Water in the freshwater tank, new to the group

[Mike6179]

Hello to the group
The wife and I just graduated from a truck camper
to a Jay Flight 248RBSW, We never really did much camping just a night or two, and always carried water in my 6 gallon Igloo water jug.


Now we want to travel and I was wondering how long to leave fresh drinkable water in my holding tank, I wouldn't want to get sick.

Thanks for any advise in advance

Mike in Grapeview

[RetiredOne]

I'm sure you'll get a lot of different opinions on this....

Me personally, I would leave water in the tank if I was planning on going back out in a few days. If I know it's going to be longer, I drain the fresh water tank, and drain all water lines and water heater. I would rather error on the side of safety, versus letting things "grow" in the warm weather in the tanks and lines.

Then, before I go back out, I reflush the tank and lines with city water for a while to make sure I get any standing crap out of the lines...

But that's just me...

[Screwby]

I’ll leave water in there for a couple months at any given time. Then sanitize the system if I know it’s going to be sitting for the “off season”. We don’t drink our water though, it’s for showers, dishes, and what not. For drinking water we use either the Berkey to filter our onboard water or use the refillable 5 gallon “water cooler” jugs and one of the hand pumps that mount to them. I’d never trust water from an unknown source for consumption especially since I have little ones to consider.

[oldmanAZ]

Hello to you.

As RetiredOne said, LOTS of opinions on this...

So far, we've kept the same water in our fresh water tanks for weeks at a time between trips without a problem.
When the 'between trips' time was longer than that, it was a bit over 2 months, I re-sanitized the system. I'm not sure it was necessary, but I had the time so why not.

We use 3 filters (2 sediment and a carbon block) for ALL the water that goes into our trailer. We've never had a problem with our water and use our filtered water for everything, including drinking.

[RogerR]

Most of our trips include a drive home of several hundred miles. On the last day I drain the tank and water heater while hooking up. That way I don't have to haul the weight down the road. I do leave a few gallons for that emergency flush along the side of the road or at a lunch stop.

We don't drink the water but why haul the weight and use up more fuel?

[Tim15856]

My TT is parked in my driveway where I use it as a man cave or for sleeping in sometimes when I work midnight shift. I keep water in the holding tank but generally don't use it for drinking water although I have a water filter connected to the kitchen faucet if I want a quick drink. We have only been camping a little over a year and so far have not traveled further than about a 3 hour drive so our trips have been non-stop. So I always empty the holding tanks before leaving to reduce weight and we always hook up to CG city water at the campgrounds. Once connected I'll flush the system for a short time.

[DonaandDon]

Been full timing it for about 10yrs now.

1) Sanitize twice a year (Spring/Fall)
2) Drain and flush monthly.
3) Use the water in the fresh tank at least every two weeks.
4) I travel with about 1/2 full of freshwater.
5) Drain if your rig is closed up, as well as drain the water heater.
- Be sure to turn off the electric water heater element first before draining the water heater!!!

[Jagiven]

I have no issues leaving chlorinated city water in my tank for 2 weeks. I am sure it is good for longer.

Well water gets to be more tricky. Some of it can leave a horrible sulfur smell/taste. especially in the water heater tank. So I always drain unknown water from they system.

If we do not plan to use the water for more than 2 weeks I drain the system, and then run a little water through the lines once I am ready to go.

I'm just a weekender, so I sanitize in the spring of each year. We do drink water from our tank.

[Mike6179]

What all is included in "sanitize" ?

[Screwby]

Originally Posted by Mike6179

What all is included in "sanitize" ?

Drain your fresh water system completely. Make sure you’ve drained and bypassed the water heater. Fill your freshwater tank adding 1/4-3/4 cups of bleach to every gallon of water you add. Now turn on your water pump and one at a time go to each faucet and run it until you smell bleach. Don’t forget the shower head and faucet. Don’t forget the outside shower it your have one. Now let the camper sit for 24 hours, you can take it for a drive around the block if you want to slosh the water in the tank around. Now drain the water system again and fill with fresh water. Run the faucets until you don’t smell bleach anymore and your done.

