Do I Have To Sanitize Water Tank/Lines

[Jagiven]

The few times we’ve camped without city water we’ve always sanitized or holding tank and lines. It’s probably been about 4-5 years since we’ve needed to do that.

We are going away soon and have a toddler. It’s going to be about a 6 hour trip so I’m sure we’ll have to stop for a potty break for him.

I’d like to use our TT bathroom and was wondering if I still needed to sanitize the tank and lines. The onboard water would only be used for the 6 hour road-trip as we have city water at the campground.

Do you have to, I would say NO. I would say if any of the water or residue ever enters your body I would strongly recommend it. I am an old mountaineer, there is nothing worse than getting the trots while out and about. We always boiled our wash water, never brushed our teeth in anything other than filtered water. I trust the water in the US, but I still always take the correct precaution as needed, the trots are no fun. Being on vacation with a toddler with digestive issues would be worse yet.

I tend to sanitize once a year, unless I connect to some questionable water sources, which I have done.

The issue with RVs they tend to site for long periods of time. The FW tank is never 100% empty and dry. An ounce of prevention reduces the risk of a ruined vacation.

 

[craigav]

While it may sound backwards, most of the crud that can form in a water tank such as algae along with many bacteria will not grow in a dark tank (they require sunlight to grow). However, it is still good to sanitize that tank every so often though as you never (rarely) know what is in the water. ~CA