Never used fresh water tank, need some guidance

[Admiral_Roo2]

We have a long trip coming up that will involve some non CG overnighters. So I need some pointers on how to prepare tank for first use / understand best practices etc. A buddy said to put a little water in the tank with some clorox prior to my next tow so it would slosh around and clan the tank in transit. Then fill it up, drain / rinse. Then fill it for actual use. Is this on target? Also how much clorox to add for actual consumption use, think it's a 40 gallon tank. Thanks.

[Ford Idaho]

The suggested amount in 1/4 cup per 15 gallons of water.

Use enough to fill the tank, let it sit overnight.

Using the water pump run water thru each faucet and outside shower.

Also run some out the low point drains as well as the FW tank drain tube.

Now drain it and fill with fresh water till you can no longer smell the bleach.

[Skyliner]

To disinfect you need concentration and duration. Leaving the chlorine in the tank overnight is perfect but you need to leave it in the lines too. So make sure you run the water in each line and then wait at least 4 hours but overnight is best.

Sanidumps: How to Sanitize Your RV Water System

Don't forget to sanitize the hot water heater too. The above link is a pretty good reference.

The 1/2 cup baking soda is a great tip because the chlorine small can linger for a bit though we don't mind it.

We don't drink our tank water in our camper but we sanitize and actually put in a little more bleach than necessary after we disinfect and refill the tank.. We find we can extend our time between showers to every 2 days if our water has the same concentration of bleach as a swimming pool thus saving water when we boondock/dry camp.

[rracer5]

Originally Posted by Ford Idaho

The suggested amount in 1/4 cup per 15 gallons of water.

Use enough to fill the tank, let it sit overnight.

Using the water pump run water thru each faucet and outside shower.

Also run some out the low point drains as well as the FW tank drain tube.

Now drain it and fill with fresh water till you can no longer smell the bleach.

Originally Posted by TonyD

To disinfect you need concentration and duration. Leaving the chlorine in the tank overnight is perfect but you need to leave it in the lines too. So make sure you run the water in each line and then wait at least 4 hours but overnight is best.

Sanidumps: How to Sanitize Your RV Water System

Don't forget to sanitize the hot water heater too. The above link is a pretty good reference.

The 1/2 cup baking soda is a great tip because the chlorine small can linger for a bit though we don't mind it.

We don't drink our tank water in our camper but we sanitize and actually put in a little more bleach than necessary after we disinfect and refill the tank.. We find we can extend our time between showers to every 2 days if our water has the same concentration of bleach as a swimming pool thus saving water when we boondock/dry camp.

X3

[BooBoo23]

Originally Posted by TonyD

We don't drink our tank water in our camper but we sanitize and actually put in a little more bleach than necessary after we disinfect and refill the tank.. We find we can extend our time between showers to every 2 days if our water has the same concentration of bleach as a swimming pool thus saving water when we boondock/dry camp.

X4. I use the fresh water tank for washing, showers, and flushing. I use bottled water for drinking, coffee, or anything that goes IN my body. Don't travel with any more water in the tank than necessary for pit stops along the way as that just adds a lot of weight to your tow.

[CNYCamper]

If you will be bringing a portable tank (e.g., 6 gallon) for re-filling the FWT from a remote spigot, the portable should be disinfected as well.

[pdqparalegal1]

May be way overthinking water. I know we're not in dire straights, but I remember getting drinking water from a portable water point with iodine in water storage point by river with leaches swimming in it. OK, so all my children were born naked, but I'm OK. Just do the best you ca and try not to worry too much! Happy trails!!

[Wingdreamer]

Originally Posted by Ford Idaho

The suggested amount in 1/4 cup per 15 gallons of water.

Use enough to fill the tank, let it sit overnight.

Using the water pump run water thru each faucet and outside shower.

Also run some out the low point drains as well as the FW tank drain tube.

Now drain it and fill with fresh water till you can no longer smell the bleach.

Agreed with above.

If you can do this while hooked to the camper, take it for a run around the block after bleach mixture has been put into tank. The sloshing around will get to the inside top of the freshwater tank. Park trailer for the night and start flushing with fresh water in the morning...

