Keeping fresh water tanks drinkable

[madhatter1]

For those that drink water out of the tanks what is the method used to keep it clean? Our RV sank in the storms (twice) this year and is totalled. New one has an ice maker that we would like to use. What is the best way to treat the tank without affecting taste?

 

[SEVEN]

Install a reverse osmosis system underneath the galley sink.

 

[Fanfare]

At the beginning of the season disinfect the tank(s) with a tablespoon of Clorox bleach per 10 gallons. If you have multiple tanks as Hatteras often does add Clorox as each tank fills so each is treated. Remove all carbon filters from water lines. Run each outlet including ice maker until you smell chlorine then shut off. Don't forget the hot water heater, best done cold. Leave for a couple hours. Then drain tank and fill with new water, flush all lines, replace carbon filters and any other filters. Flush until all chlorine smell and taste is gone. Then use your tank water for everything. In the US virtually all water has enough residual chlorine to keep everything fresh. Normal usage will keep it fine.

In foreign travel consult FDA recommendations for adding Clorox. Years ago I checked many water systems in the Bahamas for chlorination. I never found any! Finally got a watermaker which kept the Admiral happy for her grandchildren.

 

[madhatter1]

Again, this is for the RV, not the boat. But good info. So there is clorine in tap water used to fill tanks that keeps thing fresh with regular use? That's good because we use the RV tank for all water use same as on the boat to keep is fresh. On the RV I can quick dump all water to exchange but thinking for storage keep it full. If empty it would be a big moist can. RV will sit for moths at a time. Takes a big back seat to Esperanza most of the year.

 

[Captain Ralph]

Use the water out of the tanks more often.

Laundry, aft deck rinse, heads, wash basins, bilge rinse, anything that needs water..
We rarely use dock water. For storage run the tanks low and ad some aqua-fresh.
If your going to freeze, run the tanks low and ad the proper potable anti-freeze.

Something we also learned long ago; a water supply had un-treated well water. Stuff grew in the supply lines and hoses. Then would flow into our tanks. UG..
A supply filter was promptly added and removed this issue. Filters clogged after ever fill of our tanks. Only there a few years. Since then. always use a filter when flooding the ships potable water tanks.

 

[Captain Cigar]

Are the water tanks on Late 1970's early 1980's fiberglass or some type of metal like aluminum?

 

[cww]

Use the water out of the tanks more often. We rarely use dock water. For storage run the tanks low and ad some aqua-fresh.

I never use dock water anymore, my Chris-Craft almost sank at the dock that way. I had a vigilant neighbor who stepped in to save it just in time. A fitting blew off and the flow from the hose managed to overcome the bilge pumps (they only put 2 on a 47' boat). Granted the quality of the plumbing and electrical systems are night and day between that boat and the hatteras, so I probably wouldn't have any issues on this boat, but it made me swear off ever using it again.

 

[Captain Cigar]

I use shore water all the time. When I leave the boat whether to just go out to dinner or for longer, I NEVER leave it hooked up to shore water. That is just a sinking boat waiting to happen.