Water tank hazards?

[John Nielsen]

Does anyone know what the original water tank is made of? Hazardous?
What about keeping it clean? what methods are people using for
preventing mold and other organic matter from building up in it? How
often do you drain it?

 

[groundhogyh]

I think it's polyethelene plastic.
I was told to throw like a half cup of bleach in at the beginning of the season. Then pump it empty after it sits awhile.
r

 

[bobnlesafloat]

It's plastic, I've no idea of what specific type of plastic, but I can't believe it would be hazardous.

On Spring Fever, in addition to the 14 gallon forecabin tank, we also have a 13 gallon plastic tank in the front of each cockpit locker too and treat all of them: -

Pump them as dry as possible at the end of each season, to ensure a tank/pipe leak can't fill the boat with water.

In the spring mix 4 Puritabs (a drinking water treatment for fellwalkers/backpackers) into two litres of hot water, pour this into each tank and then slosh it around a bit and let it stand for an hour and then pump it through, letting it stand in the pump/pipes for a further hour, before flushing through with some fresh/untreated water.

About once every three years, I use a strong bleach solution to wipe out the inside of each tank with a clean sponge and replace all of the pipes.

We're living aboard and drinking the tank water for about 6 or 7 months each year and have never suffered from any water contamination problems/ailments yet; though if we have any non-sailing guests aboard, we'll buy in bottled water for the duration of their visit 'just in case'

Bob Carlisle

 

[wxt8981]

The fresh water tank on my Vega (257) is metal; I drain and refill it every week, regardless if I've been using it or not. I've never notized anything that shouldn't be in there.
When I refill, I let the water flow a few minutes after its full. The tank has an overflow (draining into the bilge), that way the bilge remains clean as well. (the water is pumped out from the bilge pump, activated by a float switch)
Wilhelm, V-257

 

[rogerefairest]

We rince it once at the end of season with a powder bleach solution (same as the one used in camper vans) splash around (like Bod said) and put it through the pipes, then again once we are recomitioning Ocean Sunrise, re do procedure.

Only once we did have that foul taste of stagnated water and it was because we did not let the solution settle for enough time after recomitioning, problem solved by redoing operation.

However every time we know we are not going to be there for over 1 week, we flush all water and clean with solution, it only takes 5 min and keeps the tank and water as it should be, taste less.

 

[brockhaus77]

Out of curiosity,

how do you "flush all water" (and presumable refill?) in 5 min? Do you
have a pressurized system? The only way I can empty my water tank
(except for removing the hoses from the outlets) is by stepping on my
foot pumps - a nice workout that definitely takes longer than 5 min if
the tank is even half full. Then I have to run a hose to the inlet and refill...

- Sebastian (V1060 VegaLyra)

 

[pjacobs55]

I've eliminated the head sink, so intalled a valve in the tank at
that outlet. Opening the valve drains the tank into the bilge,
washing the bilge and battery compartment floors. If I feel energetic
I pump the bilge by hand, otherwise the electric pump does the job.

When I restored the interior I was surprised just how black and gungy
the water line back to the sink was, so replaced it with new.

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'

 

[wxt8981]

I just come home from my boat- I spend a few days on the boat, but today- again- there were big thunderstorms I called it quits and went home. But before going home, I drained the water tank. It takes about 5 minutes- I have an electric pump- which has its advantages and disadvantages. When I'm alone on the boat, I know what to do, but at one occasion I had a guest and that guest drained the watertank- you guessed it- in about 5 minuts!
That guest thought water is plentiful- well it isn't. We had to return to the marina- and that was the end of that cruice.
Wilhelm, V-257

 

[btfag0s]

My sister did the same a few years ago. I gave her a two gallon container
and pointed her at the tap 100 metres away. By the time the tank was full
again she'd learned her lesson

Alisdair

 

[rogerefairest]

Buy default I always leave the tank empty and after empting it I just use a 2 liter bottle water and the powerdered chemical, then flush.