How to sanitize a water tank without poison

[RV Vagabond]

Is there a way to sanitize a fresh water tank without adding something into the tank that is not safe to drink?

[followingsea]

Originally Posted by RV Vagabond

Is there a way to sanitize a fresh water tank without adding something into the tank that is not safe to drink?

No!

Your goal is to kill pathogen bacteria before they kill you. Water treatment 101!

Of course it is the dose that makes the poison.

I stopped sanitizing my tank many years ago and use bottled water for drinking. Since I fill my tank with with treated water I would think there is enough residual 'poison' to keep my tank safe.

[Camp CA]

Originally Posted by RV Vagabond

Is there a way to sanitize a fresh water tank without adding something into the tank that is not safe to drink?

To sanitize add 1/4 cup of bleach per 16 gallons of water (66/16 = 4.1 or about 1 cup of bleach per 66 gallon fresh water tank) and purge the system. https://www.rvhometown.com/sanitize-...sh-water-tank/. Do it all the time on a new used boat.

[Duster73]

I use bleach, but I have heard people use a vinegar water mix. I'd look up the ratio on Google to verify.

[laj]

You can, but you have to know something about bio- chem to get it right.

[tpaul]

Lots of opinions.


https://www.irv2.com/forums/f59/do-y...nk-536308.html

[Flyer15015]

Originally Posted by Camp CA

To sanitize add 1/4 cup of bleach per 16 gallons of water (66/16 = 4.1 or about 1 cup of bleach per 66 gallon fresh water tank) and purge the system. https://www.rvhometown.com/sanitize-...sh-water-tank/. Do it all the time on a new used boat.

Yup, and if you don't rinse the system, the next time the DW takes a shower, she'll come out the BLOND you've always wanted.

[Rexlion]

Wouldn't alcohol do the job? A bottle of Everclear, for example. Or maybe Southern Comfort.

[UTTransplant]

You want to kill small creatures. You are a big creature. The things that kill them can damage you, so just follow the CDC recommendations. Easy peasy, effective, and cheap.

[SJ-Chris]

It is a pretty simple and safe process...


High level explanation...

Turn off your water heater.
Use 1/4 cup of regular bleach per 16 gallons of fresh water capacity. A little more is fine. Add it to your fresh water tank. Fill up your fresh water tank to max capacity. Then run water through each water fixture (sinks, shower, toilet, outside shower, washing machine, etc) until you smell bleach. I do both hot and cold lines. Then top off your fresh water tank so it is once again at max full. Then let it sit overnight (some say 4 hours is long enough). While sitting, it should kill any bacteria/etc. That's the goal.


Next day, drain your fresh water tank as much as possible. Then add fresh water into your fresh water tank (I always use a simple filter when adding water). Fill it to max capacity. Then run water through each fixture again (hot and cold) to flush out any of the bleach mixed water. Run 4-5 gallons worth of this fresh water through your hot water line (so that it is flushing water from your hot water heater, which is still off). At this point, 90-95% of the original bleach solution has been flushed out of your fresh water system.



Then empty your fresh water tank as much as possible again. Refill your fresh water tank to max again and run water through each fixture again (hot and cold). Run several gallons of water through the hot water line. At this point, with having flushed the tank twice since adding the bleach, you should have less than 1% of the initial bleach solution in your water system. Safe to drink/use. Most likely that is undetectable/unnoticeable and you can be done and enjoy your fresh water.



If you are paranoid about it, you can empty your fresh water tank completely once more and refill with fresh water. At that point, you would expect to have less than 0.1% of the original bleach solution (1000th the amount of bleach). Definitely safe to drink/use.


It is a simple process, especially if you are somewhere with full hookups. It is recommended to sanitize your fresh water system at least once per year. That's what I do. I want to use my fresh water for washing, brushing teeth, showering, and drinking.



Over years and years of water cycling through the tank, sometimes sitting for months at a time in the heat of summer, etc....I wanna sanitize my tank at least once per year. I don't understand those who "never sanitize their tank" when it is so simple, but to each their own. I'm sure some number of people get sick each year using RV water that has been contaminated. I'm trying not to be one of them.



Good luck!
Chris

[AllegroD]

RV Antifreeze, when used as directed, is not toxic. You could use that.

[RV Vagabond]

Originally Posted by Rexlion

Wouldn't alcohol do the job? A bottle of Everclear, for example. Or maybe Southern Comfort.

Now that's an idea !!!

[twogypsies]

We never sanitized our tank in 16 yr. of full-timing. We drank & cooked with the tank water. But then, it's constantly getting filled and emptied.

If you're an occasional RVer then, yes, I would sanitize because it's just sitting there promoting growth of 'stuff'.

[Alpine36]

A light solution of bleach and water as a sanitizer is hardly poison.
Simply follow the basic sanitization procedures in your owners manual and you'll be fine. Twogypsies and I are on the same page. If you fill with "municipal" water you'll never really have a problem if you're full time or use the water system on a frequent basis.