Sanitizing Water Tank

I sanitized my water tank one time. Then always kept my tank full with chlorinated soft water. Once a month, if not traveling, I would drain the water tank and refill to full. Always had 90 gals of fresh chlorinated soft water for use. This worked for 9 years.

I quit sanitizing the water some time ago. I fill the fresh water tank about half full when leaving home, and add to it as needed when I stop for the night at CGs. But I only use that water for anything on the outside of me. The toilet, shower and sink. For water that goes inside of me, I buy gallon jugs of distilled water from Wally World. I use that for anything that goes inside of me, like coffee, cooking and the cup where I sanitize my teeth at night.
That's due to losing a fight with a telephone pole when I was a teenager. Bit a hunk out of the steering wheel when I came to a sudden stop. Seat belts were an optional accessory in the early 60's.

Varies with quality of water, presence/absence of chlorine, ambient temperature, etc.

No firm answer on this one.

2gypsies, thank you for the input. Your reply really makes since for the area we live in. I think I will start that regimen.


Again Thanks

Ray

jackandh2o: How often do you use your RV? Are you always in hot temps? This has a lot to do on how often to sanitize.

Ugly stuff can grow in warm water if you let it sit for six months or so in Arizona. So I would drain it completely when you're finished with a trip. Sanitizing it once a year might be good for your area.

As full-timers for 16 years, we and any of our full-timing friends never sanitize the tank. We use the water continuously so there's no time for things to grow in it. We've also gotten our water from many varied sources and we've never worried about the quality. We don't buy bottled water and drink from the tank although we do filter it when coming into the tank and also have a kitchen filter on the faucet. We boondock a lot on forest and BLM lands so we use the tank all the time.

I guess I should have been more precise. I was questioning how often most people sanitize their tanks. I believe there are those that never sanitize but I think I will go with the once a year.


Thank you all for the input.

Ray

A few comments on this. I use my RV alot, and I normally dry camp, so I fill my tanks regularly throughout the season. I sanitize my tank and system in the spring when I de-winterize. Of course that includes flushing fresh water through the system after the sanitizing process is complete. I always filter the water when I am filling my fresh tank because you should never trust a water source. I won't let it sit full for very long unless I am in one place and using it until empty. If it is unused for a couple of months I will sanitize my RV again, just to make sure I have no issues. I tow with very little water as it's easier on the RV. A friend of mine stores his RV full of water, non-chlorinated, and he develops problems when he goes on the road.

We use our trailer kinda continuously , we fill it from our well , add a little chlorine , and never drain or even worry about it . How long do ya think your city water sits in tanks , pumps and pipes before it gets to your house ? Maybe we should ask some one in Detroit ?

A few more thoughts-

When filling the tank, most campgrounds will have chlorinated water, so you are adding chlorine when you add chlorinated water. The same is true if you have chlorinated water at home.

In my case, I have a well and the water is not chlorinated. I don't usually fill the tank unless I am going to be without hookups for several days. This does happen 2-4 times a season. Never had a problem.

HackerAce wrote:
I think the question has not been answered. When filling the fresh water tank "how long can it sit before needing to have chlorine added" is what I believe the question is.

Provided the tank has previously been sanitized in the current season, IMHO there is no reason to add chlorine. When I refill my tank after I have sanitized it I do not add chlorine.

I don't know when full timers sanitize.

If you are talking about purchasing an RV which has water in the tank, I would drain it, look at the water that came out and if it is not clear and colorless, or even if it is, I would add water and chlorine and complete the sanitization process.