Whether you’re hooked up to a campground water tank, a local water supply, or using fresh water previously piped into your RV’s holding tank, you should be sure that at some point in your system, that water is run through a filter.
An RV water filter ensures that the water you’re using for drinking, cooking, washing, and bathing is free of contaminants that could endanger your health or damage your RV’s water system.
Additionally, an RV water filter will provide you with water that has a consistent taste, no matter where your travels may take you. Read on for a look at our choices for the best water filters for RV camping, along with some information to help you make the best choice for your needs.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Clearsource Ultra RV Water Filter System
Best Budget Option
Camco EVO RV Water Filter
Best Inline Filter
Waterdrop RV Water Filter
Best Overall
Clearsource Ultra RV Water Filter System
With its triple filtration system that keeps not just bacteria and disease-causing cysts out of your campsite water supply, but also filters out viruses, the Clearsource Ultra RV Water Filter System is an easy choice for the top spot on our list of the best water filters for RV camping.
As water moves from its source into your RV, the Clearsource Ultra first removes any rust and sediment from your water supply. The next Clearsource filter gets volatile organic compounds and other impurities out of the water.
And finally, the Clearsource Ultra takes bacteria like E. coli, cysts like Giardia and, unique to Clearsource, also takes viral contaminants out of the water.
Pros
- Rugged construction means it can go anywhere
- Produces a taste better than bottled water
- Maintains a high flow rate
Cons
- Filter replacement cost may be high for frequent users
- Mounting the unit can be a challenge
- May have some leakage issues
Best Budget Option
Camco Evo RV Water Filter
Particularly if you don’t use your RV very often, you may be interested in a low-cost option for a water filter. If that is the case, the Camco Evo RV Water Filter might be a great choice for you, and its low cost is the reason it has made our list as one of the best water filters for RV use.
With a 5-micron fiber barrier in its filter cartridge, the Camco Evo will keep sediments and a range of bacteria out of the water you’ll have available during your time in the outdoors. And, after the initial 5-micron filtration, your water will pass through both a Kinetic Degradation Fluxion material and granulated carbon filtering to further cleanse your water.
Pros
- Good choice for full-time RVers
- Excellent flow rate
- Long-lasting industrial-size filter
Cons
- Manufacturer sells only replacement canister assembly, not individual canisters
- Leaks may be a problem with some units
- May not handle high water pressure
Best Inline Filter
Waterdrop RV Water Filter
If you decide that a simple inline water filter is all that you’ll need for your RV, the Waterdrop RV Water Filter would make an excellent choice to ensure that you’ll have quality water during your trip. The Waterdrop filter uses food-grade materials to purify your water, and that’s a big reason that it earned a spot on our list of the best water filters for RV camping.
In addition to using food-grade materials, the filtering in the Waterdrop can last for as long as three months, although you’ll certainly want to check the filter periodically to ensure that it has not become too dirty. And just in case you do notice that the filter is dirty, don’t worry, because the price of your Waterdrop includes two filters for uninterrupted water purification.
Pros
- Easy installation
- Ordering replacement filters is easy
- Great value for the price
Cons
- Connections may be prone to leaking
- Hose size may adversely affect water pressure
- Flow rate could be better
Best Durability
Beech Lane External RV Dual Water Filter System
Because it mounts on the outside of your RV, the Beech Lane filter is convenient to access and to use when you’re camping in your RV. But the reason it made our list of the best water filters for RV use is its heavy-duty construction, including thick-walled treatment canisters, that will stand up to whatever outdoor conditions you may encounter.
Additionally, the Beech Lane dual water filter doesn’t unduly impede either the flow rate or the pressure of the water coming into your RV, two factors which should be prime considerations in deciding on the best RV water filter for your situation.
Pros
- Performance comparable to much more expensive filters
- Great customer service
- Good for long-term RV use
Cons
- Hose fitting should have swivel mount
- May lessen water pressure
- May leave some bad taste in water
Best Canister
Clearsource Premier RV Water Filter System
With its outstanding ability to filter out contaminants down to 0.2 microns in size, it was easy to include the Clearsource Premier RV Water Filter System on out list of the best water filters for RV use.
At 0.2 microns, the Clearsource provides hospital-level filtration that will keep materials out of your water that other filters might miss. In practical terms, that means you won’t have to worry about bacteria like E. coli and Legionella potentially contaminating your campsite water supply.
Also, the Clearsource filter is well-engineered for outdoor use, with large canisters designed for sustained high-level water flow and stainless steel fittings to provide durability and ensure sanitary conditions.
