Flexible water tank. How to ensure it's sterilised, while aboard.

[CaptainBob]

Flexible water tank. How to ensure it\'s sterilised, while aboard.

Noticed some "bits" in my water - some of which looked not dissimilar to some form of life or other!

I've been brushing my teeth and washing up with this water for over a month, with no ill effect, so I'm probably just being paranoid, but I'd like to be sure I'm not going to get ill from it.

Is there any way to sterilise my tank and pipes which won't make my water taste of vinegar or miltons for some time to come?

Thank you!

 

[Tranona]

Re: Flexible water tank. How to ensure it\'s sterilised, while aboard.

Flush it through with a strong Milton solution and then fresh water. Put a little Milton in each time to stop new bacteria forming. You will hardly notice the taste, but if it upsets your delicate tea taste, use bottled water for tea.

If you are living on board or using the water in the tanks frequently always empty tanks in rotation so that the water is changed regularly.

 

[gavin_lacey]

Re: Flexible water tank. How to ensure it\'s sterilised, while aboard.

If your tank has started to grow slime on the inside - rather like that which grows on hulls when the antifouling is old - then removing it and pressure washing the in side through the filler hole may be the only way. I have had this problem with flexible tanks but not rigids - may be coincidence.

 

[PeterGibbs]

Re: Flexible water tank. How to ensure it\'s sterilised, while aboard.

From personal experience of flexible plastic containers I think you are into a regime of continual management to keep the growth under control.

It helps only somewhat that no light gets to the tank - light helps the growth greatly, as you may appreciate.
A thorough clean to start with is recommended (Milton overnight soak - supermarkets do their own cheaper PL version which I use!)) - puritabs are good for onward management.

It is rare that the strandy green growth has any harmful effect, but best avoided! Otherwise you may have to convert to green tea in future!

PWG

 

[EdWingfield]

Re: Flexible water tank. How to ensure it\'s sterilised, while aboard.

What some people forget is that the chlorine added by the water company to deter microbes etc is 'lost to the air' as gas, when you fill. Ideally, upon filling you should dose the tank with the appropriate amount of water treatment product for your volume of tank.

 

[VicS]

Re: Flexible water tank. How to ensure it\'s sterilised, while aboard.

I support the Milton suggestion. Perhaps a good dose, and a soak followed by a good rinsing to clean a contaminated tank. Run some through the pipework as well as that is probably worse than the tank.

Thereafter periodically dose the water when you refill the tank according to the dose rate for sterilising drinking water that is given on the bottle (Cannot quote it off hand because the bottle is on the boat) Do not overdo it though or you will be left with chloriney tasting water. and lousy tasting tea!

I you use an alternative to Milton check that it has a similar composition.

 

[Dipper]

Re: Flexible water tank. How to ensure it\'s sterilised, while aboard.

Despite adding water sterilisers to my flexible water tank, I have had trouble over the past few years with the same slimy greenish coating inside which I found difficult/impossible to remove chemically or by removing the tank and shaking it vigorously with water inside.

This year, with the tank removed from the boat, I put a handful of sand inside plus some water and gently agitated it in all directions. A couple of rinses with clean water removed all the sand. It worked! It's sparkling clean inside. I wouldn't want to do this too often in case I abraded the inside too much. I don't know how thick the 'taste free ' layer is.

I should add that I don't cruise as often as I would like and hardly went out last year due to a broken rudder (that's another story).

 

[PeterGibbs]

Re: Flexible water tank. How to ensure it\'s sterilised, while aboard.

Q - I support the Milton suggestion. Perhaps a good dose, and a soak followed by a good rinsing to clean a contaminated tank. Run some through the pipework as well as that is probably worse than the tank.
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A heads-up on the Milton course - strandy green growth is pretty resistant, and a mechanical scrub may be needed to remove it entirely. Whilst Milton is good for low level invasion, it may not be enough!

PWG

 

[Plevier]

Re: Flexible water tank. How to ensure it\'s sterilised, while aboard.

Have you seen Elsil, made by Elsan (better known for chemical toilet fluids). http://www.elsan.co.uk/. It uses hydrogen peroxide as the steriliser instead of sodium hypochlorite which is what Milton is (and so is Domestos!) so no chlorine taste, and it also contains a silver compound for ongoing bactericidal effect. It is claimed to keep water in a tank drinkable for at least 6 months without redosing. Apparently airlines use it in bowsers and aircraft drinking water tanks. I've just got a pack, not tried it yet. It's about £6 for enough to treat 1000 litres.
Mike