Fresh Water Storage

[viking1]

Does any one have any idea how long you can safely have fresh water in your tanks. Do you need to add an additive to the fresh water tank, will it start growing stuff after a while.

[gumpy]

It's really going to depend on many variables.

Where did the water come from? Most, if not all, municipal water supply will have been treated with chlorine, which of course will inhibit growth
of bacteria and such.

What are your tanks made of? Stainless and plastic are probably the most common materials. How they are constructed could contribute to bacteria growth.
Shoddy welding can cause bubbles which can harbor bacteria, etc.  How translucent the material is (plastic) can also affect growth.

How much light is allowed to enter the tanks can have an affect on growth. Are the plastic tanks positioned where sunlight regularly enters them?

I'm sure there are other factors. The bottom line is, "maybe, it depends."

I have left water in my tanks for up to 3 months without use and have had no issues. I fill with municipal water probably 99% of the time. I have never added clorox or any other
additives to my tanks. I winterize by draining the tanks completely, blowing out the lines with air, and pumping RV antifreeze through the system, except for the tanks
and pressure tanks. I put new filters in the system (5 micron sediment on the shore line, 1 micron carbon on the distribution line) after I wash out the antifreeze residue \
in the spring. I drink the water that I put into my tanks. Many choose not to drink the water in their fresh water tanks (due in part to some of the above reasons).

craig

[happycamperbrat]

I used to full time with my kids in a motorhome. The tanks were plastic and yes, I added bleach with every fill up. I learned to do that the hard way. When bacteria strikes the water smells and has a kinda slimy feel to it EWE!!!

[viking1]

Thanks guys. They are plastic. Not exposed to any sunlight and water has been in there for close to 6 months. We live in a ranch community where we share a number of wells with other ranches and we have our own little water department. I am assuming they treat the water just like city water. But we all know what assumes means..

I wonder if I should add a teaspoon of chlorine to every tank during fill up? or does the RV store sell something not as harsh?

[TomC]

Using municipal water that has chlorine in it, a long time.  The worst would be untreated stream water, or even well water.  I always try to use chlorinated water, and still don't have any growth in my 130gal plastic tank after 16 years.  Good Luck, TomC

[JWallin]

Chlorine doesn't last long, doesn't kill everything, leaves sediment. Stuff grows fast.

[Ed Hackenbruch]

I have an inline filter that i use on the hose when filling the tank. I also have a filter between the pump and the faucets in the bus. The first filter is usually good for a couple of months, the second is usually changed on the first of every month.

[Kevin]

Do you drink the water? We bring bottled water for drinking always. I've left water (yes, community well water is chlorinated) in our stainless tank for many months at a time and it has never smelled funky but I would never consider drinking it either. I always dump and refill with fresh water prior to using the bus.

I also tapped-into the domestic water plumbing for my radiator mister system... but made no provision for backflow prevention... another reason we do not drink the water. Again, never experienced any problems with smelly or funky water when draining the tank prior to refilling for an outing.

Kevin

[Bill B /bus]

I have been using Purogene, from 3R Marketing,  as an inhibitor/cleaner since 2000. 1 oz per 30 gallons. Water is drinkable within minutes. No odor.  If i'm sure of the water system then I don't use any additional treatment.

Bill

[Ed Hackenbruch]

We have been fulltiming for 8 years so we use one to two tanks of water a week. Depends on where we are as to whether we drink it or not.

[luvrbus]

A bottle of peroxide will keep your tank and the water drinkable that is all we ever used for 30 years and have left in the tank for months