Date:         Wed, 9 Sep 1998 21:21:50 -0400
Reply-To:     Lawrence Johnson <ljohnson@HALHINET.ON.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Lawrence Johnson <ljohnson@HALHINET.ON.CA>
Subject:      Clean drinking water
Comments: To: Multiple recipients of list <vanagon@vanagon.com>
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For our Westfalia, we wanted clean drinking water system like the one we
have in our cottage. Our cottage system uses a ultra fine silver
impregnated ceramic filter with an activated charcoal core. The problem
is that the ceramic filter requires more pressure than the Westfalia
water pump can provide.

We bought a Shurflow pump and pressure tank, meant for a small sailing
vessel, from West Marine and a Rainfresh ceramic drinking water filter
canister, meant for a cottage/home, from our local hardware store. The
pump is 12v, draws 4.5 amps and outputs over 35 psi with a flow rate far
beyond our needs. The pump is equipped with a pressure switch so when
the pressure tank reaches 30 psi, the pump turns off. The pump also is
equipped with a check valve so no pressure is exerted back to the inlet
water line.

The pump and pressure tank are so small and compact that they both fit
on the left wall of the cabinet under the Westfalia sink in our '86
Syncro Camper. The water filter canister is mounted on the back wall of
the cabinet. We still have room for all of the dishes/cups/mess that we
put in there before.

The pump inlet is T'd into the 3/8" water line that feeds the sink
faucet. We disconnected the "shore" connection water inlet and used that
faucet connection for the filtered water supply to the sink faucet. The
disconnected "shore" water inlet is now an outlet connected to the
pressure tank for use as an outdoor shower. We lost our "shore" water
inlet but what the heh?

Larry Johnson

"Life is uncertain so eat dessert first"