No matter where you fill up your RV water tanks, you can't be absolutely sure of the quality of the water you get. There are however several actions you can take to ensure the water you drink is as safe as possible:

• Boil the water. You can boil all the water you use for cooking, washing, etc., but that's not very practical.
• Use bottled water. You can tote bottled water with you for drinking and cooking, but again, that can be a real hassle.
• Install a quality Point of Use (POU) water filter. You can install one of these under your galley sink for drinking and washing dishes.
• Install an in-line external water filter that will filter all the water in your coach before it reaches your faucets. This is the option many RVers choose because it solves the problem before it reaches your sinks, faucets, and glasses.

You can install a cheap RV water pump on your RV's freshwater system to help with flow and other issues—but you'll be asking for trouble. Here are a few words of advice regarding cheap water pumps:

• A cheap pump can be noisy, which is just plain irritating when you have to run water early in the morning or late at night.
• Some cheap water pumps don't regulate the flow of water evenly, so you'll have stops, starts, and a generally uneven flow of water in your plumbing system.
• Some pumps don't maintain the water temperature. You'll experience temperature swings, which can be irritating when you're taking a shower or doing the dishes.
• If you've ever had hammering or rattling in your water lines, you'll know why a cheap RV water pump just won't handle some water flow or pressure issues.

Many people install an RV water tank or accumulator tank between their plumbing system and their water pump to help smooth out water flow and lower wear and tear on the water pump. This type of RV water tank is available at just about every RV dealer, and it is easy to install. It will save wear on your pump, but it will also keep water flowing smoothly and help maintain an even water temperature.

This kind of RV water tank comes in sizes up to two-gallons, but smaller units are available that will fit in tight spaces near your RV water storage tank. Whatever type of RV water tank you choose, choose an accumulator tank that will keep your water flowing smoothly and help keep your RV water pump from working too hard and burning out too early.

Since you can never guarantee the freshness and quality of your water when you fill up your water tanks, it pays to have an RV water softener installed in your coach. RV water softeners work like home water softeners but are smaller. Many of the units are portable, while others install in your coach, just like the standard water softener units in your home.

Soft water has a number of advantages. Hard water contains more calcium and magnesium salts, which can build up on your plumbing and fixtures and create unsightly hard water deposits. It also takes more soap and detergent to be effective in hard water, so you'll use more soap for washing dishes, doing laundry, and taking showers, which isn't good for your black and grey water systems. Hard water can also create scale and water deposits on your dishes, pots and pans, and inside your pipes. It just makes sense to install RV water softeners in your coach as soon as possible.

Most RV water heaters aren't that difficult to replace—more than likely you can install a new one in less than a day. When you replace your RV water heater, look for a new, more efficient water heater that supplies more water in the same amount of storage space as your old RV water heater. For example, some manufacturers have created RV water heaters that hold up to 10 gallons of water but can deliver up to 16 gallons of water at a time, thanks to heating and storage technologies.

You should also look for an RV water heater with Direct Spark ignition. This feature makes lighting easier, is the same footprint as your current RV water heater, and fits into the existing water heater space. Newer RV water heaters are more energy efficient. Get ready to rejoice when you use less electricity or propane to heat your water.

Before you decide to replace your RV faucets with faucets from your local big box hardware store, make sure the faucets will fit the sinks in your RV. Some RV sinks have smaller faucets, and "standard" faucets that fit home sinks won't fit your RV sinks. A better bet is to buy RV faucets at your RV dealer, that way you'll be assured of having the right faucet size for all your RV faucets.

Installing RV faucets isn't any harder than installing a faucet in your home; in fact, many RVers say it's easier than they expected. You can find RV faucets in a variety of styles and colors, so you should be able to match your existing faucet or even upgrade it easily and quickly when you buy RV faucets from your local RV dealer.