How long does fresh water stay fresh?

BB_TX wrote:
There are additives available such as this to keep the water fresh. I have never tried one so can’t comment on how well they work.

The active ingredients in this are the same as the main ingredients in Oxi-Clean. Funny the second ingredient is Sodium bicarbonate, Upset stomach anyone:D

We full-timed and traveled constantly and got our water at various places. In 16 years we never sanitized our tank and we drank and cooked from it. We also stayed mainly in public parks and a full summer to Alaska. During the 16 years and being in groups of full-timers around the campfire, I've never heard of anyone getting sick from their water. I've never read of anyone getting sick either. Public facilities where folks are getting their water wouldn't have bad water for people to get sick. It would be all over the news. We volunteered in public parks and know that their water was continually tested. They just wouldn't take the risk otherwise.

I will say that we used a good filter for the water going into the tank and we also had another filter at the kitchen faucet.

I would advise you to get a water filter. They aren't that expensive. Here's a great place to see and read all about the different kinds and give them a call. They are extremely helpful in answering your questions and advising what you might need.

https://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/

As a full-timer who always has at least 1/4 of the fresh water tank full - my process is to turn off the spigot and run on the water pump/ fresh water tank until it will not pump any more water. I do this on the first of the month, every month. Then add about 8-9 gallons of fresh water.

Many times I will fill the fresh water tank of the campground has low water pressure. My water pump provides a more consistent pressure/ flow for showers, etc.

Next week we will start a round of three straight weeks of Good Sam state rally’s. I’ll fill the water tank when we arrive at each on Sunday or Monday and run on the water tank all week. Should be close to traveling level by the end of the week.

An old timer RV'er said he uses a bottle of cheap wine in the freshwater tank to freshen it up. Pours in the wine and adds a couple of gallons of water and then drives around to slosh the tank. Then drain and fill with water.

If it's city water (not well water) several months. In 40+ years of RVing with a water system we have never used bottled water but I will flush with some bleach once a year if the rig sits for 5-6 months and then fill with city water.

There are additives available such as this to keep the water fresh. I have never tried one so can’t comment on how well they work.

We have consumed the water in our tanks for 25+ years without issue. After all, that's what the system is there for.
As for how long it keeps, I drain and refill every two weeks.
(I keep it full in case of disaster)

x2 bottled for drinking. you just never no whats going on inside that tank. and I drain refresh after every trip.

I drain my fresh water tank after each outing, we use bottled water for drinking and coffee, water tank for everything else.

There are a lot of variables--how pure the water is to begin with, how warm the temperatures are, how many nasties are floating around in the air in the area (as the water tank obviously cannot be airtight), etc. Generally, though, I personally would not start worrying until maybe a month or so, which generally means that it's a moot point if one's staying in the RV as the water usage will ensure it gets cycled through (if imperfectly) a lot more frequently than that. For my two and a half month Alaska trip last year, I sanitized before leaving and just filled from potable water sources as needed for the rest of the time...and had no difficulties. I didn't use bottled water, just drinking and cooking with the tap water.