Dirty water in toilet bowl after sitting

[spuyear]

I am having a bizarre issue. After my last trip I performed housekeeping like always. This includes emptying and flushing the black tank, emptying the grey tank, and disconnecting from city water. I should note that the water pump is off and the toilet bowl is empty.

When I went into the rig a few days after I noticed dirty water in my toilet bowl. The water smelled bad like sewer water. I manually checked the black tank and found it to be empty.

Any idea where this water is mysteriously coming from?

[rlw999]

I had the same thing happen to my RV after a couple weeks of storage -- it only happened once and I never found the cause.

I use TankTechsRx probiotic tank treatment (it has live bacterial cultures), so I'm blaming it on not flushing long enough to clear out the TankTechsRX from the toilet bowl, so some of the bacteria grew in the bowl.

Not sure if that was really the cause, but I've been flushing more thoroughly and usually spray some toilet bowl cleaner in the bowl before the final flush after parking, and I haven't had it happen again.

[MDKMDK]

F1bNorm wrote:
You left the ceiling vent open and it’s been raining?:)

Good one. :B

[F1bNorm]

You left the ceiling vent open and it’s been raining?:)

[MDKMDK]

RV A/F (the pink stuff) with propylene glycol makes a good winterizing bowl seal when not in use. It won't evaporate like water, and usually provides some degree of lubrication.

[Old-Biscuit]

Toilet has a vacuum breaker (small container with hole/flapper at top)
After toilet is flushed the flapper opens an allows the water in vacuum breaker to drain down into bowl

As noted:
Should leave water in toilet bowel so seal doesn't dry out and the water is a Vapor Barrier so black tank odor doesn't come back up thru bowel

Should also put 4-5 gallons of water BACK into black & grey tank so bottom stays wet...keeps stuff from drying out/sticking/stinking
YES...there is some stuff left behind even when flushed

[ksg5000]

Water can only get into the bowl through the toilet valve (or someone peeing) ... maybe the valve is leaking and needs replacing? Since the water supply to the toilet come from your FW tank any water should be clean ... if it's dirty then you should sanitize your FW system ... lots of threads on that subject ... use the forum search feature.

Hope this helps.

[jdc1]

spuyear wrote:
The fresh water tank is empty and the valve to the toilet is closed.

Could some amount of sewer water still be in the tank and somehow be coming up into the toilet from below?

No. That would defy gravity.

[spuyear]

The fresh water tank is empty and the valve to the toilet is closed.

Could some amount of sewer water still be in the tank and somehow be coming up into the toilet from below?

[Ed_Gee]

Not related to the OP's question, but I would suggest keeping a little water in the toilet bowl to help prevent the seals from drying out.....

[MDKMDK]

Probably drainage from your (dirty smelly) fresh tank and water lines.