Water line sanitize question

[Jopopsy]

I'm sanitizing my fresh water tank / water lines this morning. My rig will than go back into storage for a month before we pull out for the big Memorial Day weekend trip.

Question for you guys.

If you only use your rig for roughly 1 outing per month during the 'season', how often do you guys sanitize your tank/lines?'

Previously I would only do it once a year (Spring), but now I'm wondering if that's safe.

We only camp with full hookups, so my FW tank is only filled 1/3 of the way so I can use water for bathroom breaks, etc. That's really about it.

My one thought was maybe I could store my 1/3 tank of water w/ some bleach/chlorine in it all the time? Than when I put the rig in storage I could draw from the tank to get chlorine water into my lines and call it a day? Would this be a good idea to sanitize only once a year but still keep my lines in good shape?

Thoughts?

[oldmanAZ]

Do you sanitize at your house? Is that treated water from a municipal system or well water? Treated city water has trace amounts of chlorine in it.

I sanitize my TT water system once a year, fill my tanks with treated city water (and softened) at my house when possible, and use a sediment cartridge + carbon block water filter + water softener cartridge when on the road. It has worked fine for us.

[Jopopsy]

I'm on well water.

[Jagiven]

I sanitize once a year. If I'm not going to use it for more than 2-3 weeks I drain everything.

[GrayHawk51]

Originally Posted by oldmanAZ

Do you sanitize at your house? Is that treated water from a municipal system or well water? Treated city water has trace amounts of chlorine in it.

I sanitize my TT water system once a year, fill my tanks with treated city water (and softened) at my house when possible, and use a sediment cartridge + carbon block water filter + water softener cartridge when on the road. It has worked fine for us.

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DITTO !

[Flapper]

There's very little that would be "unsafe" by not sanitizing. The worst that will happen is the water will grow things that make it smelly or have an off taste. But it won't make you sick, as long as the water you put in is potable. If you live in Flint, MI, well....
You sanitize to keep it from growing the smelly stuff. There is little water in the lines themselves, so a good flushing on first use would be in order. But, you have two tanks that could be sources - the fresh water tank itself, and the smaller tank for the hot water heater.
When I am not going to use my RV for even just a couple of weeks, I'll drain both. Draining the heater helps prevent the dreaded "sulphur smell" that can be caused by things growing in the stagnant water in the tank. Coupled with the once a year treatment you already do, and everything should great. If I was to travel during the winter, then I would increase the sanitization to twice a year.

[jloco]

It sounds like you're only using the tank for bathroom breaks. If you're on full hookups all the time I wouldn't worry too much about sanitizing the tank too often. I think your spring routine is sufficient. If you're drinking from the tanks that's a different story.

[Jopopsy]

True, its just for bathroom breaks. I put 2 oz in and 10-15 gallons of water and called it a day. At the end of every outting I'll run some of the holding tank water into the lines to keep some chlorine in them.

[Paintinfool3]

I fill mine when we get to the campground and always drain them when we leave and I would only sanitize once a year, but I do drain my hot water heater every time now because once I didn't during the summer and omg the water smelled horrible and stunk the whole inside of camper up