We have an 85 gallon fresh water tank on our boat, which we usually fill every weekend to keep it from getting too low --- as the well water runs slowly and we don't wnat to tie up the fuel docks too long. At the beginning of the season, I followed your water system spring commisioning procedures outlined in your article, "Fresh Water Maintenence." We have had a string on 100 degree days here in the mid-west. It occurs to me that water placed in a holding tank and kept at high temperatures may produce bacterial over a period of time and become hareful if consumed. Question: What, if anything, should we be doing to insure that our fresh water supplies stay fresh over a period of time. Tablets, bleach? Anything? Your advice is apprecitated and valued. Thank you. Wynn Ferrel S/V Tranquility
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Well water is a different issue...
from treated municipal water. You're asking about water purification--which is not an issue with municipal water, and that's an issue I'm not qualified to address.
from treated municipal water. You're asking about water purification--which is not an issue with municipal water, and that's an issue I'm not qualified to address.
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Wynn Ferrel
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Greg Wynne
Are you planning on drinking it?
I read in "Shipshape" (I think), that a teaspoon of bleach for every 5 gallons would keep the bad things from taking over the tank, and supposedly drinkable. That's what I do, and I use well-water as well. However, I have no desire to drink the stuff - we load up with cases of bottled water. (ok, and a few beers for good measure)
I read in "Shipshape" (I think), that a teaspoon of bleach for every 5 gallons would keep the bad things from taking over the tank, and supposedly drinkable. That's what I do, and I use well-water as well. However, I have no desire to drink the stuff - we load up with cases of bottled water. (ok, and a few beers for good measure)
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Jim Rushing
Water Always Fresh
This last spring I installed a Nature Pure Ultrafine filter in my water system. Now no bad smells or germs in the water. And no more hauling water jugs to the boat. Just make sure that you use the Ultrafine filter (0.1 micron). I plan on changing the filter every spring.
This last spring I installed a Nature Pure Ultrafine filter in my water system. Now no bad smells or germs in the water. And no more hauling water jugs to the boat. Just make sure that you use the Ultrafine filter (0.1 micron). I plan on changing the filter every spring.
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Nope, Greg...that doesn't work
The problem with adding bleach to every fill is that the bacteria killing properties in it evaporate within 24 hours...and unless you add enough to make your water smell and taste like an over-chlorinated swimming pool, it isn't enough to kill any of the "critters" that can just make it taste and smell unpleasant, much those that can make you sick. In fact, we advise against adding ANY bleach to every fill, because it does no good, but the corrosive properties remain to degrade the rubber and neoprene parts in your water pump. These folks are filling their tanks from well water, which has not been purified in any way. Everything is prob'ly fine as long as the water doesn't have a chance to stand and get warm...but be very careful what you advise to protect people from the bacteria that may or may not be present--and while filters may remove minerals and chemicals that contribute to an unpleasant odor or taste, most can't stop bacteria from getting through them. I know how to keep a system that's always filled from a purified municipal water source tasting and smelling good (read "Fresh Water Maintenance" in the Head Mistress reference library), but when it comes to purifying "raw" water from a well or any other untreated source, that's a whole different ballgame. We're no longer talking about aesthetics alone, we're talking about people's health.
The problem with adding bleach to every fill is that the bacteria killing properties in it evaporate within 24 hours...and unless you add enough to make your water smell and taste like an over-chlorinated swimming pool, it isn't enough to kill any of the "critters" that can just make it taste and smell unpleasant, much those that can make you sick. In fact, we advise against adding ANY bleach to every fill, because it does no good, but the corrosive properties remain to degrade the rubber and neoprene parts in your water pump. These folks are filling their tanks from well water, which has not been purified in any way. Everything is prob'ly fine as long as the water doesn't have a chance to stand and get warm...but be very careful what you advise to protect people from the bacteria that may or may not be present--and while filters may remove minerals and chemicals that contribute to an unpleasant odor or taste, most can't stop bacteria from getting through them. I know how to keep a system that's always filled from a purified municipal water source tasting and smelling good (read "Fresh Water Maintenance" in the Head Mistress reference library), but when it comes to purifying "raw" water from a well or any other untreated source, that's a whole different ballgame. We're no longer talking about aesthetics alone, we're talking about people's health.
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Should have added...
It doesn't matter whether you drink the water or not...just washing dishes or bathing can be dangerous because some bacteria don't die very quickly--and therefore can live on dishes, and/or can be absorbed through the skin.
It doesn't matter whether you drink the water or not...just washing dishes or bathing can be dangerous because some bacteria don't die very quickly--and therefore can live on dishes, and/or can be absorbed through the skin.
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Doug Margison
Very very good comments Peggie..
Too many people think that having a water filter kills bacteria. Not a chance. Bacteria and most other single celled critters are much too small to filter out and charcoal filters don't kill bacteria as many people think. We have a much smaller tank on our Hunter 30 (35 gal I think), so we usually go through a tank in a weekend. What we don't use, we drain the following week and refill the tanks. Still we only use the water for washing, not drinking. Good old bottled water for that. Fortunately, here on the west coast of good old Canada we don't get to many days in the 100 degree range. Lots of rain though. Doug, sv Mokum II
Too many people think that having a water filter kills bacteria. Not a chance. Bacteria and most other single celled critters are much too small to filter out and charcoal filters don't kill bacteria as many people think. We have a much smaller tank on our Hunter 30 (35 gal I think), so we usually go through a tank in a weekend. What we don't use, we drain the following week and refill the tanks. Still we only use the water for washing, not drinking. Good old bottled water for that. Fortunately, here on the west coast of good old Canada we don't get to many days in the 100 degree range. Lots of rain though. Doug, sv Mokum II
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