We are currently camping in PA. From time to time, the water line, (the parks, not our hose), freezes up, so we have to rely on our fresh water tank for washing and flushing. We have bottled water for cooking. The. Dogs have had a bout with diarrhea, then DW, now me. Since we need to run the tank heaters to keep from freezing, I think that has contributed to bacteria growth in the tank?We have been camping on and off for 10 years, and only use the fresh water tank to flush, and wash. We have never had a problem before, but now ?? I know I should probably sanitize the fresh water tank with some bleach, but don't I need a pump?I would appreciate your thoughts!

you can fill a hose with bleach and then run it into the tank. do you give tank water to the dogs to drink? do you wash dishes and give them a final rinse with the tank water? I added bleach by taking out the filter element, filling the empty cartridge with bleach, then ran water in.bumpy

Use 1/4 cup bleach to every 15 gallons, fill the tank with clean water (and the bleach), and then run each faucet until you smell bleach. Let a sit a few hours and flush it a couple of times, and you should be good to go.

IdaD wrote:Use 1/4 cup bleach to every 15 gallons, fill the tank with clean water (and the bleach), and then run each faucet until you smell bleach. Let a sit a few hours and flush it a couple of times, and you should be good to go.This.It may be the tank, but it could also be your water lines or HW heater. Just clean the whole system, it's pretty easy. DON'T go overboard with the bleach, the ratio above is fine. Otherwise you will have a hard time getting rid of the smell/taste. If you do this at least once a year you should never have a problem. It also makes the tank water perfectly safe to drink & cook with, no need to carry so much bottled water.

I fill my 25' water hose with bleach then connect to city water and fill my tank, easy and mess free. I do this each spring and as above I run the water through all the faucets and let it sit overnight. Dump and rinse several times and good to go.

Then use bicarbonate of soda which helps in cleaning and gets rid of the chlorine taste.

Fresh water tank, contaminated? | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

Halmfamily
Explorer
Feb 06, 2016
I fill my 25' water hose with bleach then connect to city water and fill my tank, easy and mess free. I do this each spring and as above I run the water through all the faucets and let it sit overnight. Dump and rinse several times and good to go.
coolmom42
Explorer II
Feb 06, 2016
IdaD wrote:
Use 1/4 cup bleach to every 15 gallons, fill the tank with clean water (and the bleach), and then run each faucet until you smell bleach. Let a sit a few hours and flush it a couple of times, and you should be good to go.

This.

It may be the tank, but it could also be your water lines or HW heater. Just clean the whole system, it's pretty easy. DON'T go overboard with the bleach, the ratio above is fine. Otherwise you will have a hard time getting rid of the smell/taste. If you do this at least once a year you should never have a problem. It also makes the tank water perfectly safe to drink & cook with, no need to carry so much bottled water.
IdaD
Explorer
Feb 06, 2016
Use 1/4 cup bleach to every 15 gallons, fill the tank with clean water (and the bleach), and then run each faucet until you smell bleach. Let a sit a few hours and flush it a couple of times, and you should be good to go.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Feb 06, 2016
you can fill a hose with bleach and then run it into the tank. do you give tank water to the dogs to drink? do you wash dishes and give them a final rinse with the tank water? I added bleach by taking out the filter element, filling the empty cartridge with bleach, then ran water in.
bumpy

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Fresh water tank, contaminated?

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