[Wolverine 1945]

Camco makes a product that you can add after you have sanitized your system,,,
It is called Taste Pure Water Freshener,,, one ounce treats 20 gallons,,, it is supposed to keep water fresh for I think 2 weeks !!!

[Jc furnace man]

Agree with wolverine 1957 the camco stuff works great camped for 2 months using the water tank no problems

[Skyliner]

Originally Posted by Wolverine 1945

Camco makes a product that you can add after you have sanitized your system,,,
It is called Taste Pure Water Freshener,,, one ounce treats 20 gallons,,, it is supposed to keep water fresh for I think 2 weeks !!!

Once you use up the bottle and its empty, refill it with unscented household laundry bleach. Its the same stuff.

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by TonyD

Once you use up the bottle and its empty, refill it with unscented household laundry bleach. Its the same stuff.

So you are saying it is safe to use 1 oz of bleach with every 20 gallons of water ??? I do believe TastPure does have some type of chlorine in it !!!

[dcheatwood]

Originally Posted by Ford Idaho

The suggested amount in 1/4 cup per 15 gallons of water.

Use enough to fill the tank, let it sit overnight.

Using the water pump run water thru each faucet and outside shower.

Also run some out the low point drains as well as the FW tank drain tube.

Now drain it and fill with fresh water till you can no longer smell the bleach.

Agreed. And run some thru hot side also, so it flows thru water heater.

[bfhammer]

I use a berkey water purifier at home and now with me in the RV. You can basically put even lake water in it and drink it later. It's a full purifier not just a filter. I keep it on the counter. Can't risk anything contaminating my coffee!

[northstar1960]

I flush my tank with a diluted bleach mix but rinse it out thoroughly before use . never would i leave a bleach dilution in my drinking water nor any other cleaner or tank freshener . city water should have a good 2 week life span in the tanks . I'm lucky to get a week with 54 gallons but could make it 2

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by bfhammer

I use a berkey water purifier at home and now with me in the RV. You can basically put even lake water in it and drink it later. It's a full purifier not just a filter. I keep it on the counter. Can't risk anything contaminating my coffee!

The Berkey looks a little pricy,,,
Our Pur Canister works just fine for us !!!

[itat]

There are 2 issues being confused above.

1. Sanitizing the water system. The method of 1/4 cup of unscented bleach per 15 US gallons is recommended by pretty much everyone. I use slightly more bleach because I can't detect the chlorine smell at that concentration. Sanitizing the water lines and the hot water tank is necessary. If you full time, do this at least twice a year. If you only weekend and vacation camp, do it at least once a year. I let the chlorinated water sit overnight as well.

2. Quality of water going into the water system. I completely disagree that you can overthink this. You absolutely have to have high quality, clean water for drinking. There are many cases of bad water causing illness and even death. In my neighbourhood, the worst case was in Walkerton, Ontario. Check this link.

[Wolverine 1945]

Any water that I put in our FR tank,,, other than when Sanitizing gets filtered !!!
+ I add Taste Pur,,, even though we very seldom ever drink it !!! And we filter it again before we make Coffee !!!

[camper1999]

Originally Posted by itat

There are 2 issues being confused above.


1. Sanitizing the water system. The method of 1/4 cup of unscented bleach per 15 US gallons is recommended by pretty much everyone. I use slightly more bleach because I can't detect the chlorine smell at that concentration. Sanitizing the water lines and the hot water tank is necessary. If you full time, do this at least twice a year. If you only weekend and vacation camp, do it at least once a year. I let the chlorinated water sit overnight as well.

2. Quality of water going into the water system. I completely disagree that you can overthink this. You absolutely have to have high quality, clean water for drinking. There are many cases of bad water causing illness and even death. In my neighbourhood, the worst case was in Walkerton, Ontario. Check this link.

X2 but I use 1/4 cup per 40 gallons which I heard is enough if you let it sit in the tank for awhile. This mixture will not harm any seals either.

[itat]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jEepug8N-aE