GUIDE Water Tank Hygiene

HOW TO STOP YOUR WATER
TASTING LIKE CRAP

WORDS JULIETTE REMFREY, IMAGES VARIOUS

What lurks in your water tank – and how to fix it

Remote outback Central Australia in summer is, to my mind, one of the last places on earth you would want to discover your entire water supply tastes like crap. I’ve been there, done that and have the badge to prove it. I’m lucky taste was the only issue, as water tanks can play host to all manner of disease-causing agents and running out of good water out there can be deadly.

With the benefit of hindsight, let’s rewind the story and establish a good potable water regime starting with choosing the right tank, preparing and filling it, treating water, and finally, preparing the tank and your RV for an extended lay-off period.

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Drinking water
For drinking water, look for a tank that complies with Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 4020:2018 Testing of products for use in contact with drinking water. Drinking water tanks are often (but not always) blue in colour. Drinking water should be kept in a separate tank, filled from a trusted source and delivered through a separate pump and filter to minimise chances of cross-contamination.

ABOVE Using a dedicated pump and filter will help stop your drinking water from getting contaminated

Images credit: Annabel Schulze

General potable water
For domestic supply (kitchen tap, shower, etc.), Australian Standard AS2070:1999 Plastics materials for food contact use (commonly referred to as ‘food grade’) is okay, but if you can go for AS/NZS 4020:2018 that’s even better as you’re likely to ingest this water in some form. Treat general potable water in the same manner as drinking water.

Tip: A space-saving innovation from Safetank allows you to keep general potable water and grey water in one aluminium outer tank using a double internal bladder system. safetank.com.au

BELOW Don't just use any old water tank – make sure it's certified to Aus/NZ standards!

Don’t forget everything else…
The tank is only one part of the overall potable water system in an RV. It is important to remember that every pipe, hose, fitting, pump and filter that comes into contact with water has an influence on the quality and taste, so use drinking water safe equipment wherever possible.

TYPES OF RV WATER TANKS
There are myriad different water tank set-ups for every RV application. RV water tanks are commonly made from polyethylene (PE) in varying degrees of hardness, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which can be hard or soft (in the case of a flexible bladder), aluminium and stainless steel. Weight and storage location are often the biggest determinant of the tank material chosen. There are specific standards you should look for when setting up a new potable water system in your RV.

TOP LEFT A fully metal tank // TOP RIGHT A poly tank with shroud // BOTTOM LEFT Try different levels to empty your tank completely // BOTTOM RIGHT Your plumbing is as important as the tank itself

Click here for
the true story

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ABOVE Image credit: Juliette Remfrey

FILLING YOUR TANK
It’s important that your filling equipment is suitable for contact with drinking water. This was my second downfall as a regular garden hose was used. The result was that world-leading Melbourne quality tap water tasted strongly of plastic. You live and learn! Always:

1. Start with a trusted water source.

2. Use drinking water safe filling equipment.

3. When in use, full is best as it stops water sloshing around and limits growth of nasties. Follow your manufacturer’s recommendations for getting the most water into the tank (i.e. fill from the bottom, fill on an angle).

Make sure you use the right hose! 

PREPARING YOUR NEW TANK
While it might be considered a fresh start, a new tank will invariably contain residue and swarf from the manufacturing process and must be thoroughly prepared before first use. This was my first downfall as the bladder we used was not flushed properly before filling and heading into the red centre.

To prepare a new tank, you can use oxidising tablets or liquid, which are very safe and effective and leave minimal residue. The bicarb and vinegar or bleach flush methods that I detailed in my previous guide have been used since Adam was a pup. Make sure whichever method you choose is safe for the tank as per the manufacturer’s recommendations and ensure the solution completely dissolves, as powders can block small lines and fittings.

Open every tap in the RV until water flows, hold water in the system for as long as recommended, then flush through several times and your new tank is ready to use.

“The tank is only one part of the overall potable water system in an RV”

TREATMENT OPTIONS
As I covered in my previous guide, there are several water treatment options. The most common methods are:

1. Chemical (the only method that can be used in tank)
2. Filtration (prior to drinking)
3. Boiling (prior to drinking)
4. UV (prior to drinking)

Chemical treatment in tank, combined with filtration, is most commonly used in RVs. Read about the pros and cons of each method in the guide.

While not the subject of this guide, don’t forget to stop your grey water from turning into black water. Read my guide on grey water.

