Water Tank Smell

[Bob]

The water in my boat has a bad taste and smell. Is there an easy treatment to cure the problem and is there a way to prevent it in the future. Anyone know of any additives or procedures to help keep the water good to drink?

 

[RonD]

Shock the entire system

Peggie (The Headmistress) describes a chlorine bleach "shock treatment" to the potable water system in her Forum archives (and her excellent book, recently published & available through the chandlery on this website).You'll need to shock the water tanks AND run the chlorine solution through all the pumps, hoses, valves, etc. Might have to repeat this once or twice, too. In severe cases, you might need to replace hoses. Adding an in-line filter to the galley sink cold water line might improve taste/smell once the system has been cleaned up, but it won't help much while you have a totally corrupted water system.Personally, I only use my on-board tank water for washing. I carry drinking water on-board in 1-gallon plastic jugs. Usually I'll freeze solid 2 jugs to cool down the refrigerator when leaving on a cruise. They'll stay frozen quite a while.--RonD

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

As Ron said...

There's nothing you can just add to the tank that'll cure the problem. The whole fresh water system, including the plumbing, needs to be recommissioned--and should be recommissioned annually--to kill off the molds, fungi and bacteria that grow mostly in the plumbing, not the tank, and are the source of foul water. Search the archives using keywords "Fresh Water" and me as the author for instructions...or order my book from the link below for more detailed instructions to keep your water smelling and tasting good.

 

[Peter]

here's the archive link...

just search for "recommissioning water tank"

 

[Jim Rushing]

Fixing the problem

The solution to your problem is to use more water out of your tank. Now doesn't that sound easy. However, if you are going to use the water out of the tank, you need a way to make sure that it is clean, etc. On my 35.5,I installed a General Ecology Nature-Pure unit with the Ultrafine filter and a accumulator tank in the water line right after the pump. This filter system is 0.1 micron. I don't care what your tank water smells like or tastes like, after this filter it is pure. Because the water isn't objectionable, you will use more of it and this address the first problem of tank water.Jim

 

[RonD]

That doesn't "fix the problem" ...

necessarily -- you still need to kill off the growth/bacteria/critters causing the smell/taste problem. As Peggie points out, they are mostly breeding in your water lines, valves, fittings, pumps, etc.It is a very good preventative procedure afterward, however.

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

Filters are excellent add-ons

to improve the taste and smell if you don't even like what comes out of the faucets on land, but should be in addition to, not a substitute for, system maintenance.