Watch your water hook up!

[Mody n Domy]

First of all I always spray the CG water hook up with Clorox clean up or bleach/water mixture. I have seen to many times people will take their sewer hose and put it over the water valve with the water running to flush out the sewer hose . We just left a campground where the water valves were mounted in a box below ground level. It had been raining and the box was full of water and you could not even see the water valve. The sewer hook up was about 3 foot away so if at anytime sewage was dumped on the ground the bacteria would be on the ground and wash into the water box. If you hooked up your water supply this would bring a high chance of you getting bacteria into your water system which will make you sick or kill you. Several year ago I went to a training seminar on potable (drinking water) water supply and back flow prevention. At the training they had examples of people dieing and getting sick from bad water. So disinfect the water valve before you connect your supply and don't connect your water supply if the valve is under water.

[twogypsies]

That's why we avoid full hookup sites. We've seen too many spills and as you stated, holding the sewer hose under the fresh water faucet and letting the hose drain wherever.

Folks if you drain your grey tank after the black, that in itself will clean out your sewer hose sufficiently.

[Don and Dale]

Agree with and perform all the above. Further, we filter our water TWICE. Once as it enters the coach (external), and also through a Brita water filter pitcher for drinking water. We don't do the water bottles thing because of what the plastic does to the environment.

[mel s]

Originally Posted by Mody n Domy

First of all I always spray the CG water hook up with Clorox clean up or bleach/water mixture. I have seen to many times people will take their sewer hose and put it over the water valve with the water running to flush out the sewer hose .
Several year ago I went to a training seminar on potable (drinking water) water supply and back flow prevention. At the training they had examples of people dieing and getting sick from bad water. So disinfect the water valve before you connect your supply and don't connect your water supply if the valve is under water.

Mody n Domy
Do you, (or anyone else), know of anyone who died or got sick from bacteria in campground water, (or from bacteria on a CG water hook up)?

Personally, I don't believe the "sky is actually falling".
Mel
'96 Safari, 134k miles

[H. Miller]

Originally Posted by mel s

Mody n Domy
Do you, (or anyone else), know of anyone who died or got sick from bacteria in campground water, (or from bacteria on a CG water hook up)?

Personally, I don't believe the "sky is actually falling".
Mel
'96 Safari, 134k miles

NEVER heard of anyone - granted we've only been RVing for 17 years. Quite possibly most of us are not as dumb as some would have us believe.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by Mody n Domy

First of all I always spray the CG water hook up with Clorox clean up or bleach/water mixture. I have seen to many times people will take their sewer hose and put it over the water valve with the water running to flush out the sewer hose . We just left a campground where the water valves were mounted in a box below ground level. It had been raining and the box was full of water and you could not even see the water valve. The sewer hook up was about 3 foot away so if at anytime sewage was dumped on the ground the bacteria would be on the ground and wash into the water box. If you hooked up your water supply this would bring a high chance of you getting bacteria into your water system which will make you sick or kill you. Several year ago I went to a training seminar on potable (drinking water) water supply and back flow prevention. At the training they had examples of people dieing and getting sick from bad water. So disinfect the water valve before you connect your supply and don't connect your water supply if the valve is under water.

You left out the most interesting part -- how did you hookup?

Bruce

[FLman2]

Originally Posted by mel s

Mody n Domy
Do you, (or anyone else), know of anyone who died or got sick from bacteria in campground water, (or from bacteria on a CG water hook up)?

Personally, I don't believe the "sky is actually falling".
Mel
'96 Safari, 134k miles

X 2

[Wayne M]

If Mody n Domy have posted and that post helps one person who is prone to getting sick from just about anything, then it is worth the post, and something to definitely consider.

Concerning water filtration, Read this

In regards to flushing a sewer hose, this is one of the nicer items I have found, sewer hose rinse cap, and after I dump the tanks and finished back flushing I use the sewer hose rinse cap, hook it up and lay my sewer hose down and let it do its job. I go about finishing picking up and stowing, then go back and unhook the cap and put the hose away. My plumbing compartment is all in ones space so I like to keep things clean.

Just sayin'.

[NITEHAWK]

Our drinking water we bring from home in plastic jugs. After that water is gone we refill the jugs at water stations in grocery stores or water "islands". The CG water is only used for flushing or washing, after we have depleted our 100 gallon fresh water tank from home. We do add a quart of hydrogen peroxide to the refill of the fresh water tank, as the HP decomposes in the tank and does not require any drain and refill after using, and leaves no taste.

[MSHappyCampers]

Good info! Thanks!

[AFChap]

I guess I am less worried/paranoid than most. I run the campground hydrant very briefly before hooking up ...'course, if the hydrant is itself underwater (and I have seen that) I don't attempt a hookup! And by the way, if the electric box is partially submerged and/or surrounded by water (yep, seen that too!) I avoid that water too!! The hose gets flushed w/grey water and back flush water, than a cap goes on both ends before it is stowed ...no mess, no smell.

I have sanitized my motorhome water system maybe 3 times in the past 10 years ...normally because we got rusty and/or smelly water somewhere. It never sits more that 2 months w/o being used ...more like 30 days max normally. We use a sediment filter outside and a charcoal filter inside on the drinking/ice maker line only. (If you use a charcoal filter outside you WILL have to sanitize your system more often). And we use the water in the motorhome just as we do in our stick house ...for drinking, cooking, showers, etc.

[C&SL]

Originally Posted by Wayne M

If Mody n Domy have posted and that post helps one person who is prone to getting sick from just about anything, then it is worth the post, and something to definitely consider.

I do not understand why people are so defensive about doing something safer!!! Some people will learn the hard way.

Mody n Domy could not agree with you more! I do the same. Thanks

[mel s]

Originally Posted by AFChap

I guess I am less worried/paranoid than most.
I have sanitized my motorhome water system maybe 3 times in the past 10 years . And we use the water in the motorhome just as we do in our stick house ...for drinking, cooking, showers, etc.

AFChap
Same here!
My fresh water system has been "sanitized" only twice in the last 13 years, (once when I bought my coach in '01 and again in 2011 because it developed/picked up a sulfur smell.
Mel
'96 Safari, 134k miles, (108 mine).

[dennis45]

Originally Posted by AFChap

I guess I am less worried/paranoid than most. I run the campground hydrant very briefly before hooking up ...'course, if the hydrant is itself underwater (and I have seen that) I don't attempt a hookup! And by the way, if the electric box is partially submerged and/or surrounded by water (yep, seen that too!) I avoid that water too!! The hose gets flushed w/grey water and back flush water, than a cap goes on both ends before it is stowed ...no mess, no smell.

I have sanitized my motorhome water system maybe 3 times in the past 10 years ...normally because we got rusty and/or smelly water somewhere. It never sits more that 2 months w/o being used ...more like 30 days max normally. We use a sediment filter outside and a charcoal filter inside on the drinking/ice maker line only. (If you use a charcoal filter outside you WILL have to sanitize your system more often). And we use the water in the motorhome just as we do in our stick house ...for drinking, cooking, showers, etc.

Can you expand on why you will have to sanitize more often if using a Charcoal Filter outside? Not saying you're wrong, just don't understand.