Is It Safe to Drink RV Park Water?

In a sticks and bricks home, you may not think too much about the safety of your water. However, if you stay at an RV park or campground, you may experience a questionable water supply.

Whether it’s a funky smell or a discoloration, some locations have better water than others. So, is it safe to drink the water at an RV park?

Today, we’re diving into this question and sharing some tips to ensure you only consume safe drinking water.

Let’s get started!

Can You Drink Water from an RV Park?

Drinking water from an RV park or other campground is typically safe. They’re connected to water sources that undergo routine testing and maintenance to ensure the water is safe to drink.

Unfortunately, not every RV park maintains the same standards.

As a result, most people take extra precautions to minimize the risks. This typically means using devices that remove contaminants and provide an extra layer of safety. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

What Are the Risks of Drinking RV Park Water?

Consuming water from a sketchy source can be dangerous. It’s not something we recommend you do. The risks of drinking RV park water without taking precautions aren’t worth it.

Contaminated Water Sources

A contaminant water source is one of the most significant risks of drinking RV park water. This typically isn’t a problem if the water supply comes from a city connection.

However, it can be a concern if the facility uses a well.

Bacteria or chemicals can get into the water supply and contaminate it. In rural areas, runoff from fields can create problems as farmers often use products on their crops that are also pollutants.

Cross-Contamination

Another significant risk of drinking RV park water is cross-contamination. We’ve seen multiple instances of individuals using freshwater connections to rinse out sewer hoses (here’s why you shouldn’t do that), and it makes us cringe.

This can introduce bacteria to the connection and get into your water system when you connect to it.

Bacteria and pathogens in your potable water system can create serious health concerns. You can experience cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, and other serious illnesses if you consume it.

Many people will thoroughly clean the connection before attaching their freshwater hose to mitigate these risks.

Neglected Maintenance

Some RV parks have their own water supply systems. These typically include wells, pumps, storage tanks, and pipes. Failure to maintain these items can increase the chances of water quality issues.

The most common issues they’ll likely experience are bacterial growth, a high mineral content, or chemical contamination. Some may even experience rust and corrosion in their water.

Unfortunately, knowing how well an RV park has maintained its facilities can be challenging. If notice maintenance is lacking around the property, there’s a good chance the water supply is the same. 

Pro Tip: There’s a maximum for How Long You Can Keep Fresh Water in Your RV Tank. Make sure you know what it is to avoid getting sick!

RV Products to Keep You Safe When Drinking RV Park Water

If you want to stay safe while drinking RV park water, a few essential products can help. Make sure you have the right equipment and take the proper steps.

Potable Water Hose

A potable water hose is an essential RV product for drinking RV park water. While it may look like a standard garden hose, it’s not. The materials used during the construction of these hoses are free of harmful chemicals and contaminants.

The job of this hose is to fill your freshwater tank or connect to the city connection. You should not use this to flush your black tank or for other purposes. This helps avoid any potential cross-contamination issues.

Inline Filter

The next essential item to have is an inline filter. These devices help remove sediment, chlorine, and heavy metals from the water supply.

Additionally, some can remove bacteria and unpleasant tastes or odors.

An inline filter prevents these contaminants from getting into your water supply. However, they typically provide a basic level of purification.

They’re inexpensive and a product that you often get what you pay for. If you have serious concerns about the safety of your drinking water, you’ll want to choose a more robust option.

Learn More: How Does an RV Freshwater System Work? Click to find out!

Acuva

On the opposite end of the spectrum from the inline filter is the Acuva. We went with this option for our truck camper and absolutely love it.

It uses UV-LED technology to remove bacteria from the water as it passes through your system.

This isn’t the cheapest option on the market. However, if you remember, you typically get what you pay for.

We love that our Acuva can purify over 30,000 gallons of water in its lifetime. This is the equivalent of 240,000 water bottles. It was extremely easy to install, and now we can access clean water anywhere.

Berkey Filter

Another popular option that many RVers choose to use is the Berkey filter. These devices use gravity to force water down through the filters.

It removes more than 200 possible contaminants to create clean and safe drinking water for you to enjoy.

One of the advantages of the Berkey is that it doesn’t require electricity.

Additionally, its filters can filter several thousands of gallons of water before you need to replace them. You can use them in off-grid situations to always have potable water.

Stay Safe Drinking RV Park Water

Typically, RV park water is very safe to drink. However, if you’ve not sanitized your water system recently, your plumbing could be the problem.

You should sanitize your system every six months. If you do this and use some of the options we’ve shared, there’s little risk when drinking RV park water.

What do you use in your RV to ensure safe drinking water?

Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API