Quick question. Do any of you use an in-line water filter for your galley faucet so that you drink water tank stored water? If so, what filter do you use?
Drinking water filter
- Thread starter Erbardy
- Start date
We use an filter when filling the tanks and then use a Brita Filter pitcher for drinking and cooking water.
It is important to start with a clean tank, which can be difficult to achieve. We pressure washed ours using a variety of fittings to be able to reach the corners.
Check out Practical Sailor. A few years ago they did a series on filtering drinking water and cleaning tanks.
It is important to start with a clean tank, which can be difficult to achieve. We pressure washed ours using a variety of fittings to be able to reach the corners.
Check out Practical Sailor. A few years ago they did a series on filtering drinking water and cleaning tanks.
Just like Dave, we use a filter on the hose when we're filling the tank. We also installed a filter on the faucet so we can filter again before we drink it or use it for cooking. Any other water doesn't need to run through the faucet filter.
I have the standard 10 inch under sink cartridge filter with a good carbon filter. I have been using the Pentek CFBC filter, but that is being replaced by their FloPlus filter. I also chlorine shock the tank once in the spring. I find this provides no "tank" smell or taste for me.
My marina had good water so I don't pre-filter it going in, but I would where I don't know the water.
My marina had good water so I don't pre-filter it going in, but I would where I don't know the water.
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We started by attaching the filter to the spigot even in marinas with good water, then realized a source of possible mold/mildew contamination was in the hose, so we now attach the filter at the outlet end of the hose. As a side benefit the filter fits in the tank inlet better and doesn't require a person to hold the hose while filling a 45 gallon tank.
We shock treat according to Peggy's instructions in the Spring. We fill the tank by running through a 1 micron filter and have secondary 1 micron with carbon filter after the pump. We can but usually do not drink that water, using spring water instead. We use the same filters all season and discard in the Fall.
This is one of those articles: PS on water filters
But good tasting water is NOT as simple as a filter. It is a multistep treatment, just like the city does to supply tap water:
- Clean the tank annually.
- Secure the tank. bugs will craw in the vent unless you put a strainer over it (this is part of the shore-side plumbing code).
- Filter incoming water. Marina hoses and pipes grow a lot of junk in them.
- Disinfect the tank. Chlorinate, unless you are filling the tank at least weekly from a chlorinated source. Chlorine also removes many smells and tastes.
- Filter. Giardia and other cysts can survive chlorination. Carbon is very effective at removing residual chlorine tastes. It is only effective at removing off tastes if the water is chlorinated first.
I use the Shurflo Waterguard Filter it is an inline filter which I connect to the galley sink cold water side it is Prt# 94-009-50. We spend 2 to 3 months in the Bahamas every year since 2012 and have not had an issue drinking the water using this filter.
For drinking and cooking I installed an Acuva water filter which includes UV treatment. It’s expensive, but we used to use gallon jugs of spring water and I hated lugging and storing all those heavy plastic jugs, and many places in our travels don’t recycle. I plan to install a watermaker, but then without chlorination there might be even more of an issue with what grows in the tanks and plumbing? The Acuva addresses these concerns too.
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When you chlorinate shock treat your water tank (s), run your faucets until you can smell the chlorine. Turn off faucets but leave the pump switch in the on position during the chlorine shock period. This will prevent the gravity flow of water to the lowest point of the water lines and allow the chlorine to shock treat the water hoses in the boat where bacteria may grow.
I’ve never had my waterlines drain by themselves. It‘s impossible if all the faucets are closed (assuming no leaks in the system).
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,746
I was exploring the Guzzle H2O Stealth unit built here in Oregon. They were at the Boat show displaying their product. More money, 2amps power consumption when in use.
What is the specification on the ACUVA filter?
Is it proprietary or available retail?
What is the specification on the ACUVA filter?
Is it proprietary or available retail?
We've used a PUR brand faucet filter to filter our drinking water for years.
No issue leaving it off in above-freezing temps, but there is an issue leaving it to freeze. It comes with a shut-off valve to install where you tap into the main water line (I pickup from the line leading to the galley cold water faucet), so it's a branch circuit made from 1/4" PEX. Before winterizing my fresh water system I shut off the valve and removed the UV unit (all quick release shark-bite type connections) and brought it home for the winter. After winterizing I put a rag on the ends of the 1/4" tubing and opened the dedicated Acuva counter top spigot, and opened the shut off valve for the supply to Acuva branch line so there wouldn't be any trapped fresh water. Those small tubes probably hold less than a half cup of liquid overall.
Acuva recommends an annual filter change. Those are currently $38 on Amazon.
Negligible power consumption: 9w active, 0.2w standby. I have it on the same power circuit as my fresh water pressure pump.
The UV unit and counter top faucet is proprietary. The filter is made by Woder https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BZND7TP?th=1 and the tubing and push-fit fittings are standard 1/4" PEX.
If the faucet failed you could probably find a generic faucet that works and adapt it, but it wouldn't have the sexy UV light ring
that tells you the UV unit is working.Edit - FYI It comes with a direct-wire 12VDC power lead and (for home use) a small power brick for 120VAC that converts to 12VDC.
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I use a filter from the dock supply, mostly for sediment. Under the galley sink I have a General Ecology Seagull filter with separate faucet. We use it for drinking water, coffee, etc. It is very good water and beats buying, hauling, and storing bottled water. This system is expensive but since we live on the boat well worth it. This is not a replacement for tank maintenance as others have mentioned.
generalecology.com
Seagull® IV X-1B, Marine/RV
The Seagull IV X-1B/F/KFE system is intended for drinking water or icemakers on RVs and small boats. The stainless steel canister installs easily beneath a sink or countertop and ties into the onboard…
generalecology.com
What I installed is a Rainfresh system that has 3-stage filter system - 5 micron (nominal) activated carbon block cartridge (62-1038) and 0.3 micron (absolute) cleanable, reusable ceramic cartridge (62-1002) with activated carbon core for the last 3 years with no problems.
We use a camco inline hose filter when filling our tanks, and an Instapure F5 filter at the kitchen tap. The filter is only for drinking/coffee/tea/cooking. We also shock the tanks and flush them annually as per Peggy's instructions found elsewhere on this site. I've been fortunate. I've never had anything show up in the screen filter ahead of the water pump. I also add a half shot glass of bleach to the water tanks before I fill them when empty. They are roughly 50 USG each. Our local water is excellent, but the precautions help me sleep better when refilling from an unknown quality source.