Water tank problem?

[Brucewm]

Hi everyone, I am new to the forum and have pulled our 2006 Carriage 5th wheel for only about five years. I have been very happy with it and have had very little trouble. We have a 70 gallon fresh water take that has the drain installed on the side. Every time we return from a trip and the rig is going to sit for awhile I drain the system but i always have water in the tank that can not be removed so, I have to sanitize with bleach to keep things from growing and then spend hours flushing it out when we want to use it again. Is there an easier way to do this and why did they not put the drain on the bottom? Thanks in advance. Bruce.

[Gary RVRoamer]

If you can get at the tank bottom, why not drill a hole and insert of draincock?

[Brucewm]

I thought of that but, It is a poly tank and requires great care and use of glues and a special heat gun etc.. or you have leaks. Bruce. Thanks Gary

[Kurmudgeon]

First, if you have to spend hours flushing to get the bleach out, you are using WAY too much bleach. It doesn't take much to keep things from growing. If you're starting with water that's already clean, 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons should be plenty, maybe even overkill. For 70 gallons, that comes to about 1/4 cup. And at that rate it is safe to drink with the bleach in it.

Second, I wonder why you are so worried about it. As long as your tank is in a place that is dark, you can leave water in it for long periods without any kind of growth. I regularly leave my tank full for months at a time without any treatment, and have NEVER had a problem. None of that stuff grows in the dark. When I get ready to use the trailer, if the water has been in there for more than a couple of months I simply drain and refill, just as a precaution. My trailer is a 1978, and I periodically do a visual inspection of the tank, and after all these years there is no growth or staining in the tank, and the water tastes the same as if it comes from my kitchen faucet in the house.

People have been drinking water out of cisterns for centuries.

JP

[Brucewm]

Thanks Jim, You are right I have been using to much bleach. My tank is also in the dark when all is closed. I guess I need to stop with the over kill. I have this attitude that any job worth doing is worth over doing. In this case not so. Thanks again. Bruce

[kalynzoo]

We always fill our tanks with fresh water when returning from a trip. Having lived through the Northridge Earthquake, where we had to live out of the MH for a few weeks, we now keep it stocked for emergencies...quakes, fire, power failures, etc. Always filled with water, fuel, and basic food stuff.