Back home

Free web guide

Camper Water System Guide

Fresh water, filters, hot water, showers, grey water, freezing, and real travel on the road.

I built and live with this kind of system on the road. We'll start with how you use water, then work through storage, treatment, plumbing, waste, and the upkeep that keeps it working.

Read the guide

Table of contents

  1. 01Water system basicsPractical guidance for water system basics in a camper van.
  2. 02Planning the systemPractical guidance for planning the system in a camper van.
  3. 03Fresh water tank sizingPractical guidance for fresh water tank sizing in a camper van.
  4. 04Filling the fresh tankPractical guidance for filling the fresh tank in a camper van.
  5. 05Water pumpPractical guidance for water pump in a camper van.
  6. 06Accumulator tankPractical guidance for accumulator tank in a camper van.
  7. 07Plumbing materialsPractical guidance for plumbing materials in a camper van.
  8. 08Pipe sizingPractical guidance for pipe sizing in a camper van.
  9. 09Plumbing layoutPractical guidance for plumbing layout in a camper van.
  10. 10Drinking water filtrationPractical guidance for drinking water filtration in a camper van.
  11. 11Water purification and safetyPractical guidance for water purification and safety in a camper van.
  12. 12Hot waterPractical guidance for hot water in a camper van.
  13. 13Shower systemPractical guidance for shower system in a camper van.
  14. 14Kitchen water systemPractical guidance for kitchen water system in a camper van.
  15. 15Toilet optionsPractical guidance for toilet options in a camper van.
  16. 16Grey water systemPractical guidance for grey water system in a camper van.
  17. 17Black water systemsPractical guidance for black water systems in a camper van.
  18. 18Tank level monitoringPractical guidance for tank level monitoring in a camper van.
  19. 19Freeze protectionPractical guidance for freeze protection in a camper van.
  20. 20VentingPractical guidance for venting in a camper van.
  21. 21DrainagePractical guidance for drainage in a camper van.
  22. 22System pressure and protectionPractical guidance for system pressure and protection in a camper van.
  23. 23Leak preventionPractical guidance for leak prevention in a camper van.
  24. 24Installation sequencePractical guidance for installation sequence in a camper van.
  25. 25Pressure and leak testingPractical guidance for pressure and leak testing in a camper van.
  26. 26Sanitizing and final checksPractical guidance for sanitizing and final checks in a camper van.
  27. 27MaintenancePractical guidance for maintenance in a camper van.
  28. 28TroubleshootingPractical guidance for troubleshooting in a camper van.
  29. 29Common mistakesPractical guidance for common mistakes in a camper van.
  30. 30Choosing componentsPractical guidance for choosing components in a camper van.
  31. 31Budget tiersPractical guidance for budget tiers in a camper van.
  32. 32System layout examplesPractical guidance for system layout examples in a camper van.
  33. 33Real-world lessons from our vanPractical guidance for real-world lessons from our van in a camper van.

Reference material

Appendices & worksheets

Planning sheets, reference tables and checklists you can use while designing your system.

Use these reference sheets alongside the guide while planning your system.