[TCNashville]

Originally Posted by Screwby

Fill your freshwater tank adding 1/4-3/4 cups of bleach to every gallon of water you add.

Isn't that ratio a little high? On a 40 gallon tank at 1/4 cup of bleach per gallon that would be a little over a half gallon of bleach, I think. I add a cup and a half of bleach to my 80 gallon [twin 40's] tanks to properly sanitize. 1/4 cup per 15 gallons.


https://goneoutdoors.com/much-used-s...k-5139187.html

[Screwby]

Originally Posted by TCNashville

Isn't that ratio a little high? On a 40 gallon tank at 1/4 cup of bleach per gallon that would be a little over a half gallon of bleach, I think. I add a cup and a half of bleach to my 80 gallon [twin 40's] tanks to properly sanitize. 1/4 cup per 15 gallons.


https://goneoutdoors.com/much-used-s...k-5139187.html

https://www.cscinc.org/wp-content/re...ip%20Sheet.pdf
https://sheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.e...ch-updated.pdf
Going by the tables I have read online, no. I guess if you take sanitation vs. disinfection, yes. Not sure which is the better route but I err on the side of caution as I use a lot of well water. Let’s see who chimes in and compare, maybe I’m over killing it.

[Jagiven]

In your owners manual, there is a section on sanitizing. I do not recall the exact ration, but it is closer to 1/4 cup for every 10 gallons of water in the tank. Pump the water through all lines until you smell the bleach solution. Let is sit 4 hours before flushing. They also state you can double the amount of bleach for a faster sanitization. I did that once and never again! Or you are there all day flushing the lines to get the taste out of the system.

They say not to sanitize the water heater, I do. But I also flip two of the bypass valves, drain the tank, and flush it with only the top port and drain open. Filling from the output (top) port splashes water into the tank and stirs up an crude, and flushes it out the drain. Then I flush the rest of the system with the WH tank bypassed.

FYI, I let the bleach solution sit overnight.

[skids]

Originally Posted by TCNashville

Isn't that ratio a little high? (snip) 1/4 cup per 15 gallons.
https://goneoutdoors.com/much-used-s...k-5139187.html

^^^ This is what I have read and do.

[Siamese]

We don't leave water in the tank between trips.

We drink bottled water. We'll use the water from the tank to brush out teeth.

When we're at a campground, we fill the tank rather than hook up to their system. Less chance of a leak in our plumbing if it's never subjected to high pressure. We use the onboard 12v pump, exclusively, and turn it off when we're away.

We filter incoming water with a simple Camco filter.

[Mike6179]

Thank you for all the replys
Mike

[Ohiofinlander]

Looks like you've gotten plenty of sanitizing replies, so I will just say welcome and enjoy your new Jay Flight!

[jamer]

Just remember folks, the water in you fresh water tank, you may not be drinking it, BUT you bath with it. After all, the largest organ of the body is your skin! Sooo you are actually absorbing the water much more than a simple drink. Your brush teeth, wash dishes, etc. but do not drink it. Foolish people. Avoid the fresh water tank and buy good quality water for all purposes----well except bathing which you cannot do much about that.

[Gwaltz]

Originally Posted by Mike6179

Hello to the group
The wife and I just graduated from a truck camper
to a Jay Flight 248RBSW, We never really did much camping just a night or two, and always carried water in my 6 gallon Igloo water jug.


Now we want to travel and I was wondering how long to leave fresh drinkable water in my holding tank, I wouldn't want to get sick.

Thanks for any advise in advance

Mike in Grapeview

We take nice fresh well water in 3 qt containers we bought at the store and reuse (usually 10 of them in milk creates) and put them under one of the dinette seats. Use them for cooking and coffee. Occasionally Clorox the fresh water tank and always fill it with fresh water.

[skids]

Only had one problem with drinking water and that was from the hot water tank. There is water in there even after draining that will go rancid given a couple of weeks. The system should be drained and rinsed well if it sits more than a few days. I use chlorox (not the smart bleach) at 1 tsp per 10 gallons because I feel that well water needs something to keep the water fresh. I drink the water...