Stench from fresh water tank

[Lizapotranca]

Hey y'all!
I live aboard a 34' 82 O'Day. Lately, I've had a stench coming from the fresh water sinks, both in the galley and the head. In doing some research, I believe I either need to pull my tanks and sanitize them or replace my corroded vents. The smell actually smells like it's coming from the holding tank and I've not been using this water to cook or brush my teeth with just in case.

Is there any advice you can offer me? Or suggestions on what to do or look for?

Thanks!

 

[njlarry]

That's one problem I thankfully have had (yet) on my 84. Is the stench noticeable under the port or starboard settee by the tanks or more in the water itself?
Are the two tank vents in the forward starboard closet open and attached properly?
Good luck. Let us know when you solve the mystery.

 

[thinwater]

With the water you have (sulfate ~ 100 ppm, TDS ~ 450 ppm) any anaerobic activity is going to result in hydrogen sulfide. Gotta get the tanks clean, gotta keep a good vent. A good carbon filter on galley line would help too.

Bear in mind that tap water varies considerably across the country; your best advice will come from local sailors. Your water contains 3-4 times more dissolved materials than found in most of the Chesapeake Bay area, so our experience is very different.

 

[caguy]

With the drought I worry more and more about the quality of water in California. In Orange county they are mixing recycled waste water with fresh water for the tap. Last Saturday, at the MDR launch ramp, I started to rinse the deck with the potable water that everyone uses to fill their fresh water tanks. At first the water was clean and clear but when I started to rinse the canvas cover all of this black kept running out. My first impression was how dirty the boat had gotten. The my friend pointed out that the water was coming out of the hose black. It didn't look like dirt from a broken main, it looked like black sewage. There was no strong odor and after running for about 12 minutes it clear up for a while so I was able to rinse all of the filth off from the deck and cockpit. Just before turning it off it started to turn black again. I won't be able to use the hose again to fill my tanks.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Try a 5% (vol/vol) vinegar solution in the tanks. That's a gallon of vinegar in 19 gallons of water. Keep it in there for at least a week; periodically run tank solution through the hoses and faucets, etc. At the end of the week, run it out and put through a fresh water rinse of equal volume. Be sure to check the filter on your water pump; it can get clogged with stuff sloughed off from the tanks.

 

[SailingCal21]

You most likely need to shock your freshwater system with a chlorine solution to clean it out. There are various methods and amounts of chlorine (Clorox) to use. Just google "Fresh Water System Commissioning & Sanitizing" for a list of sites to study.

Personally, I like to keep a bit of a chlorine smell in the system to insure that nothing grows during the season.

 

[CCHer]

What Thinwater and Scott says. Does your water smell like rotten eggs? If so you're growing something in the tank. You need to get rid of the water and shock the system.

 

[Stu Jackson]

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5836.0.html

reply #6

 

[dparilla]

One other note.... Check the anode in the hot water tank. When ours went, the smell went way up!

 

[Lizapotranca]

That's one problem I thankfully have had (yet) on my 84. Is the stench noticeable under the port or starboard settee by the tanks or more in the water itself?
Are the two tank vents in the forward starboard closet open and attached properly?
Good luck. Let us know when you solve the mystery.

Thank you so much! The stench is only in the water right now. I'll take a look at those vents, I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for but I'll try!

 

[thinwater]

Read-up on anaerobic bacteria. If they are short on oxygen they use the sulfate in the water as a source of oxygen, reducing it to sulfide, which stinks. If the bacteria get enough air through the vent there will be less sulfide production.

If you can simply blast a hose through the vent, that should do it... but that will blast some dirt into the tank. Then clean the tank.

 

[Lizapotranca]

This is fantastic information! Thank you to all!

Thinwater, I had to figure out what your numbers meant and thank you very much. There is a lot of controversy about the local San Diego water. My chiropractor doesn't like when I drink the tap water and offers me his ionized water! I will look into getting a filter for the galley line.

Frank, I can't imagine Marina del Rey has any better water than us. That's super scary about the black stuff in the water!

