Water treatment in motorhomes - for beginners & camping foxes

Keeping the water tank fresh

These water tanks should be cleaned and disinfected at regular intervals to...

• the water does not take on any unpleasant odors or tastes,
• no biofilm can form in the tank or in the hoses
• and no germs or bacteria (e.g. legionella, faecal bacteria, E. coli) can develop.

For example, specialist retailers offer chemical and biological additives for water treatment in motorhomes, which are designed to keep the water permanently fresh.

Tips for cleaning the water tank in the motorhome

YouTubers Fan 4 Van and Waldhelden have put great videos online where they explain in detail how to clean a water tank.

Chemically treat water in the water tank?

Most chemical additives that guarantee the longest possible freshness in the water tank are based on either silver or chlorine as a starting material. However, it is not always easy to find the right dosage and there are also health concerns with both substances.

Water treatment with silver ions?

Silver ions ensure that the water in the tank Clean and clear remains fresh and no suspended particles form. Most preparations with silver ions keep the water fresh for around 6 months. According to Federal Environment Agency this method is permitted for private use, but not necessarily recommendedAt the very least, water that has been mixed with silver is no longer considered drinking water - and is not allowed to be sold to consumers. Third delivered become.

Water treatment with chlorine?

The use of chlorine or chlorine dioxide is generally permitted and can help to remove pathogens or other harmful substances from drinking water. Nevertheless, water treatment in motorhomes with chlorine should be used with caution.

• The addition of chlorine can greatly affect the taste of the water.
• These chemical additives cannot be used without restriction and you should always keep an eye on the chlorine concentration of the water.

Water treatment options in the motorhome - advantages & disadvantages

Water filter for campers

 If you prefer to do without chemical additives, you can also use a suitable water filter for camping. Because even if you keep the water in your motorhome fresh with chemical additives, many undesirable substances can still get into the motorhome's water tank.

We at Alb Filter have decided to take a sustainable approach in the manufacture of our water filters for campers(activated carbon filters). Here you can see a list of substances that can get into or be in the water tank and that a suitable water filter can filter out.

Possible residues & substances in the water tank

• Sand deposits
• Unpleasant taste 
• Disturbing odors
• Drug residues
• Pesticide residues
• Hormones
• Plastics (e.g. PFC)
• Microplastics
• Heavy metals
• Bacteria & germs
• Legionella
• Plasticizer

Water filter for campers - for all pollutants?

Which substances a water filter for campers can retain depends largely on the filter cartridge selected. Regardless of whether you opt for external refueling or fixed installation in the interior of your motorhome, different camping filters have different filter spectra. 

Note on the graphic: The filter cartridges (Active & Nano) can also be combined to form the Fusion cartridge if required. This illustration shows the filter spectrum of the Active cartridge at the top and that of the Nano cartridge at the bottom. The Active cartridge is based on activated carbon, the Nano cartridge on a hollow fiber membrane. Each cartridge is suitable for filtering certain pollutants from the water.

Water filter before the tank?

If you want to prevent germs, sand deposits or other harmful substances from entering your water tank from the outside, there are mobile water filters that you can connect to the outside of the vehicle before the water inlet.

Note on the graphic: The following graphic shows you various connection options and illustrates how you can use different water filter systems to implement water treatment in your motorhome in practice.

What does V.1 to V.8 mean? 

There are advantages and disadvantages depending on the variant V.1 - V.8: Variant 5 is particularly recommended because it promises protection in front of and behind the tank. Unwanted contaminants are prevented from entering the tank in the first place. In addition, an additional water filter near the point where the water is drawn off protects you from possible contamination in the water tank - for example, if the water stands for too long.

Caution with V.6 to V.8? 

The V.6 to V.8 variants are basically only suitable if the water in the tank is used up as quickly as possible or is changed frequently. Otherwise, there is a risk of bacteria or germs forming in the tank due to long downtimes, high temperatures or other poor conditions in the tank. If the water in the motorhome is used little or hardly at all, variants V.1 to V.5 are highly recommended.