ABOVE There are plenty of clever products on the market that you can use to filter your water

Images credit: Lock Your Hubs 4WDing

KEEPING DRINKING WATER SAFE
If you’re planning to be away for a while and refill on your trip, your water tank may host nasties from the visible such as larvae, algae and mould, to the largely invisible such as heavy metals, bacteria, viruses and protozoans. Lack of a bad taste is no guarantee the water won’t make you sick. Always:

1. Use a trusted water source or pre-treat the water.
2. Treat the water in the tank periodically as instructed on the pack.
3. Ensure all tank breathers are adequately guarded from insect intrusion.
4. Don’t be tempted to use your drinking water hose for other clean-down tasks.
5. Use an inline or tap filter.

FIXING THE TASTE
Sometimes, in spite of multiple rounds and methods of water treatment, you’re still left with an unpleasant plastic taste. You may have heard the old wives’ tale – a bottle of Cottee’s cordial (has to be raspberry!) or vanilla essence through the system will fix it.

And the truth is, it at the very least masks it with something more pleasant.

Image credit: Michael Haworth

TIPS FOR RV TANK LAYOFF
Every good trip must come to an end – and when it does don’t forget to prepare the tank and your RV for the extended layoff period. Otherwise the next time you go to use it, it might be downright feral! There are two schools of thought:

  • Have the tank completely full of trusted potable water with no air gaps.
  • Drain and dry it out.

Personally, I’m far more comfortable with draining and drying out the tank. If there’s no water, nothing will grow. Here’s how to go about it:

  1. Fill with trusted water and add a chemical water treatment. Hold for the recommended amount of time, then open all taps in the RV until no more water comes out.
  2. Let out the drain plugs. Park the rig on many angles (consider driving up on ramps) to get all of the water out of the tank. You want it dry and stored out of sunlight as any leftover water combined with sunlight is likely to promote algal growth.
  3. Once dry, ensure any breathers are sealed off and drain plugs are back in.
  4. Don’t forget to treat and dry peripherals such as hoses.
  5. For your next trip, follow the same steps for new tank prep to bring your tank and RV out of hibernation and flush the whole system through.

Remote outback Central Australia in summer is, to my mind, one of the last places on earth you would want to discover your entire water supply tastes like crap. I’ve been there, done that and have the badge to prove it. I’m lucky taste was the only issue, as water tanks can play host to all manner of disease-causing agents and running out of good water out there can be deadly.

With the benefit of hindsight, let’s rewind the story and establish a good potable water regime starting with choosing the right tank, preparing and filling it, treating water, and finally, preparing the tank and your RV for an extended lay-off period.

GUIDE Water Tank Hygiene

HOW TO STOP YOUR WATER
TASTING LIKE CRAP

What lurks in your water tank – and how to fix it

WORDS JULIETTE REMFREY, IMAGES VARIOUS

ZONE RV’s world-class innovation and passion has set a new benchmark for caravan manufacturing standards in Australia. Award winning technology, design and operating efficiencies puts ZONE RV at the leading edge. For more information visit our website for features, specifications, upgrades and pricing.

Off-Road Series

ADVERTISEMENT

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

Drinking water
For drinking water, look for a tank that complies with Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 4020:2018 Testing of products for use in contact with drinking water. Drinking water tanks are often (but not always) blue in colour. Drinking water should be kept in a separate tank, filled from a trusted source and delivered through a separate pump and filter to minimise chances of cross-contamination.

ABOVE Using a dedicated pump and filter will help stop your drinking water from getting contaminated

Images credit: Annabel Schulze

TYPES OF RV WATER TANKS
There are myriad different water tank set-ups for every RV application. RV water tanks are commonly made from polyethylene (PE) in varying degrees of hardness, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which can be hard or soft (in the case of a flexible bladder), aluminium and stainless steel. Weight and storage location are often the biggest determinant of the tank material chosen. There are specific standards you should look for when setting up a new potable water system in your RV.

ABOVE A fully metal tank // BELOW A poly tank with shroud

General potable water
For domestic supply (kitchen tap, shower, etc.), Australian Standard AS2070:1999 Plastics materials for food contact use (commonly referred to as ‘food grade’) is okay, but if you can go for AS/NZS 4020:2018 that’s even better as you’re likely to ingest this water in some form. Treat general potable water in the same manner as drinking water.

Tip: A space-saving innovation from Safetank allows you to keep general potable water and grey water in one aluminium outer tank using a double internal bladder system. safetank.com.au

BELOW Don't just use any old water tank – make sure it's certified to Aus/NZ standards!

