Do you drink the water from your tank?

[Uricanejack]

Good point!

Reminds me of being in a bulk carrier which was crossing the Great Lakes. The evaporator was out of action for some reason and we were getting short of fresh water, so we had to top up the tanks with lake water.

The pilot on one of the lakes seemed to be either very thirsty or a health freak because he kept drinking glasses of water from the mini-kitchen tap on the bridge. The Old Man, a mischievous Scot, asked him, as a matter of interest, whether the lake water was OK to drink. "Hell no" replied the pilot "nobody in their right mind would drink that ****! It's full of f-----g chemicals.".

The Old Man said nothing. I had a coughing fit and had to go out on the bridge wing.

Lake Superior water was perfectly safe to drink unfiltered pumped straight to the tanks, and was recommended by the pilot. the Lakers often top when out on the big lake.
Lake Erie, lake on Ontario not so much, I doubt if it would be a recommended practice on Lake Michigan, It wasn't even on Huron when I was there a few decades ago.
The lakes are cleaning up, environmental rules and the huge decline of industry in the NE. They are improving all the time. I'm not sure but I think Toronto gets it water from the lake though it goes through a treatment plant,

As far as I know the only major municipality in North America pumping its untreated effluent out into the world is Victoria BC. yet its no longer ok l to pump your boats head into the harbour.

 

[Daydream believer]

Yup, I drink the water from my tanks. Tastes fine, hasn't killed me yet. Puriclean every few years and a Whale activated carbon filter between the foot pump and the galley tap. Maybe I'd be less confident if i was filling up with French tap water ...

Once upon a time I may have agreed re French water -- But now????
probably better than UK stuff

 

[SimonP85]

So to add to the science here, are there test kits available so we can check the quality of what's coming out our tanks and see if we should be happy to drink it?

 

[prv]

So to add to the science here, are there test kits available so we can check the quality of what's coming out our tanks and see if we should be happy to drink it?

If it looks, smells, and tastes alright then I'll drink it. That's what smell and taste evolved for.

Pete

 

[cliveshelton]

That would be useful but sadly there's nothing reliable for determining the numbers of live bugs or other chemical contaminants which can be used without a lab. Your local PA lab might offer something but it would cost. Careful use and maintenance is the best way to protect against problems which thankfully are not commonly reported. After all many office buildings have similar issues but are not often the cause of known health scares.

 

[Uricanejack]

So to add to the science here, are there test kits available so we can check the quality of what's coming out our tanks and see if we should be happy to drink it?

I've never seen a DIY kit. I test my well about once a year. Only really have to for purchase. but I like peace of mind. there are water testing labs which will provide you with a sterile cup. you have to return within 24hr of taking the sample. you will get a full report back. Not expensive.
I don't have a cistern up and running but if I did I would get tested the same way.
I had to get mine done twice when I built my house. It had bugs until I dosed it with bleach then it passed and has stayed good ever since.

 

[Tim Good]

I plan to live to 100, so a steady influx of bacteria is essential to keep my anti-bodies on their toes.

A very wise comment right there! I think we need a T shirt with it on!

 

[mjcoon]

If it looks, smells, and tastes alright then I'll drink it. That's what smell and taste evolved for.

Pete

Conversely, I bet the bacteria are concentrating on not being too smelly so they can slip under our radar and cause havoc!

Mike.

 

[Davegriff]

If it looks, smells, and tastes alright then I'll drink it. That's what smell and taste evolved for.

Pete

Drank only water from a well until I was 6 years old, and can still remember the wonderful taste.

 

[Poignard]

Lake Superior water was perfectly safe to drink unfiltered pumped straight to the tanks, and was recommended by the pilot. the Lakers often top when out on the big lake.
Lake Erie, lake on Ontario not so much, I doubt if it would be a recommended practice on Lake Michigan, It wasn't even on Huron when I was there a few decades ago.
The lakes are cleaning up, environmental rules and the huge decline of industry in the NE. They are improving all the time. I'm not sure but I think Toronto gets it water from the lake though it goes through a treatment plant,

As far as I know the only major municipality in North America pumping its untreated effluent out into the world is Victoria BC. yet its no longer ok l to pump your boats head into the harbour.

I'm dare say you're right but it's what the pilot thought that counted, and I suppose he would have been in a good position to know.

It was a very long time ago and, as you say, things are better now, although a glance at the internet shows that there is still some way to go.

http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/atlas/glat-ch4.html

 

[geem]

Drank only water from a well until I was 6 years old, and can still remember the wonderful taste.

We have a spring water supply at our house. It is our only water supply. I filter it to 5 micron to take the silt out and that's it. Taste great and we are so posh we bath in spring water!! You build up an immunity to bugs

 

[TiggerToo]

By only drinking very bacteria free (bottled) water .....

you'd be surprised to see how wrong this is: ever tried inoculating bacterial growth media with bottled water? We do it in our practicals... it is an eye opener. The stuff that comes out of the tap is nearly sterile, in comparison (probably due to the beneficial effects of chlorination).

EDIT: Sorry Clive, I have only now red your post: spot on!

 

[TiggerToo]

When in Rome......

how appropriate: as anyone who has lived/ visited Rome will know, it has probably some of the best tasting water in the world (at least the world I have visited). The fresh water squirting out out the the uncountable street fountains in second to none... then there are all those "specialist" sources (some of them still open to the public and free) where you can go and collect your "naturally sparkling" waters. Or for the real aficionados, the "bitter waters" of Aqua Marcia... etc.

Rome is truly somewhere to go to for a water lover... pity that sailing up the Tiber is rather less salubrious!

 

[TiggerToo]

A very wise comment right there! I think we need a T shirt with it on!

as long as they are not Vibrio cholerae...

 

[JumbleDuck]

Only mixed with rum

On my last boat I had a rule that fresh water could only be drunk when mixed with Rose's Lime Cordial. I claimed this was to prevent scurvy, but actually it was to cut down on fresh water use, as Rose's Lime Cordial is fairly nasty stuff.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

On my last boat I had a rule that fresh water could only be drunk when mixed with Rose's Lime Cordial. I claimed this was to prevent scurvy, but actually it was to cut down on fresh water use, as Rose's Lime Cordial is fairly nasty stuff.

Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink
I'll raise a glass of cordial, No! I've had enough I think.

 

[rotrax]

We drink tank water after it has been through our seagull filter.

Tea and coffee-water directly from the tank, but obviously boiled.

We have a large tank-400 litres-and I slosh a bit of Milton in it every fill.

5 years-all OK, so we will keep doing the same.

 

[Boathook]

Drink the water out of my S/S tanks and no known problems in 30 plus years. I try and leave the tanks empty over the winter, partially fill and drain then totally fill all with tap water at the start of the season.

 

[jbweston]

Yep, always drink water out of the tanks. On this and previous boat, and any other boat I've been on as far as I can recall. That is assuming the water in the tanks came from a clean source - if it's dodgy water going in then I wouldn't drink it when it came out.

 

[Sailfree]

Rome is truly somewhere to go to for a water lover!

It certainly is. For my 65th my wife treated me to a long weekend at IIRC La Cavelarie hotel, Rome, which had a michelin three star restaurant. We ate on my birthday in the restaurant veranda overlooking the vatican. Excellent meal and memories but Iwill never forget the "water" list with bottles of water up to IIRC €300 each!!