Drinking water
- Thread starter Dangdan
- Start date
You can't! You can try but you can never "make sure". Simply testing for residual chlorine does not indicate the absence of all pathogens.
There are a myriad of threads in the archives here from which you can find ways to disinfect the tank and lines using hypochlorite solutions, many of them misleading.
Bottled water is your friend
There are a myriad of threads in the archives here from which you can find ways to disinfect the tank and lines using hypochlorite solutions, many of them misleading.
Bottled water is your friend
In the boat and RV (Which we purchased new) each spring I fill the tanks and system with a strong water with bleach solution and let it sit for about an hour then flush out. In the RV we use that for everything as if we were at home. In the boat (Which I do not know the history) I still use bottled water for consumption but use the on board water for everything else, including brushing my teeth.
I used to work in a shipyard.I forget the ratio,but we would put clorine in the tank ,then water till full.Let it sit for at least 8 hours. then flush.
I flush both of my bladder tanks yearly with a heavy Clorox solution, then pump them dry and refill. When filling, I use a small amount of Clorox per five gallons.
I also have a very good filter inline from those tanks, which I change regularly
Been using those tanks for drinking and everything else for years now. I detest the expense, and plastic waste, from bottled water. Makes zero sense to me.
I also have a very good filter inline from those tanks, which I change regularly
Been using those tanks for drinking and everything else for years now. I detest the expense, and plastic waste, from bottled water. Makes zero sense to me.
clean the tank yearly, use it regularly and install an activated carbon type filter.
If you still want to go the bottled water route, use the gallon bottles and refill at home.
As long as you don't drink the water while showering you don't need "potable" water.
If you still want to go the bottled water route, use the gallon bottles and refill at home.
As long as you don't drink the water while showering you don't need "potable" water.
Are you worried about getting sick or the taste?
The recommendations for adding chlorine are great. It will kill off most of what you are worried about. We also fill the tanks from a municapal water supply that comes treated. Even so, I have had some nasty looking floaters in my water tanks and the taste was not always great. Even though things might not have looked to good in there they never caused any health issues. I had a little strainer in my pressure water line and then added a charcoal filter that is a tremendous help with the taste of the water.
Whenever I go on a trip, I start with frozen gallon jugs of ice from home. These keep the ice box, not only cold, but dry. As they begin to thaw they are used for coffee and drinking water. I also have a salt water pump that saves a tremendous amount of fresh water.
I think the disposable water bottles are an environmental nightmare. We joke that no castaway will ever want for water again because of all the bottles washed up on shore. Many of these are still half full. What are people thinking? My other pet peeve is Mylar balloons, Steve.
The recommendations for adding chlorine are great. It will kill off most of what you are worried about. We also fill the tanks from a municapal water supply that comes treated. Even so, I have had some nasty looking floaters in my water tanks and the taste was not always great. Even though things might not have looked to good in there they never caused any health issues. I had a little strainer in my pressure water line and then added a charcoal filter that is a tremendous help with the taste of the water.
Whenever I go on a trip, I start with frozen gallon jugs of ice from home. These keep the ice box, not only cold, but dry. As they begin to thaw they are used for coffee and drinking water. I also have a salt water pump that saves a tremendous amount of fresh water.
I think the disposable water bottles are an environmental nightmare. We joke that no castaway will ever want for water again because of all the bottles washed up on shore. Many of these are still half full. What are people thinking? My other pet peeve is Mylar balloons, Steve.
Search on Peggy Hall - Headmistress. She is the guru on marine sanitation including water tanks.
I always have had a problem with the adding of additional chlorine to water that is to be used for consumption. Cleaning tanks, if properly flushed out, yes; but, drinking no. Municipalities go to great length to test water and adjust the amount of free residual chlorine for their potable water. Then the well intentioned sailor adds an amount to the tanks that is thought to be beneficial but with no tests done to determine if it is the correct amount or needed at all. Adding chlorine may be needed in some countries but unlikely in North America.
