drinking water filters

rondapom

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I installed a couple of flexible drinking water tanks in our boat and haven't been able to drink the water out of them ever since - I filtted a small carbon in-line filter but the water still tastes poisonous - hard to describe but something like a heavy plastic chemical taste. All of the plumbing, including the taps, was replaced along with the tanks with food quality kit. Does anyone have experience of a brand of water filter that can deliver flavour-free water from a flexible tank?

Thanks

Ron

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greatspirit

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These tanks invariably end up contaminated in some way. I take fresh drinking water on the the boat in 2-gal containers and only use the boat tank water for non-potable purposes.
There are good filters that work but often need a pressurised system. How do the long-distance cruisers out there manage?

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jkim1

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IF they are Plastimo ones you should have filled them with a 5% in 5% acetic acid solution before using them. I have two Plastimo tanks and have never had any problems with them. Apart from that they promised me a catalog for filling in a survey which they never sent and the stupid shackle which they supply with the roller reefing kit which acts as a spanner to undo the swivel. Perhaps you could try to drain them and then try the acetic acid and then flush it all out of course.
There has been a lot of discussion on this forum about tanks and filters but generally it came down to aquatabs. As filters are very expensive and tend to breed bacteria if they are old or unchanged. as yet no one makes a uv steriliser for boats (as far as I know) at a reasonable cost. Whale filters cost about £18 which would buy some 100 litres of supermarket drinking water. thats a lot of water to drink. With luck a water chemist will reply and tell us all the best way to go.

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tillergirl

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I must confess to have just tested the Nature Pure Water Purifier for Sailing Today - see this month's issue. Does what it says on the box and I got a nasty bit of water from somewhere and the filter dealt with it fine. That is with stainless tanks not flexible but I am genuinely impressed with the kit. The filter is more sophisticated than a charcoal one. Not cheap £170 but American and very well made - filters are £42 per year. Was and still is giving me bottled water quality taste. Made by General Ecology who have a European base in Crawley. 01293-400644.

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AndrewB

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>>How do the long-distance cruisers out there manage?<<

Flexible water tanks are not popular with liveaboards, for a number of reasons, though one plus I suppose is that they can be easily replaced. With fixed tanks, maintenance is a lot easier, provided you arrange a decent inspection hatch.

Increasing numbers of long-distance cruisers - perhaps now the majority - carry a watermaker, and so avoid storing water for long. Even then though a small fixed tank is still essential.

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rondapom

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Thanks for all of the advice. We put a solution of vinegar through the tanks when they were first installed. My chandler suggested that the hose pipe which was used to fill the tanks was to blame, but changed this last season to clear pipe and it didn't make any difference. We are off on a long trip so need to be able to use the tanks. I've ordered a Seagull IV online and will report back (v. pleased with service so far - ordered the wrong one (needed a pressurised system which I haven't got) and have had an email reply with a recommended change and the suggestion that if this doesn't do it then I can send it back and try another - great service for an online business).

Ron

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NigeCh

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The trouble with watermakers is ....

that they aren't designed for occasional use. You have to use them all the time otherwise the ceramic membrane fails ..... and pickling the membrane for occasional use is a longwinded task.

And as they are power hungry you need a generator to drive them !!!!!!!

And when you drink the water made by a watermaker you begin to go round the loop again and start looking for a filter to make the watermaker water taste an awful lot better .... [Pur/Spectra etc water from seawater is just about drinkable --- IMO, the best watermaker if you have a boltroped main is rainwater caught from the main [providing you remember to let the salt wash out before you catch it]]


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AndrewB

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Re: The trouble with watermakers is ....

True, effectively you are trading water for fuel. (I have some scepticism about those who claim to generate all their water needs from the output of a solar panel, not to mention concern about over-reliance on inter-dependent electrical systems). Of course, this equation has existed before. If you get stuck in a calm, you either need more fuel to get out of it or more water to stay put.

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mica

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Although the water in our Stainless Steel tank is generally O.K. I run it through a Brita Filta Jug for drinking and cooking purposes.

MICA

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claymore

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The Earls Court boat show had a stand selling inline filters for around £140 - I think it was some water company from the midlands. They will be around 12 ins tall and maybe 4ins diameter. Your profile doesnt say where you live so this may not be of much use.
The water tastes good but then I use spring water mainly and have stainless tanks. Maybe you just need to flush the tanks through with fresh water a few times to get rid of the plastic taste?

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Claymore<font color=purple>
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philip_stevens

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I fitted one of these - Water Gem Under Sink Filter System (PWAC0001) Price (inc VAT): £29.97 - earlier this year, and I can confirm that it did take all foul taste and smell out of the FW tank water. We have 100 gallons of water in two tanks, and do not carry any other water in bottles for drinking. All the drinking water comes out of the little tap that came with the kit.

Have a look at http://makeashorterlink.com/?G2E933149

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rondapom

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fitted a seagull IV a few months ago - staggeringly good performance: I give guests a taste of the unfiltered water from the tap at the sink in the heads, then from the galley sink, and they too are amazed.
 
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