OregonMan wrote:
Hi guys, something I've completely avoided doing in my travel trailer since buying it in 2018 is using my tanks - neither the fresh water, grey water or black water tanks have been used once in any way. Part of the reason is because I want to avoid the hassle of dumping and cleaning the tanks, carrying the extra weight etc. But the biggest part of my concern are health issues that could be caused by carrying around a tank full of my waste underneath where I eat and sleep. It's no secret that human waste can create a lot of bad bacteria and parasites and sometimes mold. I am concerned that if I start using my tanks, the black water tank especially, that harmful bacteria/mold could form that would find its way into the air of my trailer and that it might lead to health problems.
Are these concerns unfounded? Are waste and water tanks on newer travel trailers designed well enough where it truly keeps all of the bacteria and bad stuff sealed off from the rest of the trailer? Maybe I'm spoiled from having real plumbing most of my life, but the idea of having a tank full of bacteria, parasites and potentially harmful mold sitting right underneath my living area sounds like a surefire way to get health problems.
Thanks for any feedback or sharing your experiences with this. As I get older it becomes harder for me to walk or drive to facilities to use the bathroom and I'm considering finally starting to use the tanks in my trailer but the health concerns are a sticking point for sure.
If the health concerns were real we would have been dead decades ago
1) we drink the water from the fresh tank!!
2) we travel with full fresh tanks ALL the time, to avoid issues with campgrounds w/o water for whatever reason and the ability to pull in, roll out the awing and enjoy the evening w/o having to worry about water
3) we use the toilet, often going a week or more w/o filling the tank
4) unless we are at a site with a full hookup or need to go more than 200 mile or so home, go home with full tanks, back into the driveway and a day or so later dump into my home sewer system.
5) our family including, kids, grandkids etc. have been doing this for decades, 60-120 days/year and never had an issue.
6) we even use the trailer shower.
Heck one of the reasons for a trailer is to be able to use these conviences.
