Benefits of copper feed pipe for potable water supply?

[Lomax]

During my upcoming re-fit I plan to use PEX throughout for hot & cold tap water as well as the hydronics - the benefits of PEX over copper are too many to go into and I know this is the way to go. However. Copper does have one significant benefit, which may be particularly desirable in a boat water supply system: it is a very effective biocide, preventing the growth of bacteria and other nasties - including the dreaded legionella - while remaining non-toxic to humans. I've heard some horror stories about slimy ecosystems thriving in PEX tubing, particularly when exposed to daylight (algae & co). So I'm wondering if it might be an idea to use copper for the main feed pipe from the water tank going aft? The water tank is in the bow, and all the consumers (galley, bathroom, calorifier, etc) are some eight meters aft, so its a pretty long distance - perhaps enough to pick up a useful amount of copper ions en route? Any thoughts?

 

[Momac]

You are thinking too hard.
If you want to fit copper pipe - why not? But I doubt it will have the benefits you describe.
For avoidance of any risk of consuming bacteria avoid drinking tank water .
An annual flush of the tank and pipes with some sterilising solution is perhaps a wise precaution. I didnt do so this year and I am still alive.
In the summer use the water regularly .
Flush plenty of water through the hose pipe before using the hose for refilling the tank. Use your own hose - not some dirty hose that has been standing on a pontoon and dogs have used as a pee post .
.

 

[vyv_cox]

My fresh water tank has copper dip tubes as built by Sadler, but I know that later ones had plastic instead. Mine are a nuisance, they are corroding and drop green salts into the tank, which subsequently arrive in the pump strainer and need to be removed. One day I will replace them with plastic.

We have been drinking tank water for the past 30 years. We occasionally treat the water with Milton or silver salts and for the last five years or so have had a General Ecology filter. Neither of us seems to suffer from water-related ailments.

 

[Tranona]

Use food grade hose which is coloured either blue or red, use steriliser periodically and you will not have any problems. Much easier to run flexible pipework the length of the boat. Don't think I have ever seen copper used in a modern boat.

 

[Yngmar]

My boat (and every other Bavaria from that day) came with semi-rigid 15mm plastic piping in blue and red (for cold and hot water with different temperature ratings on the pipe) with quick-connect fittings. According to the markings, it was supplied by Whale and I cannot praise the stuff enough. After now 16 years, it's all still in mint condition, no leaks, cracks, or failed quick-connectors*, and they all still open and reseal easily when needed. I only wish I had a water pump to match the reliability of the piping

I did follow the common advice of disinfecting everything thoroughly upon acquiring the boat and add a maintenance dose whenever topping up the tank. No health problems to report (it seems to be mostly other people that get me sick - perhaps I should start to disinfect those more thoroughly).

* But don't just use any old quickfit connectors - the cheap rubbish ones a miserly landlord used in my flat cracked after three years and led to the fire department kicking my door down in the middle of the night because my water was running out of the electric outlets in the walls below.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

My boat was plumbed with copper, now all replaced with the food grade hoses. The copper had corroded significantly in hard to get at damp places. It had also burst a couple of times when it froze after being drained, low spots, which might not have happened with hose. It was very easy to run and clip flexible hose. I did wonder if the narrower ID would restrict water flow, but not at all, flowing very well. Only issue I had was a kink in a hose after the hot water started flowing but I found it, straightened the kink and all was well. Very easy to use, push in serrated fittings and jubilee style clamps means fast installation.

 

[Hydrozoan]

Any benefit of copper would be highly variable according to how long – or how short – the water had stood in the pipe. As others have said, proper cleaning and use of disinfecting tablets is the important thing IMO.

On plumbing material, I replaced flexible hose with Speedfit plastic pipe and fittings. The convenience was simple push-fit couplings to the calorifier, accumulator and (plain domestic) taps. The downside, compared to hose, was the need for some right angle couplings. But I have had no leaks from any coupling (I used Speedfit’s double O-ringed pipe inserts, rather than the plain type - the extra cost is small).

 

[Lon nan Gruagach]

Where I live, from spring to tap is all hdpe and white plastic (pex?). Pipes are buried a few cm underground. No deathly bugs for over 40 years. Only difference between house and a boat is that the house uses lots more water.
If you want real protection a UV filter is a good way to go. Place it immediately before any drinking water tap and turn it on 20 mins before use.

 

[Lomax]

Thanks everyone - I shall not bother with any copper pipes then; PEX throughout it is.

 

[Tammany]

My boat (and every other Bavaria from that day) came with semi-rigid 15mm plastic piping in blue and red (for cold and hot water with different temperature ratings on the pipe) with quick-connect fittings. According to the markings, it was supplied by Whale and I cannot praise the stuff enough. After now 16 years, it's all still in mint condition, no leaks, cracks, or failed quick-connectors*, and they all still open and reseal easily when needed. I only wish I had a water pump to match the reliability of the piping

I did follow the common advice of disinfecting everything thoroughly upon acquiring the boat and add a maintenance dose whenever topping up the tank. No health problems to report (it seems to be mostly other people that get me sick - perhaps I should start to disinfect those more thoroughly).

* But don't just use any old quickfit connectors - the cheap rubbish ones a miserly landlord used in my flat cracked after three years and led to the fire department kicking my door down in the middle of the night because my water was running out of the electric outlets in the walls below.

What and how often do you dose the tank with? What sort of filter are you using. Fitting a new water system is on my to do list. Got the tap & pump and fitting a plastimo flexible tank. Yet to choose a filter as yet though. Have to admit when we use the caravan we only use bottled water for drinking and leave the caravan system for cleaning & sanitation. This is my first boat that has a plumbing system so full of questions at the moment.

 

[Yngmar]

What and how often do you dose the tank with? What sort of filter are you using. Fitting a new water system is on my to do list. Got the tap & pump and fitting a plastimo flexible tank. Yet to choose a filter as yet though. Have to admit when we use the caravan we only use bottled water for drinking and leave the caravan system for cleaning & sanitation. This is my first boat that has a plumbing system so full of questions at the moment.

See this thread. No filter - I just avoid making tea for an hour or two after filling the tank, by then the stuff has evaporated. No problem with a pump thermos fitted in the galley (a far more useful addition than a water filter if you ask me).

 

[Lomax]

I definitely intend to fit some kind of filter on the galley tap, but only there and mainly to remove chlorine - which I assume I will need to add in significant quantities in my 750l tank(!). This is for a liveaboard though.