Fresh Water Hose Question

[t2daniel]

I've read a lot on sanitizing the water system in our trailers, but no one ever mentions the fresh water hose. I always connect the ends together to keep out dirt and any creepy crawly's. I always wondered about potential bacteria in the hose. I did pour bleach in mine last year when filling my FW tank for sanitizing in the spring then connected to the hose bib at home and flushed into the FW tank. The bleach doesn't really stay in the hose long enough to sanitize the hose in my opinion.

Is this something to be concerned over? What do you do with your FW hose?

Just curious.

[wags999]

We do as you have done, but also have a water filter in line. We only drink water that has been filtered again inside the rig. What is used in cooking I guess the heat would kill whatever. So that only leaves toilets and showers, and possibly some exposure brushing teeth etc. So far so good, guess I've not been overly concerned, perhaps I should sanitize before we leave. Perhaps filling the hose with a bleach solution for a day, then leaving on our trip.

Thanks, one more thing to worry about LOL

[oldmanAZ]

Connected the ends together. At the beginning of the camping season, connected it to my house bib and ran water through it to check. Never had a problem that I could see, taste, or smell. Used a water filter at the campground spigot.

[Tunce the traveler]

This might be something to look into.

[t2daniel]

Originally Posted by wags999

Thanks, one more thing to worry about LOL

Sorry about that

We always use a filter too. Replace every year.

[Flyrotor]

When mixed correctly in a 10% solution bleach is most effective, it will Disinfect in about 10 minutes, it is not necessary to soak any longer than that. A 10% solution is also more effective than strait out of the bottle, but it also becomes unstable (degrades) faster, it should be discarded after about 24 hours. Here are some facts about Clorox bleach.

TSRI - News & Views
https://www.clorox.com/products/clor...athroomtoilets

[troutslayer]

I put a filter between the RV and the hose (as others have mentioned).

[RedHorse1]

I doubt a filter (unless it is high-end) would be effective against bacteria. Charcoal will help remove things that we can taste or smell. The mechanical part gets the "bits" floating.

[troutslayer]

Originally Posted by RedHorse1

I doubt a filter (unless it is high-end) would be effective against bacteria.

Mine says it does

[t2daniel]

Originally Posted by Flyrotor

When mixed correctly in a 10% solution bleach is most effective, it will Disinfect in about 10 minutes, it is not necessary to soak any longer than that. A 10% solution is also more effective than strait out of the bottle, but it also becomes unstable (degrades) faster, it should be discarded after about 24 hours. Here are some facts about Clorox bleach.

TSRI - News & Views
https://www.clorox.com/products/clor...athroomtoilets

Interesting articles on Bleach. I always wondered about the different types and if they could all be used for disinfecting. Now i know

I think I'm going the fill the FW hose with a bleach/water solution in the spring and keep the ends at the same height to make sure the entire hose gets filled. I'll have to figure out the best way to do it. I'll post any lessons learned after that.

I'm acutally suprised there weren't more comments on this as it is has never come up in any threads I recall over the last year and a half.

@ troutslayer: I did look at some of the anti bacterial filters, but If I read the info correctly, the filter just prevents bacterial growth inside the filter between uses, not necessarily disinfecting the water. That's why houses get fancy UV filters to kill off the bacteria. If I'm wrong, let me know what type of filter is best.

Thanks

[Hattie]

Boondocking: We have a house spigot for our soft water and we use the blue drinking water hose to fill the fresh water tank. In storage on each end of the hose are pin-hole vent caps to prevent bacterial growth. The hose is stored in an enclosed container, also to keep out the bugs and dirt.
Hookups: We have two short drinking hoses for our larger water softener (it sits in a milk crate and uses salt as its agent); again, all hoses have the pin hole vent caps when stored.
Seems we're either hauling generators for boondocking or softener for shore!

[SouthCo]

I keep the ends connected like you. I use an inline water filter. I also pour bleach into the house end before connecting to the spigot every time. We also don't drink the water and always take bottled water....

[rjackson]

we sanitize our tank in spring, use campground water to fill fw tank 95% of the time, no filters and have never had any problems. and haven't ever sanitized the fw hoses

[edatlanta]

One thing to check when buying bleach. Some of the discount/no name brands contain half the sodium hypochlorite as the name brands. So you are getting half of the cleaning/sanitizing power at little reduced price. I have found it better to buy a name brand and use a lot less of it.

[slabat]

I use a filter on the outside hose as well, but have never sanitixed my water hose, actually have never thought about it. It would not be that hard to do and not a bad idea. However, the main reason I run bleach through the lines in the spring is to get the antifreeze taste and smell out of the camper fresh water system.

[Bassdogs]

Originally Posted by rjackson

we sanitize our tank in spring, use campground water to fill fw tank 95% of the time, no filters and have never had any problems. and haven't ever sanitized the fw hoses

X2! Bleach / water solution ran thru the hose will kill whatever is hiding in there. Also use an inline filter at the hose bib. Have never worried about the actual CG water as where we frequent all water systems even small CG wells have to be tested on a regular basis. Truth is you are exposed to XXX germs from touching counters and bath room fixtures at the gas station or fast food eatery. Have camped all over the lower 48 and Alaska and have never met anyone who has gotten sick from CG water.

[Jagiven]

During the year I hook the hose ends together. Never use a water filter. I do put a bleach solution In the hose, I find it a pain to do. Let it soak while the tt soaks.

[Hattie]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

Have never worried about the actual CG water as where we frequent all water systems even small CG wells have to be tested on a regular basis. Truth is you are exposed to XXX germs from touching counters and bath room fixtures at the gas station or fast food eatery. Have camped all over the lower 48 and Alaska and have never met anyone who has gotten sick from CG water.

Appreciate the health-related comments, we concur. However, we prefer soft water (home and camping) for "sudsing and spot-free" advantages ~ much of the CG water in our area is hard with minerals that eventually clog pipes (ugh). So ... we're used to and prefer using softened water when we can.

[krgbcg]

Just a thought- if you connect the two ends together doesn't this keep water/moisture inside much longer which allows bacteria growth? I would think you want it to drain and dry out faster to help prevent growth of organisms.

[t2daniel]

Originally Posted by krgbcg

Just a thought- if you connect the two ends together doesn't this keep water/moisture inside much longer which allows bacteria growth? I would think you want it to drain and dry out faster to help prevent growth of organisms.

Exactly!! That's where my question originally came from. Keeping the hose closed up with moisture inside does not seem like a good idea from a bacteria or mold point of view but it keeps the insects out.

What are the vented caps that some talk about? Do they screw onto the ends of the hose with a screen to keep the bugs out but let air get in and dry out the hose? I've never seen them, but then again I've never looked for them becasue I didn't know they existed

Anyone have a set they like?