Anyone ever drank water from freshwater holding tank before flushing?

[BooRadley]

Did you ever get a new rv, fill the freshwater holding tank without flushing it out first, and then make the mistake of drinking a glass of water (kitchen faucet) that came from the freshwater tank?

I just did. :banghead:


Sometimes I wonder why I'm not locked up.

[therink]

Yes and I'm still living 9 months later.
Don't sweat it.

[BooRadley]

That much is heartening. Whew!

(tx)

[byrdr1]

I dont drink from it or cook with it. Its for showers and toilet flushing,
washing dishes..
I have cleaned mine out each spring with a little bleach in the lines to make sure no bad stuff comes from them. BUT still dont drink from it.
just me.
randy

[eartha]

I have for many years and no problem. I think it is a good idea to flush.:rolleyes:

[Bob Landry]

My FW tank has never had water in it since the initial walk through. We always have a city connection and carry jugs of water from home for coffee. I personally don't have a problem with water from the hose, but DW doesn't like the taste of it. I guess I drank too much water from the hose when I was a kid.

[JRTJH]

If you think about it, the fresh water tank is made from "food grade" plastic. The "expensive" bottled water you buy in even an "upgrade Eco store" comes in "food grade" plastic bottles. For the past 40 years, we've been using the water in our RV FW tank for cooking, drinking, bathing, flushing the toilet, etc.

Honestly, if you care for the tank (by sanitizing it) and use the water frequently enough to keep it fresh, it's really not much different than turning on the tap in your stick built house.

As for an "infrequent" glass from an "unsanitized" FW tank, that's probably not much different than an occasional drink from the garden hose at home.

[Javi]

Grew up drinking from a garden hose, been known to take the occasional sip of lake water while scuba diving, even been known to extend the 30 second rule on dropped food so I don't think drinking water from my FW holding tank is gonna be a problem after the past 64 years :D

[cabinfever]

The sanitized FW tanks in our units are probably in better shape than the city water systems that bring our homes water.

[hankpage]

Don't sweat it! After all what is the worst that can happen??? http://www.keystonerv.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=251&pictureid=1117 We use the water from the FW tank for everything but we have a faucet mounted filter for coffee and drinking (well... ice cubes) and have never had a problem.
http://www.keystonerv.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=251&pictureid=1156

[Western Traveler]

At work on a tug in the Hawaiian Islands right now. Home to the Mainland and pick up my new Cougar TT next week.
Out here we carry in the neighborhood of 30,000 gallons of fresh water in a stainless potable water tank on board our vessel.
We treat with Clorox bleach to 1 part per million and monitor it with a Extech "Exstik" CL200 chlorine probe about 5" long.
About 8 oz bleach treats that volume of water. The water is also periodically monitored by an outside lab.
At that ratio it is most unlikely you could tell it was treated and it is safe to consume. Taste for fresh water consumption is lacking as we fill through city pipes and common garden hose.
Unless someone advised me otherwise my plan is to treat the water in my new trailer when dry camping for use in coffee and cooking as I have done for years.

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

This CG has a well, it runs off Electricity, this is rual
Southwestern New Mexico ... I keep water in my tank for those times
when the wells stops working unexpectedly.
I keep my water tank sanitized, and about 1/2 full. Swap water out about
every 6 months or so. For those occasions when it was the 'Only water
around", I use it for everything, never had a bad experience... knock on wood.

hankaye

[Barryman]

I don't mind drinking water from the hose or the tanks, but my DW is a water snob and we must carry some 5 gallon jugs of RO water for coffee and drinking.

[theeyres]

Ever see those scare stories about bottled water on TV? Chances are the city water you drink from the tank is just as well filtered and certainly as safe. Back to the OP's question: no because we have never had a new trailer. But we use the tank water for everything and have been doing it for 40 years in various RVs.

[Charby]

If you follow the recommended sanitation instructions of the tank in spring, you will be fine. I put a liter (33 oz) of bleach in tank of 40 gallons and flush through all lines until you smell it. Let it sit over night. Drain it, refill it, and run taps clean, and drain again. I also run beach through hoses in spring to kill anything sitting around. Always use an inline filter when filling tank, and handle hoses carefully, as not to contaminate in the dirt, hands etc. I always drain water from hose when done. Studies show water can sit in tanks for weeks before going bad.

[Outbackmel]

Camco has a sterilization product that is ez to use. If you consider the tank is no more than a plastic container, it's obvious that if you keep the water turning frequently after following the purification recommendations, you have nothing to fear. Of course a good in-line filter under the sink is a key component as well. We rarely use our system, but, recently did for a 3 day event. We had no issues what-so-ever.

Enjoy....

[zuley]

Be adventurous, try running with scissors next!! :D

[Western Traveler]

Of course a good in-line filter under the sink is a key component as well.


Keep in mind the following;

Taken from des.nh.gov
Environmental fact sheet..New Hampshire

"D. Biological Activity Occurring within Treatment Equipment and Piping
Water treatment equipment often uses sand or other media to filter bacteria from drinking water. This
action typically brings bacteria together on the filter media. In such cases, the filtration provides an easily obtained,
concentrated food supply for these bacteria to sustain themselves."

I was told during one of our water quality inspections that filling through a filter and discarding the filter would be a better use than keeping a filter in line for extended periods of time.

[airforceret]

We've always used our FW tank for drinking, cooking, whatever. I use the fire dept method for our system. Flush with city water, let stand for a couple days with city water, flush and fill. That's pretty much how your city keeps your water safe for drinking when you see them flushing hydrants!

It's funny though how some people will avoid their FW tanks like the plague, yet they will drink from recycled plastic store bought water bottles, or hookup their hose to a campground spicket without first sanitizing it with a little bleach solution and/or flushing it for a minute.

We've been sick more from campground water than the FW we bring from home! LOL

[BooRadley]

Be adventurous, try running with scissors next!! :D

:eek:
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[BooRadley]

Thanks all for your replies. :)

[golfpro]

food grade plastic huh? one thing that bothers me is they drill hole into that tank to install the pipes to the pump and the drain tube. and you can bet the farm on the fact that they do not flush the filings out of the tank. I sure as heck flush mine before I do any thing when I buy a new TT.

[RichR]

I would say that the quality of the water going into the tank is as important as anything. If you properly sanitize the tank, use a hose approved for drinking water that is as good as it can get. Can you guaranty that the water that comes out of your home faucet is as good at can be, maybe, but that is an assumption.

I have drunk from a tank that was not flushed and I'm still here. Safer than holding onto shopping cart handles.

[Pmedic4]

Grew up drinking from a garden hose, been known to take the occasional sip of lake water while scuba diving, even been known to extend the 30 second rule on dropped food so I don't think drinking water from my FW holding tank is gonna be a problem after the past 64 years :D

Wait a minute, I've always heard about a '5' second rule. You mean I've been wasting a good 25 seconds worth of safe edible food?
Still hate those ants crawling on my burger though, they have a slightly bitter taste, especially the red ants.

However, we drink water out of the FW tank, but are more careful about where we fill it up at, more concerned about taste than bacteria. And do now do flush annually, but didn't for our first few RV's.