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Topic: Is water from desert taps bad for fresh water tank? (Read 736 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: Is water from desert taps bad for fresh water tank?
Reply #25 –
Ron, I do drink jugs marked distilled or reverse osmosis (the really good ones like at whole foods, not the ones out in front of the super markets – I can’t do those ones).  However, I have run into some issues where generic store jugs labeled purified (fine print says distilled or reverse osmosis) were not – obvious by the taste, so I buy distilled jugs or find machines that taste food to me.   Name Brands smaller bottles - I can drink Aquafina and Dasani but not other brands.

Distilled is boiled then the evaporated water recaptured leaving the crud behind (or burned into the air which is a concern if you are doing your own), reverse osmosis has series of filters but the downside is it wastes a lot of water to get water thru all the filters and the waste water is not good for things like bathing or the garden.
Jane & Scott
Currently have a 1989 TK  LD we did a lot of upgrades on.
Bigfoot 25RQ Twin on order with early summer 2024 ETA

Our smartphone autocorrects into very poor English.
 We disclaim the illusion of ignorance this creates as we have enough ignorance we rightly claim.
Re: Is water from desert taps bad for fresh water tank?
Reply #26 –
OK, I just gotta jump in!  ;-) 

Distilled water contains no dissolved minerals.  Thus, it is a good thing for topping off batteries.  It is my (unverified) understanding that distilled water is not good to drink.  This is because we excrete minerals needed for health when we urinate.  To maintain safe mineral levels, one good source is conventional water, while distilled water will lower those minerals. 

Purified water contains dissolved minerals, but bacteria, cysts and virus particles have been either filtered out, killed or both.  That makes it good for drinking, but not good for batteries, as the dissolved minerals can compromise the chemical reactions on which a flooded cell battery depends.

Personally, I use southern New Mexico desert water for everything, unfiltered, for half the year, for the past ten years.  There is no sediment in my strainer.  When I flush my water heater twice a year, I remove white sediment every time.  I occasionally get water spots on stuff, but a rag soaked with some vinegar takes them right away.

Ken F in NM
'08 MB
Re: Is water from desert taps bad for fresh water tank?
Reply #27 –
Ken is right on point in his posting. My office is walking distance to 500K gallons of pure demineralized water we use for certain processes. And while it is very clean water, it is actually dangerous to consume in certain situations because of the lack of minerals. It can actually try to leach minerals from whatever it contacts whether it be steel or the human body. Certain distilled waters have similar properties. Pure demin water is not conductive but certain distilled waters have enough conductance or conductivity to use in batteries or radiators without scaling as much as hard water. Scaling in tanks is very unlikely unless the water "cycles up" meaning evaporation and leaving the minerals behind or is constantly heated and cooled like in an engine. Certain hard waters are actually really good to drink due to the mineral content in a lot of conditions. Water qualities and makeup variations are endless.
Randy

2019 MB
Re: Is water from desert taps bad for fresh water tank?
Reply #28 –
Quote from: randy62  - 
Pure demin water is not conductive but certain distilled waters have enough conductance or conductivity to use in batteries
Distilled water has no significant minerals dissolved, but batteries have acid, which provides the ions for conductivity when you add distilled water.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
 
Re: Is water from desert taps bad for fresh water tank?
Reply #29 –
I agree with Ken, I have also heard that in general people do better with some minerals in their water.  Many reverse osmosis machines in stores (the better ones) add some minerals back in.  But the fact that some minerals in water is good for me doesn't help me if I can't get it down my throat.  I get my minerals from other sources.

It is easy to check for symptoms or get tested.  We are not on the forefront of things in AZ, at least not like the coast states are.  However, B12 and D3 are a standard part of physicals here and I am starting to see checking levels of magnesium, calcium, and potassium included in some physicals. 

Jane
Jane & Scott
Currently have a 1989 TK  LD we did a lot of upgrades on.
Bigfoot 25RQ Twin on order with early summer 2024 ETA

Our smartphone autocorrects into very poor English.
 We disclaim the illusion of ignorance this creates as we have enough ignorance we rightly claim.