Sanitize Frest Water Tank -- HMMM?

[308rets]

Hey Gang,

We are leaving tomorrow morning with our X17Z and this will be the first time we'll need to use the Fresh Water Tank as we have a non-hookup site. I noticed a Warning Label at the Frest Water Fill stating "Sanitize Before Using" - May cause serious injury or death! What's up with that?

How hard is it to Sanitize this tank before we leave for our trip? Is it a simple process! We only plan on using the Fresh Water Tank for washing dishes and flushing the toilet. We'll be showering at the Bath House.

As always, thanks for everyones input!

[Kave&Lucky]

It's not difficult to sanitize fresh water tanks. Here's a link to a video that RV Geeks posted on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOlPwmwlaMo

Hope this helps & Safe travels!

[Jagiven]

It is easy. In the owner’s manual are the instructions. If I recall they also tell you how to do it a little faster by doubling the amount of bleach. Once the tank is about full with bleach water, I fill the hot water heater and all the water lines from the pump (sterilize the whole system). You wait a few hours. Then drain everything. I do not like the taste of the bleach so I flush the whole system with plain fresh water until I do not taste any bleach, which seems like a waste of a lot of water.

[308rets]

Thanks for the insite. I'm wondering (since we are crunched for time) if all we are using it for is the toiler and washing dishes (no Showers) we should be okay if I sanitize it after our trip. Time may not allow us to sanitize it before we leave! Any thoughts?

[Jagiven]

If you are not drinking the water you should be fine. I think it took about 2 hours max to let the bleach solution soak in the pipes and tank and then another hour letting fresh water run through the pipes and water heater. I am sure if you drain it after it soaks and let the pipes drain out the bleach will loose its intensity. Just have not tried that techneque.

We did not sterilize our new 23B the first season we had it, and we are all still kick'n, and we drank the water out of the tank.

[308rets]

Thanks Jagiven. We're thinking the same thing that we should be fine. We always pack bottled water so I think we'll chance since it's only for the toilet & dishes (then again, we may just use paper products this weekend).

[tlhdoc]

You should really sanitize the water system, even if you are hooked up to "city water". That includes the water tank, water lines, shower hoses, and water heater. You only need to let the bleach water soak for 1 hour. Pour the bleach water into the fresh water holding tank then fill the tank with water. Run water out all of your faucets, toilet, fill the water heater and then refill the fresh water tank. If you are not going to drink the water you can just drain everything without flushing it. The longer you leave the bleach in the water the more bleach odor you will have.