Pros
- Rugged and durable construction
- Easy filter replacement
- Does a good job purifying well water
Cons
- Water inlet valve may be a problem
- Installation may be difficult for some users
- Leaks may be an issue in some units
Best Water Filters for RV Camping Buyer’s Guide
Without a doubt, deciding on a water filter will be one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your RV adventures. Because you may not always know exactly the source of the water for your campground hookup, or where in fact the water you pipe into your holding tank on any given day comes from, you need the assurance a water filter can provide that your water is safe to use.
But what, exactly, should you be looking for as you decide on an RV water filter? Read on for information on the different types of water filters as a guide in determining which one best suits your needs.
Inline Filters
Installed as part of the hose assembly leading from the local water source into your RV holding tank, an inline filter routinely will be the least expensive option for an RV water filter. You should know, though, that most inline filters are rated for 20 microns—one micron is 0.000039-inch—meaning that particles smaller than 20 microns will remain in your water supply.
As a result, inline filters are recommended primarily for people who use their RVs only occasionally—maybe a half-dozen times a year, or less—to ensure that they don’t suffer any ill effects from inadequately filtered water. If you do opt for an inline RV filter, you should consider also buying a pitcher outfitted with a stronger filter to ensure the safety of your drinking water.
Canister Filters
The next-best option for an RV water filter is a canister filter, which can be mounted on the RV itself and provides customized multi-stage treatment of the water used in the vehicle. You can choose systems comprising a single canister up to as many as three canisters. The standard canisters will lessen your water’s flow rate, but large canisters are available to address that issue.
With a three-canister system, the first canister will filter sediment out of the water, while the second canister should have a carbon block feature which will remove serious contaminants like chromium, copper, and radium. The third canister can be customizable to address specific contaminants, like iron, manganese, and nitrates, in areas that you regularly visit, or are planning to visit.
Reverse Osmosis Filters
The most expensive option for an RV water filter is a reverse osmosis filter, but it will provide the purest water for drinking and other uses. There are a couple of tradeoffs, though. First, in order for the reverse osmosis filter to work properly, water will first have to be filtered through a sediment and carbon filter. Also, reverse osmosis filters dramatically limit water flow.
As a result of the limitations listed here, no reverse osmosis filters were included in our listing of the best water filters for RV camping. But if you’re interested in a reverse osmosis filter, they are widely available online at prices ranging from $300 to $600.
Frequently Asked Questions About Water Filters for RV Camping
As you consider the purchase of an RV water filter, you’re certain to have questions beyond just which filter might be the best choice for your needs. Read on for answers to just a few of the questions that might occur to you during your consideration of the best water filters for RV camping.
How do I maintain my RV water filter?
Whichever type you decide to use with your RV, you will need to treat your water filter like a household appliance, which means regular checks and servicing. Exactly what you’ll need to do, and when you’ll need to do it, will depend on the type of RV water filter you choose, and on the manufacturer’s recommendations for service and maintenance.
At a minimum, you should plan to have replacement filters or filter cartridges readily on hand, particularly during the months you’re using your RV most frequently. During times that your RV is being used regularly, you should check the filters at least once a week.
And regardless of what filter or filter cartridge packages say, or what your filter manufacturer recommends, the safest course is to change the filter or filter cartridge any time it looks dirty to you.
In addition to filtering, what can be done to ensure good RV water quality?
If you want an extra measure of insurance regarding the quality of water being used in your RV, you might want to consider installing an ultraviolet (UV) water purifier in addition to your RV water filter.
Briefly, a UV water purifier routes your water past an ultraviolet light which interferes with the biological material contained in bacteria and viruses, preventing them from reproducing and spreading diseases. A selection of UV water purifiers is available through Amazon.
Is a reverse osmosis filtration system worth the cost and other issues?
If you routinely visit places in your RV where the water quality is, or may be, particularly questionable, the peace of mind you’ll certainly get from a reverse osmosis RV water filter system may be worth both the cost and the low flow rate resulting from the slow treatment process.
Also, the maintenance costs of a reverse osmosis system are reasonable. You can typically rely on a reverse osmosis filter membrane not needing replacement until it has processed around 2,000 gallons or more of water.
On the other hand, the initial cost of a reverse osmosis system, while in many instances comparable at least to a canister system, clearly could be an issue for many prospective purchasers.
And, it’s important to consider that in some cases, a reverse osmosis system may work too well, removing minerals that are beneficial to the body and physical health as it tackles the more harmful substances in the water.
Wrapping up the Best Water Filter for RV Camping
As a final reminder, our choice for the best overall water filter for RV camping is the Clearsource Ultra RV Water Filter System. But you should know that other choices on our list of the best water filters for RV use may better suit your particular needs. Also, there’s more to learn about RV camping elsewhere at Beyond The Tent.
