Skip to Content

Don’t Drink Dirty Campground Water – How to choose an RV water filter system

| Updated Jan 31, 2023

Do you have an RV water filter system? You sure should.

The problem of dirty campground water is growing as so many campgrounds, state and local parks, and long-established RV resorts grow older. With so many campgrounds relying on aging wells and plumbing systems, it's more important than ever that campers filter the water they bring into their RVs.

That's the topic on Episode 432 of the RV Podcast, recorded on location from the Tampa RV Supershow.

You can watch a video version of the entire episode – including the RV News of the Week, Travel Technology Tips, and audience RV Lifestyle questions – by clicking the player below.

An audio-only version is available on your favorite podcast app or via the audio player below:

How to properly filter dirty campground water

Keith of Clear2o of the RV Water Filter system

Our guest on the podcast is Keith Bernard of Clear2O, a company that makes one of the best RV water filter systems you can find anywhere.

Keith was demonstrating his RV water filter system at the Tampa RV show and I was able to pull him away from the crowd to demonstrate what to look for in choosing an RV water filter.

Watch the video or listen to the podcast for the specifics, but Clear20 offers a two-stage RV water filter system that Jennifer and I have found has consistently given us clean, good-tasting water.

The first stage, something Clear2O calls the Dirt Guard, filters out the sediments and solids that are so prevalent in campground water supplies. It connects directly to the campground water spigot.

The second stage is a Clear2O inline filter. One end screws into the Dirt Guard. The other end is attached to the hose, and then the hose attaches to your RV's water fill connection. The inline filter removes contaminants down to a one-micron level, 70 times smaller than a human hair.

Together, the system eliminates the unpleasant sulfur taste and odor so often encountered from campground water. The chemicals it removes include lead, chlorine, and organic pollutants that often make their way into wells through groundwater contamination.

A key reason why the Clear20 RV water filter system is so effective is that it uses solid carbon blocks to clean the water instead of the more commonly found granulated carbon filters found on most RV water filters.

Regardless of what type of RV water filter system you have, Bernard urges all RVers to do the following things when hooking up to campground water.

  • First, turn on the spigot and let the water flow for five to 10 seconds before hooking anything to it to remove rust or sediment that accumulates in the spigot when not in constant use.
  • Second, when hooking up a filter, run the water through it for a few seconds to flush out any carbon granules near the lower end of the filter.

RV News of the Week

yosemite firefall

Want to see Yosemite's famous “firefall” this February? Make your reservation now

If you are planning to see Yosemite National Park's famous “firefall” in upcoming weeks, the time to make your reservation is now.

Each February, thousands come to look at Yosemite's Horsetail Fall at sunset, where under the right conditions, the famous waterfall looks a brilliant orange, much like the color of fire, delighting onlookers.

For this to happen the sky needs to be clear, the waterfall needs to be flowing, and the sun needs to be at a right angle – which typically happens mid to late February.

The park is estimating the best time to see this in 2023 will be Feb. 10-27.

If you are hoping to go to Yosemite, click here. To see our story on must-see sights and attractions at Yosemite, click here.

Federal grand jury is looking at whether Goodyear is criminally responsible for recalled RV tire made 20 years ago

A federal grand jury is looking at potential criminal evidence against Goodyear as to whether it knew its G159 RV tire could fail yet didn't recall them.

The RV tire is blamed for eight deaths and many more injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalled the tires last year. 

The tire has not been made in 20 years, and the company has said the tire consistently met the company's rigorous safety requirements.

Camping World buys back lemon travel trailer after TV reporter documents numerous unsuccessful repair attempts

A young newlywed couple in the Tampa area who bought a $40,000 RV from Camping World got a television reporter involved after the travel trailer continuously leaked, despite numerous unsuccessful repairs.

The couple's RV leaked so significantly every time it rained items on the floor were literally dripping wet.

Camping World sent someone out about five times to fix it, but none of the repairs worked. Then the company brought the unit into its facility to repair, and that didn't work, either.

The couple got a local television reporter involved to document what they were dealing with and Camping World ended up buying the trailer back from the couple and refunding their money.

