Yes I am a total newb, about to make a maiden voyage in my new to me 3010tt Cyclone.Scenario: Place I'm going to, has a spring fed, NON-potable water source (gravity pressure to main faucet head). I have seen many a camper here using this water as a "city source" over the years. I was considering doing the same thing and am concerned about low outside temps causing freezing. Is it prudent to also have the fresh water side full (inside tank)?? I am assuming that I can use The "city side" for pressure, then if needed , just turn my water pump on to use my Holding tank?? If this is acceptable, do I need to disconnect the "city side" 1st??I am also concerned of contaminating my tanks after reading some "disinfecting" threads here..Any tips please?

westernaccents wrote:Is it prudent to also have the fresh water side full (inside tank)?? I am assuming that I can use The "city side" for pressure, then if needed , just turn my water pump on to use my Holding tank?? If this is acceptable, do I need to disconnect the "city side" 1st??I am also concerned of contaminating my tanks after reading some "disinfecting" threads here..Yes. You can actually use both.. the one with the highest pressure wins. No, but if you mean the exterior hose, you don't want that freezing. It's your call. I've seen many 'non-potable' water sources which are just fine, it's just that the local water board doesn't treat it so it can't legally be called "safe". It may be just fine.

You most definitely can have water in your fresh tank and still be hooked up to City water. FYI, there is no pressure IN your fresh water tank. Your pump simply "pumps" it out. There is some pressure between the pump and your faucets, otherwise water would never come out.When you turn your city water on, the city water overrides the pump and the on-board pump should never come on. This is accomplished by in-line check-valves. Sounds like you're attempting to tap into an artesian well. I don' t see any reason why you could not, but whenever you are on "city water" the pressure of the water coming through your lines is only as great as the pressure from the source. If you are sharing the same faucet among other campers, and everyone uses the water at the same time, you might not have any pressure.If the water is safe to drink, there's no "real" reason to sanitize, provided your tank is clean to start with. If you are hooked up to city water, your fresh water tank should not ever fill, unless one of those valves are broken. If the water is non-potable water, I wouldn't drink it. However, for flushing toilets and such, there would be no problem there.

Thanks !! The water was used for an old Military training base in the 30's-40's, Indians used it before then, now locals use it for water where wells wont work, but the main spring is used by everything from bears,elk and deer, so not a sealed system.Intention was for showers/potty. Will carry purified for drinking and coffee. I am now concerned about introducing "germs" LOL and freezing after relies I got on the manufactures web forums. BTW 2008 3010TT Not sure if I can even take water without ruining my plumbing!!! Might should have bought a tent!!! LOL

Actually I would fill my holding tank with the water from the spring and then treat it with chlorine to kill bacteria etc. Then there is no worry about cold temps freezing anything

darsben wrote:Actually I would fill my holding tank with the water from the spring and then treat it with chlorine to kill bacteria e.tc. Then there is no worry about cold temps freezing anythingI was wondering about that, probably needs to be chlorinated anyway. How does that effect the flora or chemicals used in the black tank though? Yes absolute newb and trial by fire for me.

Recommendations on this "water use" scenario | Good Sam Community

westernaccents
Explorer
Oct 01, 2013
If my tank is 20 or so gallons, that is not much weight for the convenience. Now I just have to learn how to camp in the cold, especially throughout the day when I'm not in the TT. Think I will get a "buddie" heater and run it on low when I'm outside.
bukhrn
Explorer III
Oct 04, 2013
If your RV has a filter after the fresh water tank, I'd use the spring water, you can also add an inline filter before it comes into your tank, but I agree with 2oldman "It's your call. I've seen many 'non-potable' water sources which are just fine, it's just that the local water board doesn't treat it so it can't legally be called "safe". It may be just fine."
I too have drank (or drunk), water from many springs in my time nothing wrong with them, in several cases actually tested cleaner than some city water supplies,they simply were not over loaded with chlorine like most city systems, which actually tastes nasty.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
bukhrn wrote:
If your RV has a filter after the fresh water tank, I'd use the spring water, you can also add an inline filter before it comes into your tank, but I agree with 2oldman "It's your call. .

I would think that it would depend greatly on exactly what kind of a filter is installed. but why "cruddy" up your FWT with unsafe water in the first place?
bumpy

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