Plastic Taste in water.

[mailman]

We have a Dutchman pop up camper which we recently bought.  We went camping Memorial Day weekend and had a great time and are ready to go back again.  We did have a slight problem.  We are sweet tea people and made some the first night we were camping.  The problem is we could not drink it because it had a distinct plastic taste.  I have turned on the water and let it run through the lines for 20 minutes or so but can't seem to get the taste or smell out of the lines.  Can anyone give me any advice to get the plastic taste and smell out of the lines?

[waterdoctor]

Welcome Mailman
My 1st question to you is; are you using a RV hose and not a standard garden hose? I know that's a dumb question, but I've seen some who didn't know there was a difference. Garden hoses have alot of solvents in the plastic/rubber that dissolve into the water and have a really foul taste and odor. It could be as simple as getting a RV fresh water hose (Walmart has them for pretty cheap). Also, I always install an in-line water filter to help standardize the taste. Additionally, since water pressures at the CG can vary widely, it's a good idea to get a pressure regulator that I like to attach right at the faucet. The internal PUP plumbing doesn't fare too well at really high pressures.

If the hose isn't the problem, I really don't know what to recommend. I'm sure there will be others that will contribute their thoughts, eventually.

Good luck.

[mailman]

Thanks for the response Waterdoc!! I do have an RV hose and a pressure regulator but I may try getting a water filter and see if that works.  I know the man that owned it before me said he never hooked up water to the camper so it could be that it still has the "new" still in it.

[He Ruide]

Mailman,

Did you compare the Camp Ground water taste to that coming through the PUP system?  Add is the problem more pronounce in the 'hot water system",

Unpleasant waste tastes can come for a variety of source, including the plastic piping, bacteria, incoming water.  So if you haven't I would start off by sanitizing the tanks, pluming and water hose with a mixture of 1/4 cup of bleach to every 15 gallons of water... let it sit in the lines for 3 to 12 hours and flush it out several times.. If you still have a problem,  try flushing with a mixture  of  one quart vinegar to five gallons of water... and let it sit for a couple days.

Hope this helps,

Ruide

[Old Goat]

I only drink bottled water that has been treated for camping consumption by a brewery. Never ever had a plastic taste...:sombraro::sombraro::!