Keeping the fresh water tank sanitized

[tuffr2]

With continual use how often should the fresh water tank be sanitized?

Can I add a 1/4 cup of bleach to every fill-up?

I am getting fresh water from 4 sources. The most questionable is from a spring. The other water comes from a city (small town actuall) water spigot at the local park.

[clyon51]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

With continual use how often should the fresh water tank be sanitized?

Can I add a 1/4 cup of bleach to every fill-up?

I am getting fresh water from 4 sources. The most questionable is from a spring. The other water comes from a city (small town actual) water spigot at the local park.

If it is being used continuously and sanitized to begin with, I wouldn't worry about it. City water is already sanitized. 1/4 cup of bleach for your tank is ONLY to sanitize the system. You would leave set for an hour and then flush the entire system fully.

To disinfect relatively clean water for drinking, you would add 1 3/4 teaspoons of 5% household bleach (unscented) to 50 gals of water and let it sit for an hour. This would be about 2 PPM. If you are treating water from a lake, stream or shallow well, use twice as much household (5%) bleach and let it set 2 hours before drinking. This would be 4 PPM.

[menoble]

I'm on well water so I hit mine with 1/4 cup of bleach every fill. And we always carry enough bottled water for drinking, so taste isn't an issue. Just something about stale water in a plastic tank makes me nervous.

[tuffr2]

Forgot to mention we do not drink the water. We drink from gallon jugs of distilled water.

For the most part there is continual use of the water.

[clyon51]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

Forgot to mention we do not drink the water.

I hope not and I hope you never have to. Can't figure out why you would put that much bleach in a tank you never drink out of

[tuffr2]

I do brush my teeth with the water in the tank plus obviously shower. I only sanatize in the spring...but up until now I have been wondering if I should do it more on a continual basis.

I think I will add a little bleach to every other tank.

[FlyingDiver]

We're full timers. Water tank refreshes continuously. We have a water softener and both sediment and carbon filters going into the tank.

Tank has never been sanitized since it was new.

[beachboy27]

Ditto.

[DumOleBob]

Here is an interesting article on sanitizing fresh water tanks. Be sure to read the bottom section, "How I Sanitize...". A truly interesting concept.

Let the debate begin....

http://rvbasics.com/techtips/sanitiz...er-system.html

[wa8yxm]

I only sanatize if I winterize (When I De-Winterize) or if there is an Incident, in 8 years with this rig "Incidents" = zero, in many years with Trailers, Incidents also equaled zero.

However that said, In the winter where I park the city is a bit free with the chlorine in the city water.. So it's sanatized, by them, no effort on my part.

[George Lewis]

Thanks. Very interesting. I have always used the "old" method, but will try the "new" method soon.

[clyon51]

I think the article goes a bit overboard, except for the paranoid If one uses their tank often, there is no need to do this. If you only use chlronated city water, there is no need to ever do it. Water itself just doesn't go bad, after all, all the water you drink today is at least 5 billion years old.

Of course as consumers, we have no idea if or how much bacteria is present, or if any substance is present that they can feed on and multiply....which is the bad part. This is why it's prudent to sanitize a tank if you leave water it in unused for long periods. I drain my tank and system when not in use.

If one encounters questionable water on the road, 2 teaspoons in 10 gals of water (waiting 60 mins) will make it safe to drink. Doing this on occasion will also keep the system safe.

I have done the cups of bleach and the 3-4 flush outs in a new to me coach, but unecessary (to me) once that's done. To each their own and comfort level.

[Shadowcatche]

All of the water going into our tank goes through two or three filters depending on whether it comes from a lake or stream or city system. The three filter uses an NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) filter as the final. I sanitize once a year with Dichloride crystals.

[firedoc]

Originally Posted by Shadowcatche

All of the water going into our tank goes through two or three filters depending on whether it comes from a lake or stream or city system. The three filter uses an NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) filter as the final. I sanitize once a year with Dichloride crystals.

A quick question. What is your procedure and amounts with the dichloride crystals?