Disinfecting Water Connections

^^^^^^ Great post and 100% factual. Should be a sticky. :)

There seems to be a big lack of understanding about municipal water systems, and their safety! Did you know that MANY of the brands of bottled water come straight from the tap of wherever their plant is located? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saSgpX186MM) But this is not the place for an extended lecture that will not change many minds, anyway. Using bottled water because of taste preference is fine, but you're not being healthier by using it.
Private wells are a different matter, and commercial use (campgrounds) in most areas of the country have to be tested, periodically. Of course, that depends on the local officials, and their level of concern.

mowermech hit the issue of sanitation on the head - it takes any practical concentration of a chemical time to do it's work, and many solutions dissipate really quickly. A bleach solution should be in contact for about 5 min. to do it's job, and that solution should be made fresh. In restaurants, that means several times a day, unless they have test kits to verify the bleach is still active. Bleach does NOT clean - it only sanitizes. You need a cleaner - detergent or other, to clean first. Then sanitize.

As far as dogs...well, gross as it is, urine is normally sanitary! As any medical professional. And there are very, very few things you can catch from a dog. The bathroom and kitchen is much more contagious for people-to-people transmission problems.

Bleach only acts on what it can touch, so if there is a layer of dirt or grim, you'll get a surface that is sanitized, but nothing under it is. Lots of restaurant food illnesses caused because the food residue was only sprayed with bleach, and not cleaned off first.


Bleaching a hose bib may make you feel better, but if first you do not thoroughly clean it, bleaching will do little - any "stuff" on it can still come through the water system. Simple flushing with water will take care of far more than a spritz of bleach - and is very effective in removing dog residue, kid spit, and all the rest!

Spritz away if if comforts you, but it's not doing anything to keep you healthy, unless you spend a moderate amount of time scrubbing and soaking.

Myself - I bleach my tanks a couple of times a year. Flush off all connections before hooking up. Drink the local water. Do use a PUR faucet filter to improve taste. Am thinking about a filtration system to keep sediment out. But it's not something I worry about much.

I suggest spraying the hose connection before hooking up. I have seen a couple of dogs watering that attractive post.

mowermech wrote:
...
To the OP; you say you have a nice new trailer. I know it is considered rude, crude, and obnoxious, but have you read the Owners Manual for your new rig? There is a wealth of information in there about how to get the most enjoyment from your RV. While it is true that much of the information is of a general nature, and does not directly apply to the model of trailer that you have, it IS good information, and it will answer many of your questions.
Have fun with your RV.

"information is of a general nature" is an understatement! I found my owner's manual to be completely useless. Asking questions on Open Roads forum, and asking people at campgrounds, is how I learned to use my TT's systems.

Are the owner's manuals for newer trailers useful?

mowermech wrote:
To the OP; you say you have a nice new trailer. I know it is considered rude, crude, and obnoxious, but have you read the Owners Manual for your new rig?

Yes, I've read the "Owner's Manual" but was looking for comments and suggestions from RVers who have been doing it for years.

I've read a lot of comments here on RV Net and a lot of campers who either bring water from home or buy distilled water. Some who disinfect and some that don't. I have a white hose for fresh water and won't use it to rinse out the black tank. But, I get the sense that using separate hoses is overkill and over thinking it.... I'll plan on using separate hoses.

I've been to China and have stayed in 5 star hotels. They tell you NOT to drink water from the room tap and always drink bottled water. Their water is only sanitized for bathing, etc. I'm told when you go to Mexico, you don't get a mixed drink with ice, etc.

Again, I was looking for comments and suggestions and appreciate all the comments posted.

When I read these kinds of questions I always wonder how they survived childhood ? Did they never drink out of a garden hose , or swim in the creek , change a baby diaper . What about food in a restaurant or GOD forbid a hot dog from a street vender .

In the South I would never store my hose with the ends connected , all kinds of things will grow in that wet , warm confined space . Leave them open and just run water thru onto the ground for 15 or 20 seconds to clear out any debris that you fear !

I sanitize my RV water system every spring by putting 2 cups of bleach in the 100 gallon fresh water tank, running the solutions all through the lines, let it sit overnight, drain, flush, and fill.
We very seldom buy bottled water, except for distilled water for batteries and CPAP machines.
Those who carry a bottle of bleach solution for "disinfecting" the faucets and such might want to research how long the germ killing qualities of their solution lasts. It just might not be what you think it is!
To the OP; you say you have a nice new trailer. I know it is considered rude, crude, and obnoxious, but have you read the Owners Manual for your new rig? There is a wealth of information in there about how to get the most enjoyment from your RV. While it is true that much of the information is of a general nature, and does not directly apply to the model of trailer that you have, it IS good information, and it will answer many of your questions.
Have fun with your RV.

I may joke about drinking water from a garden hose and such, but truth be told I actually drink about 3 or 4 store bottles of water every day.

We just purchased a house in a neighborhood where everyone has a well. Even though our water passed inspection I noticed a couple of my neighbors have pretty lush green lawns for this part of Florida. I suspect they are treating them with some type of chemicals. I would rather not drink that water from my well.

1775 wrote:
So many say no need to sanitize the tanks - and yet so many are drinking bottled water and will not drink the water from their tanks...

I am in the no need to sanitize crowd but I do drink bottled water, why you ask. Well its convenient to throw a few bottles in the fridge and keep them cold and generally water in the holding tank isn't very cold after a few days. Water taste changes from place to place and some times it tastes down right gross. I find in general there is a plastic taste in the water from the RV system but if I just want a quick drink I will drink the RV water. I put more trust in my RV water system then I do in the 70+ year old city water system that has who knows what floating around in it but like others posted there are so many chemicals in the city water that it takes care of the RV sanitizing by itself.