Before you begin
Gather the equipment recommended in your owner’s manual, work in a safe and well-lit area, and check campground rules before using shared utilities or facilities.
Step-by-step instructions
1 Step 1
Confirm the campsite faucet is designated potable. Never assume a dump-station rinse tap is safe to drink from.
2 Step 2
Wash hands and keep the hose ends and fittings off the ground. Inspect the hose for cracks or odours.
3 Step 3
Use a hose marked for drinking water and dedicated to potable use. Flush the campground faucet briefly if permitted.
4 Step 4
Install a suitable water-pressure regulator according to the regulator and RV instructions; consider a potable-water-rated filter.
5 Step 5
Connect the hose to the RV city-water inlet without cross-threading or overtightening plastic fittings.
6 Step 6
Open the faucet slowly, inspect for leaks and confirm the RV is set to city-water mode where applicable.
7 Step 7
Open a cold-water tap to release trapped air; then check all visible connections and the water heater for leaks.
8 Step 8
Before departure, turn off the faucet, release pressure, disconnect and drain the hose, cap its ends and store it separately from sewer gear.
Detailed Canadian RV guide
The following practical details expand on the quick steps above. Equipment differs between motorhomes, fifth wheels, travel trailers and truck campers; use the instructions for your particular RV and components whenever they differ.
Know your two water sources
An RV usually draws fresh water from an onboard tank and pump or from a pressurized city-water inlet. City-water pressure bypasses normal tank filling on many models, but not all. Identify the correct connection and valve positions before attaching a hose.
Use only a drinking-water-safe hose for potable water. Store it separately from sewer hoses and cleaning equipment, with its ends capped when possible.
Check the source and pressure
Inspect the spigot and ask the campground whether the water is potable. Flush the spigot briefly where permitted and check for visible contamination. Fit an RV-compatible pressure regulator as recommended by the manufacturer; campground pressure can exceed what RV plumbing tolerates.
Use a clean inline filter if desired, but remember a basic sediment or carbon filter does not make unsafe water microbiologically safe. Follow boil-water advisories and campground notices.
Connect and purge air
With the RV faucet closed and water source off, attach the regulator, filter if used and potable hose without cross-threading. Connect the hose to the city-water inlet and slowly turn on the spigot. Check fittings and the compartment for drips.
Open a cold faucet and then a hot faucet to clear trapped air as appropriate. Confirm the water heater is correctly filled before enabling its heating source; dry-firing some water heaters causes damage.
Prevent leaks and contamination
Do not leave a hose under tension where a passerby can trip or a fitting can be pulled loose. Inspect the regulator, hose washer and quick-connects periodically. If leaving the RV unattended, consider shutting off campground water to reduce the consequences of a failed fitting.
Never use the fresh-water hose to rinse sewer equipment. Avoid submerging hose ends in puddles or non-potable containers, and follow campground backflow-prevention rules.
Cold-weather and departure steps
An exposed hose can freeze even when the RV interior is heated. Use a properly approved heated hose if permitted and needed, or disconnect and use the onboard tank during freezing conditions.
At departure, turn off the spigot, relieve pressure at a faucet, disconnect, drain and cap the hose. Check that the RV water pump and selector valves are set for your next mode of travel.
Water at Canadian campsites
Use a drinking-water-safe hose, a regulator and a filter, and disconnect at night when freezing temperatures are forecast. Many seasonal campgrounds turn their water on only after the last hard frost.
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