What is a good way to sanitize my fresh water tank? Should I use bleach? If so how much?ThanksJohn

cheap wine will do the job and taste better than bleach

JRJR wrote:What is a good way to sanitize my fresh water tank? Should I use bleach? If so how much?ThanksJohnThere's a couple formulas, let these solutions soak 24-48 hours after running water to every faucet and showerhead:Troubled System (green things floating around): 0.13oz/gallon of tank size = oz of bleach to use, Exp - 7.8 oz/60 gallonsPreventative = 1 oz bleach / 60 gallons (you can still drink and use it).And then other things:Remove Smells = 1.5 cups vinegar/60 gallonsSweeten the water = 1/2 cup Baking Soda/60 gallonsYou can see that it doesn't take much. These amounts are from an honest to goodness scientist and RV'er who also was a city water manager for several decades.Also, the Bear II is right about that wine.In these days of growing zones of drought, it's best not to fill and dump your tanks over and over if avoidable. Also, city sewage systems don't need really strong bleach water hitting their bacteria so use the Baking soda after a troubled system wash. Dump it into the tank after the 24-48 hour soak, and let it neutralize the water for a few hours.

The standing method is 1/4 bleach (Do not use low splash) to every 15 gallons of water. On their website, Clorox says that 30 minutes is sufficient but I usually leave it overnight.To completely kill the bleach in the water and remove any smell or taste of it, poor in a few ounces of hydrogen peroxide (perfectly safe and amount doesn't really matter), run it through the lines and then drain and refill.

Please, bear II, don't waste wine in water tanks!1/4 cup bleach for each 15 gallons of water and I agree with Scott that only 30 minutes isn't safe enough.

Rather than bleach, I use chlorine granules. About 1 tablespoon for 40 gallons. Let sit overnight, then run through all faucets until empty, then refill with fresh water.No need for multiple flushings and/or additives to remove the icky bleach taste.

Sanitizing fresh water tank? Bleach? | Good Sam Community

JimK-NY
Explorer II
Apr 24, 2018
At one time I had a link to an official website with a recommended treatment protocol. The protocol was 1/4 cup of bleach for each 15 gallons. I believe the soak time was a half hour or an hour. People seem to want to error on the conservative side so I have seen that extended to hours or even overnight. I go with an hour or two. I also make sure I move plenty of bleach treated water through the lines. Also be careful to totally fill your tank. It is even a good idea to drive so treated water washes off the top of the tank.

The biggest risk is contamination with pseudomonas which is typically not harmful for anyone with a healthy immune system.
work2much
Explorer
Apr 24, 2018
I think people would freak if they saw what city water main looks like on the inside. We just fill it through one of those cheap camco filters when we fill. Every few months I drain the tank and then just refill it.

Most city supplies already have stuff in the water to kill all the crum in the cities water mains.
Ski_Pro_3
Explorer
Apr 24, 2018
The reaction is oxygen gas and salt water.
JRJR
Explorer
Apr 24, 2018
Some say bleach some say peroxide, so I thought I would use both! Not a good idea. I put 1 ounce of bleach in a glass cup went to add 1 ounce of peroxide and I thought the whole mess was going to blow up. Giant reaction.
Ski_Pro_3
Explorer
Apr 24, 2018
I use the same stuff I use for my hot tub and the same levels. If it kills off the hot tub ****, it sure will in a fresh water tank too. Then flush of course.
Use the spent water for washing your driveway and sidewalks. I hook up the drain to my pressure washer, leaving the cap off the filler for air to enter, and blast away! Doesn't seem to hurt any landscaping in the area.
Jim2007
Explorer
Apr 24, 2018
Hi... I use Spring Fresh... cost a few dollars but nontoxic to humans. Jim2007
Jim
Explorer
Apr 24, 2018
gbopp wrote:
the bear II wrote:
cheap wine will do the job and taste better than bleach

Better yet, drink the cheap wine while using bleach to sanitize the FW tank. :)

Once again, The Bear II is spot on...

...and gbopp is coming on strong with another great idea...
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Apr 24, 2018
Me too, cewillis!
egarant
Explorer III
Apr 23, 2018
PUROGENE

This product is used everywhere. I've been using it in my RV as soon as I heard about it three years ago. Much more effective than straight chlorine.
gbopp
Explorer
Apr 23, 2018
the bear II wrote:
cheap wine will do the job and taste better than bleach

Better yet, drink the cheap wine while using bleach to sanitize the FW tank. :)