A reliable water system is worth its weight in gold—whether for washing dishes, showering, or drinking water. But many people underestimate just how complex a camper’s water system can be.
1. How much water do you need?
A realistic guideline:
Without showering: You can expect
to use 6 liters
per person per day
With occasional showers:
You can expect
10 liters per person per day
--> Drinking water is not included. You’ll need this water for washing dishes, washing your face and hands, brushing your teeth, etc.
Keep in mind: More water = more weight.
There were two of us traveling with 45 liters of water. That was extremely annoying—we had to stop too often to find a place to refill. We interrupted our long trip to switch to a 70-liter setup. Today, with two kids, we travel with 85 liters.
2. Pressure system or submersible pump?
Submersible pump:
With a submersible pump, you can operate one faucet at a time. Only through complicated wiring could multiple faucets be connected to a single pump. Ideal for a simple water system with two canisters. Hot water is only possible to a limited extent.
With a submersible pump, you need a faucet with a 12V connection so the pump can be activated when you turn on the faucet.
Pressure pump:
-
Constant water pressure
-
Enables hot water
-
Multiple outlets possible
→ ideal for larger setups
With an automatic pressure water pump, you can split the flow from the water tank however you like. You can install Y-fittings or T-fittings and run a line through a water heater. Then you’ll have hot and cold water. This often needs to be mixed using an automatic anti-scald mixer. We’d be happy to advise you on this. We’ve set everything up in our showroom as well.
With the pressure pump, you can supply a shower and a faucet at the same time.
The pump builds up pressure, so you can use any faucet—it doesn’t have to be one with a switch.
3. Filters for Clean Water
Many campers fill their water tanks from a wide variety of sources. Using filters makes it much safer.
Recommended:
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Coarse filter
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Activated carbon filter
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UV or ceramic system / nanofilter (depending on your destination)
The filter needs to be installed in the right place—either when filling up the tank or just before drinking, depending on how you travel and what you prefer. We also have a video on filtering. We’d be happy to advise you in person at our location in Winterthur at waerchzueg.ch
4. Hot water—yes or no?
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Boiler with or without a connection to the auxiliary heater (Recommended: all-electric boiler)
It’s up to you to decide whether you want hot water or not. If you’ll be on the road frequently but still decide against a water heater, be sure to leave some space for one and possibly run the wiring there in advance. That way, you can easily retrofit it later.
5. Don’t forget about wastewater
We recommend a wastewater canister under the sink. You can also install an underfloor tank, but exercise some caution in winter! We actually only recommend underfloor tanks if you’re planning an interior shower or need the space where the canister would go for something else.
(Fresh water is better stored in a tank in a different location in the vehicle)
Conclusion
A well-planned water system not only ensures comfort but, above all, safety and reliability on every trip. We’d be happy to advise you.
