to warm up to the idea of what you're doing.I almost forgot that there is a small strainer on the pump already installed in the camper you'll want some spares for that too. ------------- 2005 Dodge Durango 4.7 V8 OLD Tow Vehicle 2004 Honda Odyssey 2015 RP179 "73b" OLD 2005 Viking Saga 2480ST popup |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 2:53pm
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Girls?! Oh My! OK, got that out of the way. We always carry drinking water separate from tanked water. If I couldn't buy bottled water, I would probably look at a distiller. I hear good things about the http://www.nutriteam.com/water-distillers/water-distillers/stainless-water-distiller-glass-collection.html - Nutriteam Distiller . @ 580 watts, you would need to be plugged in or a pretty good sized power system (solar/batteries/inverter) to make a gallon of very safe water in 5-6 hours. I could see running it on the road via an inverter - sorta like the Tow Vehicle crock pot chicken! fred
------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 6:18pm
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inge: not sure when the excursion starts but long thread going on about loose/losing wheels............have a torque wrench (100 lbs) to tightened wheels(lugs). hogone ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 6:30pm
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Another suggestion. When we went camping many years ago with our sons I did some research on water filters. Many types but I wanted one that would keep us safe from bacteria, heavy metals, giardia, etc. I settled on the Everpure system which is installed inside the trailer under the kitchen sink. Since you usually only drink from the cold side, this is where the filter is installed. A little slow to fill a glass but we have never had "funny tummy" in all the years of travel. Camping World carries it as well as the replaceable cartridges. Look up the specs on each and every filter before you make a purchase. We installed one on our Pod and never looked back. Better to be an informed buyer. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 6:35pm
Yes, no electricity needed. Berkey's are pure gravity filters. I would take a "Big Berkey" and a spare set of filters. The black filters are what you need for your use. I won't say what I have seen them filter in the middle east, I will just say, they will work for everything you need. They will make potable water from whatever source you have. No fuel, no electricity needed. The filters are also cleanable. How long are you planning to stay down there? I would take some bleach tablets to sanitize the tank evry now and then, just in case. It's not really a giant issue to get a few nasties in the system, but it's bad if they have time to multiply and gang up on you. ------------- |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 10:24pm
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Backpacker here. I've always relied on chemical treatment - but not bleach or iodine. I love Aqua Mira for multiple reasons. I would recommend chemical treatment, assuming the water source isn't cloudy or has a lot of suspended particles. Those issues could be handled by a simple pre-filter that doesn't do any purification. Iodine has taste issues. Aqua Mira would be prohibitive from a cost standpoint. In this case I recommend plain bleach added while the tank is being filled so it mixes. 6 teaspoons for 30 gallons. Let it sit at least an hour, more if it is cold water, and you'll be good. You may want to go even longer to ensure it handles the nasties like Giardia. There will be a slight odor and taste but it will be a much easier and faster procedure than mechanical filtering. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Inge
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2014 at 12:38am
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Thanks everybody for all the information. My current thinking is to get the following: Get a pump as Wildfire suggested with stainless steel mesh filter spares for pump strainer (Have to find out how to replace them) Microbox tank care ( http://www.katadynngo.com/usen/ngo-products/products/katadynshopconnect/ngo-micropur-micropur-tankline/ - clean, fresh and micropur ) Aquasana filter for drinking water ( http://www.aquasana.com/assets/AQ-5300_Performance_Data.pdf - removes Giardia ) Plus a torque wrench so I won't loose the tires while I'm transporting all that good water (thanks for this great suggestion hogone!!!)
------------- "Bommel" - r-pod 182 G " Franzi" - Toyota Tundra 2007 http://blog.picturingtheamericas.com |