A reminder for those who sanitize the water system.

The tanks on an RV are holding tanks and not a septic system. There is very little "breaking down" via bacteria and enzymes that occurs in between dumpings. If waste broke down that fast, household septic tanks would never have to be pumped.

As far as getting a little bleach water in your black tank, I would not worry about it. According to Oregon State University (and many others) "Because it is unstable, when used for disinfection, diluted bleach should be prepared fresh daily". Add to this the fact that using the black tank adds water which dilutes the bleach even further means the odds it will be able to kill anything becomes pretty much zero quickly.

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/larc/sites/default/files/pdf/chlorine-fact-sheet.pdf

bob213 wrote:

mlts22 wrote:
When draining, I like dumping part into the black tank, part in the grey tank, which helps on odor control.

I have been told that if you use chemicals in the black tank (not the geo method) that you should not put bleach in the tank. The bleach kills the enzymes in the chemicals and tank and they no longer do their job of breaking down the waste.
I'm not a chemist, so I don't really know if this is true, but it is what I've been told........

I would agree with that assessment. Putting a bleach solution in the black tank would kill the bacteria that are necessary to break the waste down. I never put any sort of chemical in the black tank, not even deodorizer. There is never any unpleasant smell just leaving the tank alone and the bacteria to do their job.

We never ran the vinegar solution after the bleach solution, just flushed it pretty well with water. That seemed to work well too - but then, we usually don't drink the tap water in the camper, just wash & flush the toilet with it. (And brush our teeth with it, so - ) Anyway, when we've ended up with the most awful-tasting/smelling water was when we didn't sanitize after the camper had sat for a while (tank empty or partially so, it didn't matter.) So sanitizing is highly recommended.

Cecilt wrote:
^X3. Never sanitized my water system since 2010. We don't use the fresh water tank and always hooked to city water. We use water to brush teeth and I use to make coffee that I only drink. None of us have been sick yet. Too much paranoia today.

If you never use your fresh water tank why are you posting on a discussion of fresh water tanks? It is obvious that you have nothing to contribute. I do agree, there is too much paranoia. Hundreds of folks don't use their tank city water, only bottled water.

mlts22 wrote:
When draining, I like dumping part into the black tank, part in the grey tank, which helps on odor control.

Bleach in the black tank kills the bacteria that decomposes the contents.

My owners manual says after draining the bleach solution, refill with a water & vinegar solution to remove the bleach taste and odor. The solution should be kept in for up to three days, drained and then rinsed.

Been doing this annually (or so) for thirteen years. Works great.

Any water including City Water will only hold a Chlorine Residual for a few days, then you have no protection. It is always a good idea to sanitize at the beginning of each season.

^X3. Never sanitized my water system since 2010. We don't use the fresh water tank and always hooked to city water. We use water to brush teeth and I use to make coffee that I only drink. None of us have been sick yet. Too much paranoia today.

Old-Biscuit, I think you may be preaching to the choir here. :h

With all the "things to do on an RV" I sometimes wonder if folks have time for enjoyable things in life.

I have my money on the city water doing the job for my system.