preparing water system

[sequoyausa]

I read or heard somewhere that at the beginning of a new camping system it is recommended that you pour a light bleach solution into the water tank to disinfect the water system. Is this a good idea? What do the rest of you do? Thanks!

[wavery]

I read or heard somewhere that at the beginning of a new camping system it is recommended that you pour a light bleach solution into the water tank to disinfect the water system. Is this a good idea? What do the rest of you do? Thanks!

It's certainly not a bad idea. The water tank is a bacteria breeding ground.

I personally don't get too freaked out about it. We put a few drops of bleach in every tank full. The bleach dissipates rather quickly. We don't drink out of the tank. We bring bottled water.

[tlhdoc]

I read or heard somewhere that at the beginning of a new camping system it is recommended that you pour a light bleach solution into the water tank to disinfect the water system. Is this a good idea? What do the rest of you do? Thanks!

Yes that is what you want to do.  Put 1/4 cup regular/plain bleach into a gallon of water.  Pour that into the fresh water holding tank and then fill the tank with fresh water.  Pump water from the tank through all of the water lines and water heater if you have one.  Let is sit at least one hour and  then drain the bleach water and flush the tank and lines with fresh water.  If you leave the bleach in over night or for several days it will get into the plastic water lines and add a taste to the water.  If that happens flush the tank with a vinegar rinse.

[sequoyausa]

Glad to know what I heard confirmed. I wouldn't want to use water that had been sitting in anything for too long, and there is always a little moisture left in the water tank when it's drained. I, too, plan on bringing bottled water, but I want clean water for other uses.

[tlhdoc]

Glad to know what I heard confirmed. I wouldn't want to use water that had been sitting in anything for too long, and there is always a little moisture left in the water tank when it's drained. I, too, plan on bringing bottled water, but I want clean water for other uses.

We take bottled water to drink, but use the campground water for washing.  We haven't had a problem in the 10 years we have been PU camping.