Dave is the primary person who hooks up and unhooks our services at a campground. He takes this job seriously, wanting to make sure there is no fresh water contamination from grey and black water to fresh water. Even if you buy bottled water to drink and just use your RV hook up water to wash dishes, clothes and shower in, you don’t want to use contaminated water! I really appreciate that!

Like many other people at campgrounds and RV resorts, a form of entertainment for us is to watch people settle into or preparing to leave their site. One of the things that always surprises us is that many people do not wear disposable gloves when hooking up or disconnecting their grey/black water hoses and then move on to connect or disconnect their fresh water hoses and filters without washing their hands. Even if disposable gloves are used to connect or disconnect grey/black water hoses, not removing the gloves before moving onto the fresh water system can spread potential contamination to themselves and others. If work gloves are used, this will increase the chance of contamination as past contaminants are being spread from campsite to campsite from the surface of the glove. This increases the risk of potential sewer contamination to your RV fresh water system and other parts of the RV as well as other people.

The other thing that surprises Dave is when people do not disinfect the water faucet at the campground spigot before they hook-up to fresh water. This is after watching people drain their grey/black water hoses, rinse them out with their fresh water hose, then turn on or off the water without washing their hands. That’s the unexpected contamination to other people.

PREP

• Disinfectant sprayer bottle
  Sprayer should be filled with 10 – 1 bleach (for every 10 ounces of water, add 1 ounce of bleach)

• RV potable water hose
  Have an RV fresh water system hose that is rated for RV potable water (not a garden hose!). It will usually be white or blue. This hose is to be only used for potable water.

• Water pressure regulator fixed type or an adjustable water pressure regulator (includes a gauge) 50 to 60 psi.
  Having too much water pressure coming into your RV could damage your components.

• Y water splitter.
  A Y splitter allows you to run two hoses off your one water spigot. While you may not want two water hoses hooked up, having access to an extra faucet allows you to rinse off your hands outside.

• RV water filter
  An RV water filter filters any water going into your RV. There are many versions, but all decrease the number of particulates, etc.

• Disposable gloves
  Using reusable work gloves only assures you will transfer contaminants from one project to another.

• Clear plastic bags and/or small containers
  You will want these for protecting and storing your water pressure regulator and your Y water splitter from contaminants and potential damage.
  
  Note: Do Not store fresh water hoses used for potable water with black/greywater hoses and fittings. This will help prevent cross contamination.

Hooking Up

To avoid contamination, there is a specific order of hooking up your services. Hook up your fresh water BEFORE your black water.

Make every effort to NOT let either end of the fresh water hose touch the ground while you are hooking up or disconnecting. You do not want the ends to be contaminated by whatever may be on the ground, think grey or black water leaks!!

1. Spray the RV water spigot and handle with your bleach disinfectant.
2. Let the water run a few seconds to clear out any bleach inside the spigot
3. Attach your Y splitter.
4. Identify one line of the Y as your fresh water RV supply line.
5. Attach water pressure gauge to your fresh water Y.
6. Add your water filter (after the pressure gauge).
7. Hook water hose to RV or spigot (the order does not matter).
8. Turn on the water at the spigot.
9. Check for any leaks.
10. If you have an adjustable water regulator, make sure you do not have it set any higher than 60 lbs. of pressure.

Congratulations, your water is now hooked up and ready to be used! Now onto your next project, hooking up the sewer! This will be covered in another blog.

Unhooking

It is best to unhook the fresh water RV supply prior to disconnecting the grey/black water drainage system to prevent cross contamination. If you need to disconnect the grey/black water hoses first, make sure you wear DISPOSALABLE gloves. When finished, dispose the gloves and wash your hands well before moving on to the fresh water hoses. Make every effort to NOT let either end of the freshwater hose touch the ground while you are hooking up or disconnecting. You do not want the ends to be contaminated by whatever may be on the ground, think grey or black water leaks!!

Unhooking your water is essentially the opposite of hooking it up.

1. Turn off the water at the spigot.
2. Disconnect and drain water from the hose. Do not let the ends touch the ground!
3. Coil your water hose and connect the male and female ends of the water hose to prevent anything crawling into your hose and contaminating your water source.
4. Drain your water filter to get out as much water as possible before storing. Cap the ends of your water filter to prevent contaminants from getting inside.
5. Disconnect the water regulator. To make sure the regulator is not damaged and to make sure it stays clean, DO NOT throw your water regular loose in a RV compartment. Store it in a plastic bag or storage container.
6. Disconnect the Y valve. To make sure the Y valve stays clean, DO NOT throw it loose in a RV compartment. Store it in a plastic bag or storage container.
7. Store your hose, regulator and filter.

Take-away Point

Your health may rely on your ability to keep contaminants from your black/grey water from getting into your fresh water source. Be vigilant about clean hands, using a chlorine disinfectant and keeping your hose ends from touching the ground. If in doubt, disinfect and rinse all components in question before use.

Your partners in travel,
Kathryn, Dave and Lucky
RVing Nomads

It’s a lifestyle

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