RV OWNER’S FIELD GUIDE · PLUMBING
Water Filtration Systems Guide
Campground water quality varies enormously. Here’s how the common filtration options actually differ.
Inline Filters (at the Hose Bib)
The simplest option — screws onto the hose connection, filters sediment and chlorine before water enters the rig. Cheap and easy to swap, but low capacity and needs replacing often with heavy use.
Canister Systems (Mounted In-Line or Under-Sink)
Higher capacity, replaceable cartridge, often paired with a sediment pre-filter stage ahead of a carbon stage. A reasonable middle ground for full-time travelers who want better filtration than a hose-end filter without a full whole-rig system.
Whole-Rig Systems
Plumbed into the fresh water line before the pump or distribution manifold, filtering everything that enters the tank or comes through the city water connection. The right call for full-timers or anyone regularly filling from unknown sources, but it’s a proper install job, not a swap-and-go part.