Cleaning the H2O tank

OR -
You can do what I do. My fresh water tank is for flushing the toilet and using the shower. In other words, water that stays outside of me. For coffee, cooking and brushing my teeth, I buy gallon jugs of distilled water when I stop at Wally Worlds. Its cheap, doesn't have an "off" taste and its easy to store in the cabinet under the kitchen sink.

We were on a flight to Hawaii a few years ago, and we were told not to drink the water, and no coffee or tea available, because there was an airport on the West Coast somewhere that had a water quality issue, and this jet had filled with water there a few days previous, and they hadn't had a chance to re-sanatize the water tank yet.

We full-timed and traveled constantly for 16 years. We used the water from our fresh water tank for everything - drinking, cooking, etc. We got our water from many sources. We had a good filter on the inlet and another at the kitchen faucet.

We never sanitized our water tank.

I sanitize mine once a year in the spring. I do not drink from it but, I use it for everything else.

I've never gotten sick, or had the diarrhea, after, or during, a camping trip.

I reuse my bottled water bottles by refilling them from my home water system. I drink from that on trips. Mostly because I keep them in the fridge and I like cold water.

When the water in my water bottles starts to taste funny (kinda a moldy taste) I thrown them away and get a new one.

I read a article in Popular Science Magazine recently that described it best in one sentence.

" Hygiene is good, Sanitation is not."

By over sanitizing our environment we are making ourselves sicker.

I also eat food cooked over the campfire on my (slightly) dirty cooking grate. I rarely get sick and only go to the doctor once a year for my blood work. I've never been to the emergency room in my life. I'm 52 years old.

It is under the bed. There is an access door when I move the mattress. That is where I access the water pump, fresh water tank drain, outside shower shutoffs, and winterizing tube/valve. It is definitely in the dark, but not all growth requires light. While the tank is not clear, it is translucent. While we have very good water here, I would not go so far as to say it is totally devoid of nutrients.

We went to Alaska this summer, so we left the MH sitting for 2 months or more without using it in July and August in TN. When we got back, the water coming out of the taps was a milky/cloudy white. I looked at the fresh water tank, and you could see it in the tank. I drained the tank and water heater, and bleached it according to Winnebago's instructions. (I do that every spring anyway) and it cleared it up.

Bobbo wrote:
I have seen the growth in my tank. YMMV. (It was gone after the bleach treatment.)

I'm curious, how did you see inside your tank?

Generally most life forms(bacteria included) need energy and nutrients to actively reproduce. There may be warmth but without sunlight and some type of sugar or amino acid, growth will be really limited. Your nose does a good job letting you detect excretions from bacteria( ie sulphur ). You may not like the "plastic taste" after water sits in there a while but that will not cause illness.

I have seen the growth in my tank. YMMV. (It was gone after the bleach treatment.)

In 50+ years of camping I have never "cleaned" my H2O tank. Once in a while I might put a cap full of sodium hypochlorite in the tank if I remember. I have never been sick on vacation, and neither has any member of my family.

Maybe I'm a cockroach or something? Maybe I have a great immune system? Maybe the reason I have a great immune system is because I tax it? Maybe I'm lucky? I don't know? Just the way I do it.


Oh, and as far as it's just a holding tank. See those big tanks up on the hills of a city? What do you think they are? :R

Oh and before anybody starts on the bottle water kick with really cool names like "Spring fresh ultra mountain water". Most are LA tap water put into a little plastic bottle and sold for more than gasoline. :B

rockhillmanor wrote:

It's a 'holding' tank and a breeding ground for bacteria. I take no chances. Bacteria can enter your body via the nose from water droplets when showering also.

I bleach out the tank and lines often. I do not drink or cook with the water from the holding tank.

Filling a holding tank with chlorinated city water does not have a concentration high enough to kill bacteria in a holding tank. The choline was added at the filtration plant to kill bacteria before you receive it at a residential faucet and all that is left is the 'smell' of the chlorine.

Will you up and die from the bacteria? No. But that diarrhea you thought was from too much beer and chili dogs from last nights cook out could actually have been from the bacteria in the water in the holding tank! :B

I've never had a case of diarrhea or other stomach issues (or any sudden sickness) while camping or directly after camping in my RV. I use the fresh water tank for all my water needs.

It comes down to doing what you are comfortable with doing. If I were to suddenly get sick, then I might consider changing my process - but I haven't with either RV (nor with the camper when I was a kid).

Trust me, I know way to much about the nasty stuff that likes to grow in wet, dark places. I am curious, did your RV come with a schedule for cleaning you potable water tank? And how vigilant are you about flushing and disinfecting your water tanks. Thanks.

It's a 'holding' tank and a breeding ground for bacteria. I take no chances. Bacteria can enter your body via the nose from water droplets when showering also.

I bleach out the tank and lines often. I do not drink or cook with the water from the holding tank.

Filling a holding tank with chlorinated city water does not have a concentration high enough to kill bacteria in a holding tank. The choline was added at the filtration plant to kill bacteria before you receive it at a residential faucet and all that is left is the 'smell' of the chlorine.

Will you up and die from the bacteria? No. But that diarrhea you thought was from too much beer and chili dogs from last nights cook out could actually have been from the bacteria in the water in the holding tank! :B