Water shock question

[philandkara]

I want to clean the potable water system. I have read on the forum a little about using pool "shock" or chlorine. I have "spa-shock oxidizer" by spa guard. It says it is non-chlorine. Is this the same stuff?

[2Susan]

Pool shock is chlorine. The fresh water tank is only xx gallons. A jug of bleach should do you as well. When we had a pool I would pour in 2 packets of pool shock for 20,000 gallons. It is quite concentrated. Seems like too much.

[brianb]

Originally Posted by philandkara

I want to clean the potable water system. I have read on the forum a little about using pool "shock" or chlorine. I have "spa-shock oxidizer" by spa guard. It says it is non-chlorine. Is this the same stuff?

That is considered a "non-chlorine" shock or MPS. It uses the chemical Potassium peroxymonosulfate for oxidizing the water. I'm not sure if that will work for this kind of sanitizing purposes...

What people on here have talked about is chlorine based shock. You want something that contains one of these big names... Sodium Dichloro-s-Triazinetrione or Calcium Hypochlorite.

A small resealable container for a SPA is the most convenient. Then to clean your tanks substitute 1-2 TBSP of shock for liquid bleech. Then if you ever have suspect water you can add 1/4 tsp to be safe.

[philandkara]

Thanks so much for all of the information. I have the chlorine as well so I will use that. Haven't had any problems, but just want to make sure we don't.

[BigDTx]

I would use house hold bleach, not pool products. Not sure what else is in them and they are not really intended to treat drinking water.

Clorox works good!

[buzzards27]

Originally Posted by Danielflading

I would use house hold bleach, not pool products. Not sure what else is in them and they are not really intended to treat drinking water.

Clorox works good!

The shock is better than Clorox or bleach. There is other "stuff" in bleach that are not good for you. Bleach is primarily a cleaning product whereas shock is meant for human contact and even possible ingestion. If you check any "survivalist" websites, shock is the go to product. By shock, I mean the product with the long name Brianb cited.

FYI, bleach has a shelf life of a year or so, shock has a 25 year plus shelf life.

[brianb]

Originally Posted by Danielflading

I would use house hold bleach, not pool products. Not sure what else is in them and they are not really intended to treat drinking water.

Clorox works good!

Well neither is meant for direct human ingestion. Both contain chlorine and other carrier ingredients. I used to do the bleach but it was a pain to wash out, messy, affected water taste, and can stain fabrics.

I have had pool water in my mouth and unfortunately up my nose more times then I can count and so far I have survived..