Potable?

[jGo]

Does anyone drink the water from their water tank?

Does the tank need periodic cleaning? Are there any cleaning/disinfecting products for this?

My pump stops drawing water with about 2 inches of water in the tank. Any idea how I can flush it completely?

It doesn't look like anything nasty is in there, but just something I think about every time I fill up.

Thanks!

 

[Stu Jackson]

See reply #6 here: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5836.0.html

 

[Siamese]

We use our Catalina 309 for daysailing and a couple week vacation each year. No way I would drink the water from our tank, nor would it make any sense to go to the effort to make it potable for our purposes.

I toss a little chlorine in when I fill the tank. Bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

The problem with following the advice about disinfection that abounds on the internet is that you have no clue how or if it is effective. Unlike a municipal water system in which residual Cl levels are monitored, boaters have no clue.

You can follow the most prolific internet expert you want and you will never know if or for how long it works.

 

[LuzSD]

We do not drink our tank water and it would be easy on our boat to put a hose thought the port above the tank and drain it. Our tank has a large opening at the top right there easy to access.

 

[Patrick S/V Shangra-La]

I drink my tank water

I cleaned the system about 4 years ago. I have watter in my tanks for a maximum of about 4 Weeks then I make sure the tank is emptied. I then add fresh city water to the tank, and have NEVER had a problem.

If you use bleach to clean the tank it will not hurt you. I work in an ER and had a guy come in with attention seeking behavior. He drank a Large glass of bleach. When I called poison control they laughed and said just watch him it will not hurt him.

Check for your self, but I like not having to bring extra water on board to drink. I don't have any bad taste from my tanks either. Oh...when I fill the tanks I use one of those white hoses that don't have a flavor, and I flush the docks plumbing for 5 minutes before putting water in my tank.

 

[Chris Nowell]

We consume the water from our tank all the time too. If it's not going to be boiled for coffee, tea or cooking then we run it through a Britta water filter first. Otherwise we just use it. There is an annual procedure for sterilizing that the manufacturer recommends be done at the beginning of each season. When I get to my owners' manual I'll see if I can scan and email it to you, be sometime tomorrow if you're interested.

 

[Stu Jackson]

The problem with following the advice about disinfection that abounds on the internet is that you have no clue how or if it is effective. Unlike a municipal water system in which residual Cl levels are monitored, boaters have no clue.

You can follow the most prolific internet expert you want and you will never know if or for how long it works.

Don, that link was to Peggie's writeup.

I trust her as much as I trust you.

 

[jrowan]

I agree with Don.

I have never really trusted tankage water, even though we use ours a lot for washing dishes, cleanup, flushing the toilet & the like. Ours is prbably fine, but our marina water is nasty. I woudn't give a glass of it to my enemy. I actually used it once for coffee and has to spit it out it tasted so bad. Bottled water is not P.C., but doesn't make me want to heave. I can't believe that quote about drinking a glass of bleach & it wouldn't hurt you? That can't be good for your liver or kidneys. Ouch.

 

[Patrick S/V Shangra-La]

So far 4 years with no diarrhea or other problem. By making sure the water is fresh every 4 week I guess I'm using the city's chlorination.

Never had a smell and my sailing buddies trust it as well. I'm just happy it is working for me.

 

[jGo]

Thanks for all the great posts! That sanitation procedure would be appreciated. The boat is new to me, so I will want to give it a thorough cleaning before drinking. Thanks!!

 

[Stu Jackson]

You're right the source of the water is extremely important. If you read the link, one skipper notes his well water is yuck, too.

 

[heritage]

We also drink the water from our tanks, but have added this filter system for improved taste and safety: http://www.aquasana.com/product_detail.php?product_id=11. Sure beats lugging water bottles around, although you do need to change the filters every six months.

 

[shipwreck66]

I recently openned up the tank and ran a shop vac inside to evac any foreign "things", but I don't trust our marina water for drinking. On a side note, a new boat owner just asked me if it was normal to flush his toilet with fresh water from the tank, that is how the PO plumbed it. I was grossed at the thought and will assist him in undoing what the previous DIYer did, saw waaay too much household PVC under the setee.

 

[LuzSD]

Nothing gross about it.....if I read your post correctly!

I recently openned up the tank and ran a shop vac inside to evac any foreign "things", but I don't trust our marina water for drinking. On a side note, a new boat owner just asked me if it was normal to flush his toilet with fresh water from the tank, that is how the PO plumbed it. I was grossed at the thought and will assist him in undoing what the previous DIYer did, saw waaay too much household PVC under the setee.

Hold on before you undo a good thing for this guy. Our boat, and many others that I have read about ... was fixed so that we can flush with fresh water via our head sink. It is not gross in any way, in fact just the opposite. There are lots of discussions on this forum about how to do this, but think twice before you give him advice about undoing it. Its a great way to keep things smelling good and unless they are on a mooring where filling the tanks is an issue, its not any trouble. Of course we can always switch to sea water if we wanted to ..say on a long trip.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Luz is right. Like this: Head Odors 101.1 - "T" into sink drain: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5755.msg38216.html#msg38216

 

[jrowan]

Ours is plumbed that way too with the sink draining into the head.
I thought it was weird at first. But think about it. U wash your hands after using the head. That water would otherwise just be wasted. U presumably also wash your hands with soap. This along with the fresh water keeps the head from smelling up, due to no bacteria entering from salt or brackish raw water flushing. This is the only head arrangement we've ever had those doesn't smell at all.

 

[Jon_E]

• I add chlorine bleach and flush once a year.
• My dock water is L.A. city water.
• Water tank water is safe to drink, but tastes a bit plastic.
• We use it for cooking, coffee, and washing. For drinking we use bottled for the taste.

One note of caution: The hose you use to fill your tank, is it certified lead free? Most cheap hoses contain lead that can leach out in the sun and with time. Hoses that are certified safe for drinking cost extra $$, but are worth it.