Mr. Gambit, I like the vinegar rinse idea. I normally put around a 8oz cup's worth in each tank when I fill but I think a gallon is a good call to rinse it out! If that doesn't work, I'll have to consider the clorox rinse Scott suggests. I'll do some more research, I haven't opened up that link yet.

In addition to the galley filter, I'll check out the one in the water pump and I had no idea there is an anode in the hot water tank!!?

Plus, I'm going to need to talk to some locals too! They'll be able to give me some good advice I can imagine! At least to find the anode and vents!

I'll keep you updated!

 

[thinwater]

^^ Water filters are a facinating subject, one that fills books. I'll be writing a mag review when I get to it, but here are a few things to consider.

* Ionized vs. deionized. If he meant ionized, run. Though I had good experience with a chiropractor with a back problem, "ionized water" gets him into the realm of quackery. I also learned that a habit of riding a bike, rock climbing, or some activity that works the right muscles the right way for you will do more lasting good than manipulation. Their vitamin and "health tips" are often plain weird.
* Deionized water, distilled water, and RO processed tap water as a regular diet are provably harmful. Don't believe me--Google the World Health Organization as an authoritative source. There is a lot of nonsense on the web. Curiously, RO water makers on small boats are not a problem since they leave enough minerals in place (seawater is VERY high in dissolved minerals).

Since deionized water (all of the minerals removed) is not healthy, how much and what sort of filtration is best? it depends on the local tap and what is wrong with it. An under sink carbon block filter will remove chlorine, cysts, some metals, and most disolved organics. Pick a name brand (NSF 53 certification is good) and you'll be fine. Folks cruising the 3rd world have other issues.The mineral content in your water is most probably just fine.

 

[Lizapotranca]

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5836.0.html

reply #6

THIS IS AWESOME!! GOOD STUFF. I guess I'm recommissioning! Thanks again! Memorial Day project...

 

[Lizapotranca]

^^ Water filters are a facinating subject, one that fills books. I'll be writing a mag review when I get to it, but here are a few things to consider.

* Ionized vs. deionized. If he meant ionized, run. Though I had good experience with a chiropractor with a back problem, "ionized water" gets him into the realm of quackery. I also learned that a habit of riding a bike, rock climbing, or some activity that works the right muscles the right way for you will do more lasting good than manipulation. Their vitamin and "health tips" are often plain weird.
* Deionized water, distilled water, and RO processed tap water as a regular diet are provably harmful. Don't believe me--Google the World Health Organization as an authoritative source. There is a lot of nonsense on the web. Curiously, RO water makers on small boats are not a problem since they leave enough minerals in place (seawater is VERY high in dissolved minerals).

Since deionized water (all of the minerals removed) is not healthy, how much and what sort of filtration is best? it depends on the local tap and what is wrong with it. An under sink carbon block filter will remove chlorine, cysts, some metals, and most disolved organics. Pick a name brand (NSF 53 certification is good) and you'll be fine. Folks cruising the 3rd world have other issues.The mineral content in your water is most probably just fine.

HAHA! Quackery! Too bad I work for the guy...

I'll have to consider all the filters. Plus, I realized I changed my hose out in the past year and I'm using one that I had found in the dock box. The guy who owned my boat before me did not take it out or do ANY maintenance for 1.5 years, which is how I got a good deal, but that means that since I hadn't touched it in 2 years, that hose was most likely sitting in the dock box for nearly 4-5 years!

The other thing I realized is that since I had a change in schedule in the past year, I've been keeping my water heater on 24/7, where I had only turned it on before when I needed it. I suppose going back to only using it when I need it would be a good idea. For the battery too!

Thanks again!

 

[Lizapotranca]

Read-up on anaerobic bacteria. If they are short on oxygen they use the sulfate in the water as a source of oxygen, reducing it to sulfide, which stinks. If the bacteria get enough air through the vent there will be less sulfide production.

If you can simply blast a hose through the vent, that should do it... but that will blast some dirt into the tank. Then clean the tank.

Ok, I'll look at that vent.

 

[jibes138]

your water heater should not be running off your battery? It is either A/C voltage or heated when you run your engine.