Lazy Daze Owners' Group

An alternative to bleaching the fresh water system

February 05, 2016, 07:11:20 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 158535

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I came across this at a site called RVbasics.com.  (I put a copy of the article below).  I like this because it seems easy and I don't have to waste 40-80 gallons of water flushing out the bleach.  Has anyone used this or do any of you have thoughts on it?
 Here's the full link:  http://rvbasics.com/techtips/sanitizing-your-rv-fresh-water-system.html

Thanks, Syndi 2014 TK Super Flea

"A friend and fellow full time RVer, Bill Randolph told me how he uses something other than household bleach which works well for him and I also started using it. I think it is worth passing on to you. Before he retired, Bill spent twenty years in the swimming pool business. He's an expert when it comes to sanitizing swimming pools and spas and says the same rules apply to RV fresh water systems.
 Bill uses Chlorinating Concentrate (Sodium Dichloro-s-Triazinetricone or Sodium Dichlor for short). Sodium Dichlor contains 62% available chlorine. Compare that to household bleach which has something close to 3%. One pound of Sodium Dichlor is equal to 8 gallons of bleach! Also, household bleach contains other stuff, including a lot of salt, and that salt and other stuff is what causes the bad taste and why you have to flush the fresh water tank so well.
 Bill says it takes only 1 teaspoon of the concentrate per 100 gallons of water to initially sanitize the system. Remember to run water through all the faucets. It's okay to use the full teaspoon even on smaller tanks because you will be flushing the tank before adding the water you intend to drink but it seems wasteful.
 Like most of us, Bill travels with a near empty tank to reduce weight. So if he arrives at park where he plans to stay and they have well water, he drops a half teaspoon per 100 gallons of the concentrate into the fill tube and fills his water tank. This insures the system will always be sanitized. No, you do not have to flush again. It's the equivalent to drinking chlorinated city water. If you are filling your tank from a source that is already chlorinated then you don't need to add the concentrate.
 That said, if you don't like to drink chlorinated water, don't add the concentrate to the water you intend to drink. Assuming, you fill your water tank from a trusted source you should be safe. Or, you can add the concentrate and then filter the water you drink or cook with.
 Truth is I almost always seem to be filling the fresh water tank from a chlorinated source (city water supply) so I seldom need to to use the concentrate. And we do filter our drinking water.
 This is not a case where more is better. This stuff is concentrated and it's best to use just what Bill recommends.
 Because Sodium Dichlor is so highly concentrated you only need to carry a very small container... buy the smallest container available. And it is dry crystals so there is less chance of a spill. However, because it is so concentrated it is highly corrosive so you do have to be careful how you store it and use it. You should be able to find Sodium Dichlor (Chlorinating Concentrate) at any pool supplies or spa store. Bill says there are several brands to choose from but brand should not be a factor in your choice... it's all the same stuff."

Re: An alternative to bleaching the fresh water system

Reply #2 – February 22, 2016, 02:58:37 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 158929

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The methods described in the KOA link from Chris, the one at http://thervgeeks.com/quick-tips/sanitize-rv-fresh-water-tank-without-winterizing-kit and the method recommended in the LD Manual (pages 6-7 in my manual) are similar procedures that use clorox or a similar brand of bleach to sanitize the fresh water storage tank.  I'm inclined to adhere to that recommended procedure for sanitizing our LD water tank and system.

I did a quick Google search for chlorinating concentrate and at best, it seems to be something to consider as an additional precaution especially if one has to use city water from an unreliable or suspicious source! Frankly, I hope that we never find ourselves in that situation, but who knows?

At any rate Syndi, that's my thoughts on your question.

Ed & Margee Fort Worth

An alternative to bleaching the fresh water system

Reply #4 – February 23, 2016, 11:04:19 am

Yahoo Message Number: 158943

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We use bleach to disinfectant the system after the rig has been sitting for awhile. Add bleach, fill the tank, let it sit for awhile, drain, fill and drain, then add chlorine dioxide and fill. Add another table spoon every time you refill.

It's safe, you are already ingesting as it's the most common used chemical to disinfectant, for instance, food prep counters.

We always run out of the tank. We never hook up to city water. That keeps the tanks filled with clean water.

Here is a source for the brand name Purogene. 2% Chlorine Dioxide.
3R RV and Marine Holding Tank and Fresh Water Treatment