Fresh water odor

[SailArkansas]

My boat was purchased in Keema on the Texas Gulf and transported to fresh water in Arkansas. Since I have owned the boat (2004) I have had nasty smelling fresh water especially when the weather gets hot. I can only assume it was from the fresh (sour) water that was stored in the tank when the boat was used in the gulf. I have tried several fresh water deodorizers and bleach. Neither has worked on a permanent basis. Anybody got a fix for this? I would really appreciate it.

 

[Richard19068]

It's all here compliments of Peggy in the head mistress forum

http://trudelutt.com/linker/phall_freshwater.pdf

translate the volumes to 1 cup bleach to 10 gallons of water

 

[RichH]

Your tankage and its supply tubing/hose has probably developed a MASSIVE bacteria colony ( a 'calcyx'). Such massive 'colonies' will contain living and dead microorganism in a quite thick 'slime'. This 'slime' has to be 'mechanically' by scrubbing or other mechanical means; no amount of 'clorox' will 'penetrate' down completely into the thick 'slime layer' and will leave viable bacterial cells ... which will only divide and continue the build up of the 'slime'. So, the tank has to be opened, you have to 'get in there' and scrub all the 'crap' hanging on the walls and top and remove it, you 'may' have to replace most of the hose, especially 'discolored' hose (including the 'vent' line). Only then, once the tank and its distribution system is CLEAN, then you can 'sanitize' (40 oz. of consumer grade 'clorox' per 100 gallons per 2 hours soak time), followed by SEVERAL fresh water flushes.
To sanitize (as above) with a massive colony growing ('calcyx') is not going to merit you 'anything' other than to kill/stun the 'upper layers' of the thick 'slime' layer.

Beware: Typical internet offered 'recipies' for sanitization of boat water systems are for CLEAN (not bio-fouled) systems or for systems with 'little' amount of 'growth'; so FIRST, get your hand/fingers inside the tank and if you can feel a 'slimey' surface down deep in the tankage ..... you have a MASSIVE bacteria colony growing on the tank walls and the hosing, etc. and to return the system to 'hygienic' status, all the slime (and discoloration in the hose) must be removed, ..... THEN when that is all accomplished, you shock sanitize the system several times.

 

[SailArkansas]

Your tankage and its supply tubing/hose has probably developed a MASSIVE bacteria colony ( a 'calcyx'). Such massive 'colonies' will contain living and dead microorganism in a quite thick 'slime'. This 'slime' has to be 'mechanically' by scrubbing or other mechanical means; no amount of 'clorox' will 'penetrate' down completely into the thick 'slime layer' and will leave viable bacterial cells ... which will only divide and continue the build up of the 'slime'. So, the tank has to be opened, you have to 'get in there' and scrub all the 'crap' hanging on the walls and top and remove it, you 'may' have to replace most of the hose, especially 'discolored' hose (including the 'vent' line). Only then, once the tank and its distribution system is CLEAN, then you can 'sanitize' (40 oz. of consumer grade 'clorox' per 100 gallons per 2 hours soak time), followed by SEVERAL fresh water flushes.
To sanitize (as above) with a massive colony growing ('calcyx') is not going to merit you 'anything' other than to kill/stun the 'upper layers' of the thick 'slime' layer.

Beware: Typical internet offered 'recipies' for sanitization of boat water systems are for CLEAN (not bio-fouled) systems or for systems with 'little' amount of 'growth'; so FIRST, get your hand/fingers inside the tank and if you can feel a 'slimey' surface down deep in the tankage ..... you have a MASSIVE bacteria colony growing on the tank walls and the hosing, etc. and to return the system to 'hygienic' status, all the slime (and discoloration in the hose) must be removed, ..... THEN when that is all accomplished, you shock sanitize the system several times.

Holy crap! Are you serious? My water tank is a plastic sealed unit with only an inlet and outlet so I don't see how I can get my hand into the tank to feel for slime. Couldn't this just be odor left over from that stinking stuff they call fresh water down on the gulf? Around Houston, at least, it is vile stuff that is only fit for washing cars. Isn't it possible the plastic just picked up that odor? Otherwise this sounds like a major refit. I did a major refit on the head from a new toilet to a new tank and everything in between. It was a royal pain but no more odor there. I was hoping there might be a simple fix for the fresh water system.

 

[Steve Dion]

I would agree that you probably should try to sanitize your tank with Peggie's formula. If it is still stinky, I would do it again. Be sure to give it a good rinsing after each treatment and let a lot of water flow through the system before you determine the final results.

I do remember that the water down in TX. was not the best I had ever tasted.

 

[RichH]

Sorry if you cant 'get inside' the tank and physically scrub/clean it, the only methodology possible is MULTIPLE sanitizations of 40 oz. of 'clorox' per 100 gallons per 2 hours followed by several/many flushes with fresh water.
Once a water tank develops a massive bacteria colony (calcyx) a simple single 'sanitization' will only kill/stun the surface layer leaving viable cells to immediately grow/propagate.

Try this at home: take a clean bottle full of clean water, cap the bottle, and put in a warm place for several months. Come back after several months and 'investigate' the bottle .... thick layer of 'growth' on the walls. Stick your finger into the neck of the bottle and FEEL the slime - bacteria colony. THEN use a cookbook 'sanitization recipe' and pour it into the bottle --- now you have a lot of 'debris' in the bottle ... and you still have the slime (bacteria); do this 'sanitization' several times in succession and look at the slime still hanging onto the walls. Keep this up until you feel 'comfortable enough' to drink the water that you put into the bottle.
Then simply CLEAN/SCRUB the inside of the bottle and give it a short 'sanitization' dosage .... betcha all the tea in China that you will be 'comfortable' in drinking out of the bottle. Same for boat 'water tanks'; you need to physically SCRUB them out, then sanaitize. Without scrubbing a single dose 'sanitization' will be the exact same as your cruddy & 'growing' bottle. Its really your choice if you follow 'cookbook recipes' for inappropriate and misleading sanitizations and if you want the 'trots' or not.