How do we get the pong out of our water tanks?

Phil C · Guru

How do we get the pong out of our water tanks?

Happywanderer · The Master

You can use bleach or even baking soda. It doesn't matter on the amounts as it will be a big tank of water.
I haven't used my tank water in the whole of my trip around Aus, there for emergencies, carried 5 x 10 litre bottles of water in the van, I was able to keep refilling.
Better check it out myself.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

G'day Phil, I have heard that the fake nappy san stuff works well for that as well. I have also been told that a bottle of Milton baby bottle wash does well too.

KFT · Guru

PhilC it must have been suspect water when you put it in there I would suggest.

My water tanks are always stored full and I have never had an issue over more than 15 years.

I have however been very reliably informed that if you pour in a litre of red cordial(no laughing) then top the tank up and leave it 24 hours and drain/refill/drain/refill it will take any foul taste away.
I am assured this works very well by several people who have done it.

frank

Vic41 · Guru

You can use the proper tank cleaner available from camping/RV stores.

I have used that and also vinegar and Miltons baby bottle wash, all worked ok. Of course it pays to flush well after you have added these and left them overnight, give the van a bit of a rock or take it for a run around the block while you have the stuff in it etc.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

That red cordial trick works well in stock water troughs too KFT. Gets rid of green slime nicely!

We have used the Tank Clean stuff from a caravan accessory shop, as we drink the water.

Delta18 · Guru

I agree with KFT, if there was good water in then you should get good water out. Water doesn't 'go off' by itself, remember, we are using the same water put on this planet millions of years ago. Nobody flushes & refills reservoirs, nor even home rainwater tanks.

A couple capfuls of bleach sloshed around should clean up any bugs from tainted water you may have picked up.

As an aside, red cordial was mentioned....this is just the best remedy for hiccups, 2wo fingers of it neat skulled, guarantee hiccups gone. True!

Cheers Neil

Spelling edited!

-- Edited by Delta18 on Wednesday 29th of October 2014 09:01:13 PM

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

I suggest that "good water in = good water out" is a fallacy and leaves you at possible risk.
The water in your tanks should be chlorinated, just like the water that arrives in your house from the town water supply.
There are plenty of bugs that can and do grow in the dark in a tank.

The chlorine in all treated town water supplies does not last long. It breaks down naturally and stops working within a week or so.
Every time you fill your van tank, add chlorine to be sure that nothing "grows" in it.

We use liquid swimming pool chlorine (very concentrated) but household bleach will do provided there is no colouring, scent or other additives in it.
You will need to add about 15ml/100L of tank capacity, even if you just top it up.

If you don't like the chlorine in your drinking water, put a 1um active carbon filter in the line just before the tap (after the pump) and it will all be removed.

For the tank which is smelly, use a strong chlorine dose and go for a drive to slosh it around, then let it stand for a day or so, drain, and refill with chlorine added at a 'normal' rate.

Cheers,
Peter

Delta18 · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
I suggest that "good water in = good water out" is a fallacy and leaves you at possible risk.
The water in your tanks should be chlorinated, just like the water that arrives in your house from the town water supply.
There are plenty of bugs that can and do grow in the dark in a tank.

So, all the people brought up on farms or regional centres where there is NO town water, or in Adelaide as I was where you couldn't drink the town water as it came unfiltered from the Murray River so you drank tank water, un-chlorinated, un-fluridated - we are dead & have no teeth?

If tank water smells, chlorinate it, if not drink it. I, as I'm sure many others never drain my tank in my van. I refill when necessary. When I get home I top up the tank then leave with that water next trip, whenever that may be.

Cheers Neil

Phil C · Guru

Thanks folks.

I must say Im not happy to drain the tanks as we have little water to "flush" with. Very dry out here.

I will try the bleach trick as we dont drink this stuff, we buy our drinking water from woolies.

Cheers again for the posts. I love the red cordial idea.

Safe travels

Vic41 · Guru

The red cordial has to be the normal stuff not the diet one Phil I read at one time.

Here are a couple of links that may help;

http://www.abc.net.au/health/talkinghealth/factbuster/stories/2010/01/21/2797762.htm

http://baliforfamilies.com/bali_belly.htm

http://www.juliemeek.com.au/newsletter/news-october10.html

TAJ · Senior Member

always drain mine and close the taps works for me

Taj biggrin

kesa32 · Senior Member

Phil C wrote:
Hi all
I have left the water sitting in my tanks for too long. The water is a bit on the beak so Im asking has anyone got an idea how to make it a bit nicer and safer? Mind you we are only showering and washing up in it. We drink from the another source.
Thanks in advance, im thinking of putting a few drops of bleach in there.. not too confident with that.
Safe travels

Hi Phil , mate just get some "white King "( not the lemon one lol ) from the supermarket , half a litre does our 45,000 ltr water tank so a capful should be ample for your tanks ( you'll need to mix it in a bit with either a hose or something to stir with ) .....leave it in there for a day or so then drain it out, that should do the trick :)

l used to work for the local water board and the chemist there recommended white king

-- Edited by kesa32 on Thursday 30th of October 2014 11:40:09 PM

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Delta18 wrote:
............so you drank tank water, un-chlorinated, un-fluridated - we are dead & have no teeth?

There is a big thermal stability difference between domestic tank water and the tank in an RV.

Higher temperatures promote bacteria growth.

Cheers,

Peter

kesa32 · Senior Member

Hi again Phil, sorry was on nightshift when l last wrote lol , yeah a capful might be a bit much , it's strong stuff , even though you don't intend to drink this water you don't want to irritate your skin either ( sorry I forgot you intend to not flush the tanks )
I'm not sure in your case as clearly your water has got bacteria overgrowth and is stagnant , I work on 100ml per ten thousand Litr of water for drinking grade dosage in tank water , you could probably double that for your water and give it a day and see how that goes

Cheers ken