Disinfecting water tank

[mireland]

I never drink the water from my tank for fear of bugs lurking there. I usually have used Milton in the tank before a trip but despite this only dare use the water for boiling in the kettle. Now I have come across chlorine dioxide. It has apparently been used for a long time by the water industry and is highly effective at disinfecting water and at deodorising and improving the taste of stored water. I also read that it is used to keep water safe when stored in tanks over long periods for disaster relief. What does the forum think? Would you feel happy to drink the water from your tank if disinfected with this stuff?

 

[sailorman]

http://www.ybw.com/forums/search.php?searchid=5911791

 

[RichardS]

I never drink the water from my tank for fear of bugs lurking there. I usually have used Milton in the tank before a trip but despite this only dare use the water for boiling in the kettle. Now I have come across chlorine dioxide. It has apparently been used for a long time by the water industry and is highly effective at disinfecting water and at deodorising and improving the taste of stored water. I also read that it is used to keep water safe when stored in tanks over long periods for disaster relief. What does the forum think? Would you feel happy to drink the water from your tank if disinfected with this stuff?

Like chlorine itself, chlorine dioxide is a gas. I'm not sure how you would use it on a small scale as I guess that it would have to be supplied in a pressurised cylinder.

Richard

 

[vyv_cox]

I have been drinking the water from the tanks of each of my boats for the past 25 years. There are plenty of simple treatments available from chandlers and internet suppliers. Best of all is a Seagull filter, expensive but very effective.

 

[Boathook]

Rinse mine out at the beginning of the season using some miltons and then just fill up using either my hose (I know where its been) or the marina hose if someone else has just used it for filling tanks / washing boat. This has been ok for 30 plus years.

 

[VicS]

I've no idea where you would obtain chlorine dioxide or how you would use it.

Milton solution, used at the recommended rate for me

Other wise I'd suggest sodium dichloroisocyanurate tablets such as Milton tablets, Aqua tabs or one of the highstreet store equivalents of Milton tablets

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

I have been drinking the water from the tanks of each of my boats for the past 25 years. There are plenty of simple treatments available from chandlers and internet suppliers. Best of all is a Seagull filter, expensive but very effective.

Agreed. They are wonderful and IMHO worth the money.

 

[KellysEye]

We use a quarter cup of bleach for every 40 gallons, make sure the tank is full after putting the bleach in then run the taps for a few seconds each to clean the pipes. Leave it for 12 hours, max 24. Flush out once then fill.

 

[wazza]

I empty my tanks in the Winter when we lay up, then fill them when the spring comes rinsing through a few gallons as I do so, and touch wood everything has been ok..
Bearing in mind I've two children onboard, 9 & 11, so it can't just be my cast iron gut that is immune

 

[mireland]

I've no idea where you would obtain chlorine dioxide or how you would use it.

Milton solution, used at the recommended rate for me

Other wise I'd suggest sodium dichloroisocyanurate tablets such as Milton tablets, Aqua tabs or one of the highstreet store equivalents of Milton tablets

Chlorine Dioxide available from Force Four and incidentally is used in a commonly available mouthwash too! Can't remember the trade names but the chlorine dioxide bit is only mentioned in the small print as being the active ingredient!

 

[VicS]

Chlorine Dioxide available from Force Four and incidentally is used in a commonly available mouthwash too! Can't remember the trade names but the chlorine dioxide bit is only mentioned in the small print as being the active ingredient!

Aqua Sol ?

 

[Norman_E]

If your tanks are stainless steel, do not use chlorine products in them. Mine were regularly treated with Milton, or a bit of Chlorine bleach, when left. Last year I had to take out both tanks to have leaks welded. Chlorine and stainless steel are not compatible, the chlorine promotes corrosion, particularly at welds, and resulted in pinhole leaks in both my tanks. I now drain my water tanks whenever the boat is left.

 

[Nostrodamus]

Another one for the seagull. We use one of these and drink directly. No one can tell the difference between it and bottled water. Saves lugging all those bottles back from the shop.

Wander if I could fit a beer tank in the boat as well and get that on tap. Keel cooled of course.

 

[BAtoo]

Rigid tanks - empty at end of season, run the hose through before filling, no filters, no problems....(so far over 15yrs+ with rigid tanks).

Flexible tanks - keep full, use milton, filters, DONT leave empty over the winter - leave half full to stop the sides touching - & dose with milton before leaving.
Always tasted a bit odd but never had a "bug" from it.

 

[poter]

Filter

Yes agree with all that’s gone before - Milton - however I have fitted a small drinking water tap on the side of the sink & run the pressurised feed thru a filter but with some loss of pressure, all the other taps are direct from the accumulator pump set therefore no loss of pressure...simples

 

[Blue5]

If your tanks are stainless steel, do not use chlorine products in them. Mine were regularly treated with Milton, or a bit of Chlorine bleach, when left. Last year I had to take out both tanks to have leaks welded. Chlorine and stainless steel are not compatible, the chlorine promotes corrosion, particularly at welds, and resulted in pinhole leaks in both my tanks. I now drain my water tanks whenever the boat is left.

One for the chemists,

A lot of boats have stainless water tanks so what do you use to clean and dose them or do you just rely on a filter ?

 

[Frayed Knot]

We use a quarter cup of bleach for every 40 gallons, make sure the tank is full after putting the bleach in then run the taps for a few seconds each to clean the pipes. Leave it for 12 hours, max 24. Flush out once then fill.

This was exactly the advice given to me years ago by a friend who is a food-processing & water purification professional - Cost: almost nothing + perfect results.

Unless you like the taste of Retsina don't use pine-scented bleach

 

[KellysEye]

>Cost: almost nothing + perfect results.

Indeed. Also we have stainless steel tanks and the low level of bleach used has never caused a problem with welds.