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Old 05-24-2014, 12:01 PM   #15
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bartlettj
The point I was trying to make is this:
Sanitizing the water tank and/or water pipes in an RV is not as necessary as some would have you believe.

IMO, the "need to sanitize", (like the "need of RV antifreeze in a RV water system when winterizing"), is a myth.
My coach is 18 years old and has only been "sanitized" twice, (and I simply "gravity drain" my RV tank and water system when I "winterize").

BTW, although my house sometimes sits unused for as long as 9 months at a time, I never sanitize the water system.

Those are not my recommendations, just what I do, (and have done for 30+ RVing years), with no problems.

Mel
'96 Safari
Enjoy your myth, but I have gotten sick from water lines that were let sit for a while and then not sanitized. I'm not going to take that risk. There isn't normally enough chlorine present in city water to keep it germ free for more than a few weeks.
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Old 05-24-2014, 01:40 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by bartlettj View Post
Enjoy your myth, but I have gotten sick from water lines that were let sit for a while and then not sanitized. I'm not going to take that risk. There isn't normally enough chlorine present in city water to keep it germ free for more than a few weeks.
bartlettjze
How often did you sanitize the water system in your house?.... (assuming you ever lived in a house with indoor plumbing).
Mel
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Old 05-24-2014, 05:28 PM   #17
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Water in house is constantly changing and it is chlorinated at source. Water you put in your RV may be chlorinated as well, but chlorine breaks down with time and becomes ineffective. Then there is a chance for bacteria to grow & multiply.

My wife is a professor of environmental chemistry specializing in water and sewage treatment. That info came straight from her.
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Old 05-25-2014, 08:04 AM   #18
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My wife is a professor of environmental chemistry specializing in water and sewage treatment.
Paul
I have a "water treatment" question that your wife may be able to answer:
For 26 years, (1978 to 2004), my house sat empty/unused for 1-2 weeks each year, (for the last 10 years, for 3-6 months each year).
The 36 year old water system in my house has never been sanitized/disinfected.
Should I sanitize/disinfect it?

BTW, my RV water system is drained before winter storage, (and has been for the 14 years I've owned my coach).
It's used, (with chlorinated city water and/or campground well water), 6-9 months each year.... but it has been only sanitized twice, (once when it was new and again at 16 years of age).

Thanks, (and thank your wife)

Mel
'96 Safari
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Old 05-25-2014, 08:17 AM   #19
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I just asked her, she says not really, just run the taps for 5 minutes after the system has been unused. The main concern is any lead solder if the pipes are copper. If stagnant water has been sitting in there, its lead concentration may be higher than normal. If you don't have to drink out of it right way, that is best, but the fresh water will have been chlorinated at the source.
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