Couple in Texas RV park record video of them escaping their RV, jumping in ditch as tornado hits

A couple in an RV park near the Texas-Louisiana border captured video of themselves escaping their RV – with their two dogs – and heading for safety in a ditch as a tornado hit.

The video captures loud winds and debris flying and shows the couple jumping into a ditch with their dogs, as the ditch was the safest place for them to go.

The couple had been monitoring the storm all day, left the campground, and returned when they thought it was safe, but then the storm shifted direction and headed their way.

The story is a good reminder to know where the closest shelter is when you are camping, and be prepared, see our story on avoiding bad weather in an RV.

Thieves steal 28 catalytic converters from RVs in an RV dealer's lot in Las Vegas

Thieves stole 28 catalytic converters from RVs at a Camping World in the Las Vegas area recently. One man told the local television station that his RV was there for maintenance, the converter was stolen, and now he has to pay his insurance's $1,000 deductible to get it fixed.

Catalytic converters contain expensive precious metals, and thieves steal them to get the metals and sell them.

Catalytic converter theft is a huge problem across the country for both RVs and other vehicles. 

We suggest doing everything you can to prevent catalytic converter theft.

New Travel Tech for RVers

how to organize travel photos from New Travel Tech

Today’s topic comes from our friends at NewTravelTech.com, which recently published a detailed article on how to organize travel photos

When traveling, you want to immortalize the experience through photographs and videos. Then you realize it will take a lifetime to sort through all of them! 

Here are 5 easy (and free) things you can do to organize your photos better:

  • Delete duplicates and less than stellar photos regularly
  • Only keep photos that add to your story
  • Keep pictures that make you happy
  • Make sure you are in some of the photos
  • Don’t “Store” Photos on Social Media

Head over to NewTravelTech.com for these travel photo tips, which go into lots more detail.

RV Questions of the Week

Unwritten Rules of Camping

QUESTION: I have heard you state on camp etiquette various times don't come in late. I try not to, but I sometimes travel with my camper for my kids' travel sports. We have had incidents where we couldn't make it to the camp or got held in traffic and came in quite late. We have had permission and contacted the camp, but we try to be quiet and only do a soft setup (enough to plug in and sleep) as often a Walmart or parking lot isn't an option when the athlete needs to be up, eat, showered and we have to be off early for sporting events. We try our best, but we hope people understand also, sometimes it isn't planned or trying to be rude, sometimes things are out of our hands on our arrival times. I wonder if you have any suggestions or would mention ways to get in late when you must or have few other options. ways to lessen the trouble of bothering neighbors. I hope when this has happened, my neighbors could tell we are trying to be quiet and quick and get our lights off asap.- Carrie

ANSWER: You're doing a great job being considerate. Perhaps one solution is to contact the campground if you think you will be late, explain the situation and ask if they have a spot that you could go into that will disturb the fewest number of other campers.

QUESTION: Do you have a recommendation for a solar powered motion activated camera that can be recorded when activated? – Larry and MaryAnn

ANSWER: Yes, Reolink. It's what we have on our Tennessee Property and does a great job. We bought the unit with the solar panel charger and after a year of use, it’s been flawless. You do need a cellular connection and a good signal on the T Mobile network. But for less than $200, this wireless security camera system detects motion, has infrared night vision, and even pan and tilt functions you can operate remotely.

We included it on our Amazon List for Safety, too!

We recommend Hollywood Racks for your RV Lifestyle…

The RV Rider bike rack for RV's, motorhomes, and fifth wheels carries 2 E-Bikes (up to 80 lbs. each) on the back of an RV Motorhome, a 5th wheel, or a flat towed vehicle. A 2″ hitch is required for this rack. Special features include universal heavy-duty wheel holders for heavy load carrying capacity. These wheel holders can fit any tire up to 5″ wide and include a ratchet wheel strap. Locking frame grabbers secure the bikes in place. This bike rack is not compatible with bumper pull, travel trailers or bumper mounted hitch receivers. Enter the promo code RVLIFESTYLE to save 10%

If you want to look at everything they offer, not just the RV Rider rack — go here and explore all the options!

Mike Wendland

Published on 2023-02-01

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top
Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
Email