Don’t forget everything else…
The tank is only one part of the overall potable water system in an RV. It is important to remember that every pipe, hose, fitting, pump and filter that comes into contact with water has an influence on the quality and taste, so use drinking water safe equipment wherever possible.

ABOVE Try different levels to empty your tank completely // BELOW Your plumbing is as important as the tank itself

Click here for
the true story

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

ADVERTISEMENT

PREPARING YOUR NEW TANK
While it might be considered a fresh start, a new tank will invariably contain residue and swarf from the manufacturing process and must be thoroughly prepared before first use. This was my first downfall as the bladder we used was not flushed properly before filling and heading into the red centre.

To prepare a new tank, you can use oxidising tablets or liquid, which are very safe and effective and leave minimal residue. The bicarb and vinegar or bleach flush methods that I detailed in my previous guide have been used since Adam was a pup. Make sure whichever method you choose is safe for the tank as per the manufacturer’s recommendations and ensure the solution completely dissolves, as powders can block small lines and fittings.

Open every tap in the RV until water flows, hold water in the system for as long as recommended, then flush through several times and your new tank is ready to use.

ABOVE Image credit: Juliette Remfrey

FILLING YOUR TANK
It’s important that your filling equipment is suitable for contact with drinking water. This was my second downfall as a regular garden hose was used. The result was that world-leading Melbourne quality tap water tasted strongly of plastic. You live and learn! Always:

1. Start with a trusted water source.

2. Use drinking water safe filling equipment.

3. When in use, full is best as it stops water sloshing around and limits growth of nasties. Follow your manufacturer’s recommendations for getting the most water into the tank (i.e. fill from the bottom, fill on an angle).

Make sure you use the right hose! 

“The tank is only one part of the overall potable water system in an RV”

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

ADVERTISEMENT

KEEPING DRINKING WATER SAFE
If you’re planning to be away for a while and refill on your trip, your water tank may host nasties from the visible such as larvae, algae and mould, to the largely invisible such as heavy metals, bacteria, viruses and protozoans. Lack of a bad taste is no guarantee the water won’t make you sick. Always:

1. Use a trusted water source or pre-treat the water.
2. Treat the water in the tank periodically as instructed on the pack.
3. Ensure all tank breathers are adequately guarded from insect intrusion.
4. Don’t be tempted to use your drinking water hose for other clean-down tasks.
5. Use an inline or tap filter.

TREATMENT OPTIONS
As I covered in my previous guide, there are several water treatment options. The most common methods are:

1. Chemical (the only method that can be used in tank)
2. Filtration (prior to drinking)
3. Boiling (prior to drinking)
4. UV (prior to drinking)

Chemical treatment in tank, combined with filtration, is most commonly used in RVs. Read about the pros and cons of each method in the guide.

While not the subject of this guide, don’t forget to stop your grey water from turning into black water. Read my guide on grey water.

ABOVE There are plenty of clever products on the market that you can use to filter your water

Images credit: Lock Your Hubs 4WDing

FIXING THE TASTE
Sometimes, in spite of multiple rounds and methods of water treatment, you’re still left with an unpleasant plastic taste. You may have heard the old wives’ tale – a bottle of Cottee’s cordial (has to be raspberry!) or vanilla essence through the system will fix it.

And the truth is, it at the very least masks it with something more pleasant.

Image credit: Michael Haworth

TIPS FOR RV TANK LAYOFF
Every good trip must come to an end – and when it does don’t forget to prepare the tank and your RV for the extended layoff period. Otherwise the next time you go to use it, it might be downright feral! There are two schools of thought:

  • Have the tank completely full of trusted potable water with no air gaps.
  • Drain and dry it out.

Personally, I’m far more comfortable with draining and drying out the tank. If there’s no water, nothing will grow. Here’s how to go about it:

  1. Fill with trusted water and add a chemical water treatment. Hold for the recommended amount of time, then open all taps in the RV until no more water comes out.
  2. Let out the drain plugs. Park the rig on many angles (consider driving up on ramps) to get all of the water out of the tank. You want it dry and stored out of sunlight as any leftover water combined with sunlight is likely to promote algal growth.
  3. Once dry, ensure any breathers are sealed off and drain plugs are back in.
  4. Don’t forget to treat and dry peripherals such as hoses.
  5. For your next trip, follow the same steps for new tank prep to bring your tank and RV out of hibernation and flush the whole system through.

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