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Hitting the open road in camper vans, RVs and caravans is more popular than ever in Australia.
According to the latest National Visitor Survey, we took over 15 million caravan and camping overnight trips in 2024, and spent $14 billion.
Making sure you have access to clean, safe “potable” drinking water on your trip is vital, especially if you plan to go off the beaten track.
As well as always setting off with a full water tank, you could stock your van with plastic water bottles, but this takes up valuable space.
Bottled water is also expensive and not very environmentally friendly when you are trying to connect with nature.
You can also boil all your water before you drink it, but this is time-consuming and may not remove all chemical pollutants like harmful pesticides.
Access to safe drinking water at campsites
Over 50% of us choose to stay at registered camp and caravan sites, and the fee usually allows you to hook up to the site’s water supply – if it has one.
Some large, modern campsites even have dedicated drinking water dispensers, but these are few and far between, especially in remote areas.
If you’re planning to make the most of free camping, it’s highly unlikely there will be any showers, toilets or drinking water on site.
Don’t assume the campsite you are visiting will provide unlimited clean drinking water – check it out before you arrive.
Always keep a good supply of clean drinking water in your van when you are travelling. If you break down somewhere in a remote location, it could be several hours before help arrives.
Quality of water at campsites
If the site is connected to a municipal water supply, it will have been treated to meet strict Australian water quality standards – but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s totally free of contaminants or that it’s going to taste good.
The quality of the water at the site can be affected by its source, where it is stored and the age and quality of the pipes it flows through before reaching you.
If the site uses ground, bore or rainwater, which is stored in a tank, it could be exposed to some pretty extreme weather conditions and even polluted by visits from local wildlife.
Unless you are 100% confident the water is free from bacteria, dirt, viruses and parasites like Giardia, you should filter water before drinking it.
Dangers of drinking polluted water
Contaminated water can cause diarrhoea and vomiting, as well as respiratory and neurological health problems.
Even fresh stream and creek water may be contaminated following heavy rain or nearby bushfires, which may have caused pollutants to enter the water.
Giardiasis, E. coli and Salmonella can all be caused by drinking dirty water and can be potentially life-threatening.
Remember, water can look, taste and smell clean and still be harbouring some nasty contaminants that could make you ill and spoil your holiday.
It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the quality of the water you drink.
Types of portable water filters for camping and caravanning
The good news is that there is a wide choice of high-quality portable water filter systems to keep you and your family hydrated and healthy on your travels.
Options include “inline” water filter systems, which connect to your vehicle’s incoming water supply or portable reverse osmosis systems that simply connect to the site water hose.
You can also choose a portable countertop water filter system that doesn’t need plumbing, and small, hand-pumped filtered water dispensers for hiking and walking.
Motorhome, RV and Caravan water filters
A compact under-sink, inline water filter system is a convenient way to filter campsite water in your motorhome or caravan for drinking, cooking and washing dishes.
Connect your vehicle to the campsite water supply or your van’s water tank, and the filter system will remove dirt, metals and contaminants from your vehicle’s tap water.
Options include portable Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems, which are highly effective at removing up to 99% of sediment, bacteria, dirt, metals, parasites and viruses from mains, rain, bore, dam and river water.
Do your homework
A portable inline water filter system turns dirty water into safe, healthy, purified drinking water.
When you’re planning your next trip, it is always worth checking out the facilities offered at different campsites.
Booking into caravan parks that offer access to potable water may cost a few dollars extra, but be worth every cent.
Happy Travels!
View all W2W Portable Water Filters
*Source – Tourism Research Australia, Caravan and Camping Data, National Visitor Survey