How long do you store fresh water in tank?

A lot depends on weather you have well water (untreated) or city water(treated). I have city water and don't worry about it. I dry camp mostly so I use it and fill it when I need to so it does not sit all year. The water sits in the tank for maybe 4 weeks between use.

Gjac wrote:
A lot depends on weather you have well water (untreated) or city water(treated). I have city water and don't worry about it. I dry camp mostly so I use it and fill it when I need to so it does not sit all year. The water sits in the tank for maybe 4 weeks between use.

Good point! It's city water. I edited the post.

I am on my own well, When I de-winterize, I sanitize my fresh water system. After flushing out the plumbing and draining the tank, I fill the tank diluting the residual chlorine in the tank. I use the water through out the year when stopping on our routes and refilling the RO syestme. Never had any problems.

TNGW1500SE wrote:
How long do you store CITY fresh water in the fresh water tank before you get concerned?

Drain before it freezes - that's it - it's water it will not go BAD.

JMHO,

Busskipper wrote:

Drain before it freezes - that's it - it's water it will not go BAD.

It depends.....or the age of the tank and the length of storage and the climate. I would not trust water left in the tank for 6 months over a Florida summer, for instance.

But I don't put my tank water in my mouth so I don't care.
Even then I dump most of it and refill before each trip if it's been sitting a month or more. City water. Noticeable chlorine residue.

In our previous coach I would drain the main tank every month or so (100 gal)..... just the remainder, it was never full.

Our new coach uses all water from the fresh water tank only. The shore water connection is only used for filling the fresh water tank. It also has an automatic water fill if I keep the shore hose connected (and turn on that feature). When the water level reaches 25%, it will fill to 75% and cut off. If we don't use the coach for 4-6 weeks or more, I'll empty and refill with fresh water.

One plus with this set-up is that our water pressure is not dependent on the RV parks water pressure. We always have an even flow of water from our pump and it keeps the fresh tank water circulated from it's constant use. Our tank has a capacity of 189 gal.

Of course anyone can keep their fresh tank circulated by always using their fresh tank as their water source.

Safe travels.
MM.

I have a big boat and I store fresh water for a very very long time in it, boat or RV, about the same YMMV

For me, I tend to store some when we are going and drain when storing. That way I don't have to question it. I've heard of people storing for a long time however.

Most of the west is in a continuous state of drought these days. Your tank is made from water safe plastic and can hold water for years without issue as the system is closed. Keep the water, don't dump for frivolous reasons, even cold can be accommodated. Big tanks of water have 'thermal inertia' and it takes days to freeze a large tank of water at 20 degrees in a closed compartment. Even longer if a small heater is put in the bay.

BTW, sometimes, the water in the water heater can develop a skunky, rotten egg smell. You can either drain it, flush, and treat it, or just ignore it. You don't usually drink hot water anyway. It'll go away after a few gallons have been run through the tank. The water in the main tank is usually fine.

For future reference, the following was developed by a RV'ing city water master who has a PHd in Chemistry, adjust the amounts of additives to your tank size:

Springtime Preventative: Add 1 oz bleach per 60 gallons of water
Troubled system: Add 8 oz of bleach per 60 gallons of water
To remove smells: 1 & 1/2 cup vinegar per 60 gallons of water
To sweeten water: Add 1/2 cup dissolved baking soda per 60 gallons of water.

Notice that the amount of bleach is minimal. That's all that's needed because it's that strong. Adding too much is as bad as adding too little.

I've had my motorhome for almost 2 years and have never cleaned the fresh water tank. I only drink bottled water when on the road. Is it still a good idea to sanitize the tank?