CavemanCharlie
Storden,MN
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I've learned from experience that if you leave water in the fresh water holding tank for too long it gets stinky. How long can I leave water in the tank before things go bad? A week? Maybe two? Is there something I can add to the water to get it to stay fresh longer?
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garym114
Bluff Dale, Texas
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City water will last longer because it has been chlorinated. Water from a campground may have come directly from a well.
And the temperature, the hotter it is the faster the bugs multiply.
Chlorine will be recommended but it just needs a low concentration to do its job, one part per million. Repeated chlorine additions in concentrations that are in excess will cause metal to corrode and you should not be drinking chlorinated water.
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MudChucker
Niverville Manitoba
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We find that 4 weeks is the absolute max, chlorine or not...
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Fresno Tundra Driver
Fresno,Ca. USA
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Water doesn't expire caveman. Its the same water the ancient cavemen drank. There is really not a biohazard. If its only water (even well water) the nutrients are not present for bacteria to multiply in any number great enough to cause a threat. Dogs drink from toilets all the time without getting sick. You'll be fine if you left it in and just added water as needed. The only issue would be the plastic from the tank may impart an undesirable taste after a while especially in hot weather. Add a teaspoon of bleach if you want. Chlorinated water isn't a problem. Most of us drink it everyday. My 2cents.
E.Lee Galik
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CavemanCharlie
Storden,MN
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Fresno Tundra Driver wrote:Water doesn't expire caveman. Its the same water the ancient cavemen drank. There is really not a biohazard. If its only water (even well water) the nutrients are not present for bacteria to multiply in any number great enough to cause a threat. Dogs drink from toilets all the time without getting sick. You'll be fine if you left it in and just added water as needed. The only issue would be the plastic from the tank may impart an undesirable taste after a while especially in hot weather. Add a teaspoon of bleach if you want. Chlorinated water isn't a problem. Most of us drink it everyday. My 2cents.
Well, no. Even chlorinated water will start to grow green stuff on the surface of it after awhile. I was just wondering how long other owners have gone before it gets this way. 4 weeks seems to be about how long I was thinking maximum too. I suppose it does depend on the temps though wouldn't it.
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solismaris
Massachusetts
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I sanitize in the spring, then top off the water tank all season long without draining or re-sanitizing.
Water seems fine all year. I use it for all purposes including drinking.
This is town water, slightly clorinated. May be different from a well. But I seem to recall my father did the same thing, and he had untreated well water. Never recall any funky smell or taste in his water either.
David Kojen
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RoyB
King George, VA
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We dont use out fresh water for drinking or cooking. Always have a good supply of bottled water for that. Being a fresh made been coffee drinker I have to have the same water to get the preferred bean coffee taste.
We just never got into drinking or cooking from the fresh water tank. Not saying it isnt safe or anything just never got into doing it. Goes back to the tent camping days I guess. The fresh water tank is only for dishes and baths and flushing the pot I guess. I somtimes squirt a squirrel with the outside shower thingie or shoot some water up in the trees above where momabear is sitting...
What else have we 70 year plus campers got to do.
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taborekle
Clements, Md
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Being as I use to sail...
Sailors crossing oceans would have tanks of water that would last for months. Only in the last 20 years or so did they have reverse-osmosis ssytems that could replenish it.
If you shock your tanks with cloronation, it should be good to go for quite a long time.
Larry
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Fresno Tundra Driver
Fresno,Ca. USA
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Water will only grow "green stuff" if its exposed to the open air. If clorinated water is put into a closed container (holding tank or water bottle) it will not after a while turn green or become overrun with bacteria. You can't get something from nothing. The only issue here is the taste.
* This post was
edited 05/16/12 09:09am by Fresno Tundra Driver *
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WandaLust2
TN
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We dump it after a week. It seems to start to smell and taste like the plastic pipes in the RV.
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