I have also questioned the rational behind pre-filtering of water at dockside. Most if not all of these filters remove chlorine to "improve" the taste which by doing so will encourage the growth of bacteria existing in the boat's water tanks.
I recommision the tanks a couple times of year (following Peggy's instructions ), let the water flow at dockside for 5-15 minutes, use (for what it's worth) a "drinking water safe" hose and by all means renew the water in the tanks regularly by using it.
Sorry, I also use this filter for drinking water only. It is rated very high in Consumers Report
http://www.clear2o.com/p-16-clear2o-filter-water-pitcher-cws100aw.aspx
Just to clarify, my system uses the strainer after the water tanks and before the pressure pump. The charcoal filter is on the outlet side of the pressure pump. I do not filter the water before it enters the tank.
While this would not apply to a bladder tank, I find that vacuuming out all of the water in the tanks before the winter lay up does a lot towards keeping the tanks clean, Steve.
While this would not apply to a bladder tank, I find that vacuuming out all of the water in the tanks before the winter lay up does a lot towards keeping the tanks clean, Steve.
For those proponents of using hypochlorite (chlorine), you might want to consider the affect on aluminum tanks before you get too zealous with its use.
Also, over chlorination can potentially lead to production of some pretty nasty chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Bottled water looks better even to the tree hugged among us.
Also, over chlorination can potentially lead to production of some pretty nasty chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Bottled water looks better even to the tree hugged among us.
I use these (I cannot recall where I bought them from last, some online chandlery in NJ)
http://www.towsure.com/product/Aqua_Clean_Tabs_Water_Purifying_Tablets
I did some research, they are FDA approved for long term drinking water use.
I add a tablet or 3 (depending on how much water I'm adding to the tank) every time I top off, first time I did lots of nasty (dead) black crap came out of the tank and water lines, flushed the system out and haven't had any taste or growth problems since. I don't drink the water, but I do brush my teeth and cook with it. I wouldn't be afraid to drink it if I had to, but I do carry bottled for direct drinking (plus they can be kept in the ice chest so they are cold).
http://www.towsure.com/product/Aqua_Clean_Tabs_Water_Purifying_Tablets
I did some research, they are FDA approved for long term drinking water use.
I add a tablet or 3 (depending on how much water I'm adding to the tank) every time I top off, first time I did lots of nasty (dead) black crap came out of the tank and water lines, flushed the system out and haven't had any taste or growth problems since. I don't drink the water, but I do brush my teeth and cook with it. I wouldn't be afraid to drink it if I had to, but I do carry bottled for direct drinking (plus they can be kept in the ice chest so they are cold).
If Aqua Clean tablets are exposed to small amounts of water, it can react violently to produce heat and toxic gases and spatter. Users must not add water to this product, but rather add this product only into water. Exposure to heat can cause this product to rapidly decompose, leading to intense fire, explosion, and the release of toxic gases. This product must be stored in a cool, dry, well ventilated area. NaDCC is a strong oxidizing agent. This product can increase fire intensity. This product must be kept away from heat, flame, and burning material.
The above should be diligently considered if you want to use this effective disinfectant aboard a boat which is inherently a wet environment.
good warning, but they are individually foil wrapped so as long as they are stored where they won't get damaged they shouldn't have a problem, at least I have seen no evidence or even indications of any problems from them so far, and I've been using them for 4+ years now.
I drop them straight into the deck fill when I'm ready to top off the tank, before adding water, that way they are sure to make it all the way through the hose into the tank.
I prefer to disolve them in water, then dump that into the water fill as i fill. That way they can't clog the outlet pipe if someone turns on the water while they are still lumps.
I don't drink the water from my tanks either. It is for washing.
Bring bottled water.
I have filtered the water to use for cooking and boiling things and it doesn't taste bad.
Bring bottled water.
I have filtered the water to use for cooking and boiling things and it doesn't taste bad.