Water filter for campers - fixed installation or mobile?

When which camping filter is suitable

The permanently installed travel filter is used behind the tank, the portable mobile filter is used in front of the tank. Depending on where you are staying and what water you are filling up with, we recommend using one of the two filters for each of the following scenarios...

Scenario 1: Freestanding

If you like to stand free with your motorhome and refuel without pressure, we recommend the >>> Travel Fusion filter

Scenario 2: Canister

If you fill up your water in canisters and then use it for every need, we recommend the >>> Mobile Fusion filter

Scenario 3: Stations

If you have a large tank - 200 to 300 liters - and refuel at stations (e.g. freeway), we recommend the Camper Pro Set >>> This consists of a Mobil-Active in front of the tank and the >>> Travel-Nano preferably directly in front of the tapping point.

Scenario 4: Water from the lake

If you want to filter water from the lake with a pressure pump, we recommend the >>> Mobile Fusion filter with the pre-filter extension >>> Alb Filter Protect.

Scenario 5: Campsite

If you are staying at a campsite and filling up with water on site, it doesn't really matter whether you opt for the "Mobile" or the "Travel" version. However, if you want to prevent germs from entering the tank from outside, we recommend the >>> mobile fusion outside.

Water treatment in motorhomes: Flow rate guaranteed?

The flow rate of water is a much-discussed topic, especially when using water filters for campers. Unlike chemical water purification, the flow rate can be severely impaired when using a filter.

This is usually related to the filter performance of the water filter, because:

• the finer the pores of the activated carbon filter,
• the greater the effectiveness of the filter,
• and the lower the flow rate.

Depending on the product, a water pressure of between 2 bar and 3 bar is recommended for water treatment in the motorhome. It may therefore make sense to use a pressure pump in addition to the water filter.

Water treatment in a motorhome in practice?

You can find out what water treatment in a motorhome with a drinking water filter can look like in practice here in the test report from WoMoGuide here.

Finally, the following videos show first-hand experience reports.

Frequently asked questions explained briefly

Can you drink the water from the water tank in the motorhome?

As long as the water tank is well maintained and you can judge the quality of the water you have filled it with, you can drink the water from your motorhome without any problems. Of course, you are responsible for cleaning the water tank yourself. However, it is often not possible to judge the quality of the water at water taps on campsites.

Where can I fill up with water for my motorhome?

There are many ways to fill up the fresh water tank in your motorhome when you are on the road. The main ones are...

• Petrol stations,
• Campsites,
• Ports,
• as well as public wells and springs.

As it is often impossible to assess the quality, it is advisable to clean the water chemically or mechanically (e.g. with a filter).

How do I keep the water in my motorhome fresh?

To keep the water in your motorhome fresh, it is important to clean the water tank and pipes regularly. In addition, the water in the water tank can be chemically treated, for example with silver or chlorine. Alternatively, the use of a drinking water filter without chemicals.

What is the best way to clean the water tank in a motorhome?

When cleaning manually, you should remove limescale, biofilm and other deposits with a sponge if possible and then scrub the tank thoroughly with a brush. Don't forget that seals, closures and, of course, water pipes also need to be cleaned. Special cleaning agents may need to be used for stubborn stains.

What is the shelf life of water in the tank?

Water theoretically remains germ-free for up to six months. However, this only works if both the water tank and the pipe are completely sterile. Especially when traveling to hot countries, you should not rely on this and should clean the water tank more frequently and, in particular, filter or chemically treat the drinking water.

How often should I change the water in my motorhome?

Basically, the more often, the better. In principle, it depends on how regularly you use your tanks or pipes in the motorhome. There is a risk of a biofilm forming and microorganisms and bacteria (e.g. legionella) forming, especially if water is left standing for a long time.

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