Water quality issue

[Benjamin Disralei]

Hi Fellow sailors

Interesting problem with fresh water tank, I have a plastic like taste in the water almost like backerlite. have drained the tank several times, have tried the water directly from the tank and taste ok, however when drawn through the plumbing system has quite an odur. I have checked the water filter though it is a stock standard Beneteau filter for major impurities only. Do you have any ideas as to what it can be...?

Thank you.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

This will give you a clue -"however when drawn through the plumbing system has quite an odur".
The plumbing system often causes more problems than does the tank. Thoroughly clean and disinfect both and your problem will be solved.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Recommissioning the system should solve the problem

Most foul water problems originate in the plumbing because they're caused by molds, fungi etc that thrive in DAMP dark places, not under water. I've posted the instructions for recommissioning the fresh water system (which should be done annually as part of spring recommissioning, btw) enough times that you should find 'em if you search for "fresh water maintenance" or "recomission fresh water system." If you can't, I'll post 'em again.

 

[RichH]

Carefully inspect the components of the water system - tank, piping/hosing, etc. to find the component that is 'losing its placticizer' and is issuing chemical fragments / unbound 'monomers' into the water. This condition occasionally happens when components in a potable water system are used that arent 'rated' for use with 'potable water'. This 'component' will be physically degraded / roughened /discolored and will probably be made of polypropylene, nylon, or 'fiberglass' etc.

As others have stated / implied there is also the possibility that the tankage and its distribution system is infected (some species of Aspergillis, etc. mold can have a 'plastic taste') and a strenuous and repeated sanitization will 'sometimes' remedy this type of infection. However if you do have a component that is inappropriate or incompatible with potable water systems, the 'sanitization' may cause further decomposition and increased 'chemical leacheables' to emit into the water. Id recommend that you thoroughly mechanically scrub/clean all possible internal surface of the water system followed by successive/repeated 'sanitizations' (30-40 oz. of simple Clorox per 100 gals. of water for 1-2 hours) after you do the mechanical 'scrubbing', and also to remove 'any' component that seems 'discolored' or 'degraded'. I would as a matter of course replace the entire tank vent hose, etc. Common 'Filters' will not remove such 'small particulates' nor dissolved chemical 'fragments'. The best advice I can give is mechanically CLEAN out the entire system, remove the suspect 'parts', replace the entire 'vent' line, and start over with a hygienically clean tankage.

 

[higgs]

I did Peggy's procedure and it certainly improved water quality, but I still found that when it came to drinking water, I was better off with jugs. I now just throw some bleach into the system which keeps it reasonably good, but drink from jugs.