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.
We bought our first used MH and a week later went on the road. I filled the FW tank before we left. A few days later we woke up feeling like we were getting the flu. By dinner time we had to call 911.
The water in the FW tank had bacteria and mold in it because the EMT's took a sample before they left. They said they see it all the time.
Any amount of water left in the tank will mold within a few weeks because there is air in the tank but it doesn't move, no sunlight and the heat and water turn into something that can hurt you bad.
Don't kid yourself and always put a few ounces of chlorine in the tank before you fill it and if it hasn't been used for awhile sanitize it.
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Lots of good info here. I don't use the tank for drinking only for washing. I'm not going camping this weekend but will in again next week on memorial day. I guess I'll leave the water in the tank and not drain it. It's about 1/3 empty anyway. When I refill it next week that should help. I wonder if mixing it up once and awhile by running the pump and or jumping around in the camper would be a good idea?
All I'm saying is that if the water is pure/sterile to start with, it will stay that way. Contamination is another issue and risk. My neighbor down the street is a doomsday prepper and has at least 100 gallons of drinking water in his garage. Its been there since the 9/11 attack and its still clear as can be. He opens one now and then and drinks it when he adds more to his supply. He's never had an issue in 11 years. Also, there is no air in a holding tank when you fill it up completely. Like I said earlier, add some bleach if you want or drain and refill. To each his own.
The most important factor is...How good was the water to start with?
Next time you are at the grocery store, check the code dates on the bottled water. Those are really long codes, and they are very conservative.
Good water will last a VERY long time.
I use city water and haven't ever had a problem in over 20 years.
If your water is going bad in the tanks, then either it wasn't very good to start with,,,,,or you don't go camping often enough.
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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.
We bought our first used MH and a week later went on the road. I filled the FW tank before we left. A few days later we woke up feeling like we were getting the flu. By dinner time we had to call 911.
The water in the FW tank had bacteria and mold in it because the EMT's took a sample before they left. They said they see it all the time.
Any amount of water left in the tank will mold within a few weeks because there is air in the tank but it doesn't move, no sunlight and the heat and water turn into something that can hurt you bad.
Don't kid yourself and always put a few ounces of chlorine in the tank before you fill it and if it hasn't been used for awhile sanitize it.
We used a concrete storage tank, that was fed by a redwood tank for years. The green seaweed growing in the tanks didn't seem to cause any problems. What did the EMT's do for your condition?
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The EMT's took us to a local hospital and they gave us antibiotics and other meds. I forgot what it was that we got but they said mold and bacteria will really harm you and that the tanks needed to be sanitized before every trip. We stayed in the hospital for 2 days.
Green Algae may not harm you it's the mold and bacteria that get you. Here in Fl. it will take over a sealed gallon jug in the matter of days if it's not kept cool. I just bought a 5th wheel that wasn't used for 3 years. When I tried to sanitize the FW tank black mold came out and plugged up the faucets. I replaced the FW tank and spent days sanitizing the system.
There is always air in your FW tank and in the dark, hot environment of a RV it will mold if it doesn't have some chlorine in it. Add in any bacteria that is on/in the filling hose/tap and you will have problems if you don't add some chlorine.
If you fill with city water and keep the tank full, water will last for many, many weeks, even in warm weather...if the tank stays full. The less surface area exposed to air, the better, and the cholrine from the city is made to be stored for a long time. How do you think it can remain in pipes for a long time? No air and cholrine.
No water treatment, high heat, and you lessen your storage time. But one can add chlorine per the Fed's emergency proceedures for water storage. Very little is needed. High temps will still shorten the time you want to keep the water stored.
The biggest thing is to keep the tank filled to the brim, and a tight cap on the fill hole and if its not treated add bleach...but do your own research about how much! I dont want to state the wrong amount here!
I'm going to have to sanitize my FW tank before using it. Bought the RV in March and it had some water in it at the time that was fresh but haven't used it since. I'm hooked up to water now so my pipes are in using and getting flushed regularly but the holding tank not so much, I can't drain the old water completely out of it so I'm sure whats left is getting nasty.
Fortunately I think I can add bleach and sanitize it without interfering with the rest of the fresh water pipes by pouring the water in the inlet and draining it directly from the tank into a tub or something, that'll save me the hassle of having to stop using the fresh water for the day or two it'll take to let the chlorinated water do it's job.
Becky
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Here is a related question: When I empty the FW tank by unscrewing the drain plug while parked at home, should I leave it off while it is parked? Or is it better to screw the drain plug back on?
I don't have a pool, so don't know -- where do you buy chlorine if you want to put some in your tank, at a pool store? In what form, liquid?
crcr wrote: Here is a related question: When I empty the FW tank by unscrewing the drain plug while parked at home, should I leave it off while it is parked? Or is it better to screw the drain plug back on?
I don't have a pool, so don't know -- where do you buy chlorine if you want to put some in your tank, at a pool store? In what form, liquid?
Thanks.
Chlorine, also known as sodium hypochloite, is also commonly known as bleach. The difference between household bleach and pool chlorine is the concentration.
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