Scum in the drinking water

[oldfatgit]

I have just been investigating and checking my fresh/drinking water system. Notwithstanding the fact that nobody who has drunk the water has had any ill effects, I find rather a lot of black/brown scum lining most of the pipes, with filters (just the in-line mesh type) collecting it and, indeed, unfiltered water containing quite a bit in suspension.

I have searched the site and found that use of Milton baby bottle cleaner or similar is effective in providing a freshwater system which is sweet once it is thoroughly flushed out, however, does it remove the scum? If not is there something that does? If not is the only option to manually clean the tanks and either remove and clean pipes or replace with new?

Root cause of the problem is probably that most of the pipes are made of the transparent type of garden hose with the criss-cross nylon string and so I am minded to replace it all with good quality opaque, however, that will not be for a while and so is Milton etc an effective interim solution?

 

[JohnTH]

We use Domestos in our water tanks, the cheaper the better and with no perfume is best. Put plenty in, let it sit for as long as you can then just flush it out.

Milton is just expensive chlorine (I think) but the chemists and or other experts will, I am sure, clear up any confusion !

Ships clean their water tanks with chlorine and I do all the wine and beer making kit too.

There are plastic pipes available from plumbers that have many advantages over garden hose. These advantages include the wide range of (push fit ?) cheap connectors available, they do not sag with hot water either.

73s de
Johnth

 

[VicS]

Domestic bleaches such as Domestos may contain thickeners, surfactants and other ingredients that one might not wish to consume. They may also contain impurities such as sodium chlorate that one would equally well be better off not consuming.

Milton contains only sodium hypochlorite (the source of the chlorine) and sodium chloride. The hypochlorite concentration is somewhat less than it is in domestic bleaches.

Potassium metabisulphite, which is a source of sulphur dioxide, is the common sterilising agent for home wine-making. It is the "active ingredient" of Campden tablets.

If you use a domestic bleach choose one of the non thickened and usually cheaper ones. Rinse thoroughly afterwards.

Milton only requires rinsing sufficiently to reduce the residual chlorine concentration to a taste free level. It can be used on a routine basis to treat drinking water. The recommended dose rates are on the bottle and on the website.

SO2 is perhaps less effective as a sterilising agent than chlorine.

The hypochlorite solutions also have high pH which might assist with cleaning.

For a really mucky system perhaps use one of the thin domestic bleaches and rinse thoroughly. For a lightly contaminated system Milton but several times the concentration recommended for treating drinking water. Quick rinse out then probably all that is needed.

To keep the system sweet dose occassionally with Milton using the dose rate on the bottle or website.

Hoses are the usual trouble I think so they must get at least the same treatment as the tank.

 

[oldfatgit]

Thank you both. I will clean out the slime with thin domestic bleach and copious flushing through. Subsequent maintenance with Milton.

 

[EdWingfield]

Scum is not good.

I'd endorse Vics advice.

If you want confirmation of success contact your Local Authority by phone, ask for the Environmental Health dept. They'll take a sample to the lab (hopefully now for free-but not for long)

 

[oldfatgit]

Followed VicS's advice. Used Morrisons own brand bleach mixed at about 1 to 100 for 48 hours. Flushed through several times afterwards when it was apparent that the scum, collected in pump protection filters, had been bleached. Pressure washed main tank removing washings with a vax. Also replaced most of the clear plastic hose with opaque new as the bleach had not removed the scum. Water now smells fine and no scum in the water save for the hot system which is much improved and getting better with use. Whatever scum is left is hopefully not just bleached but also dead. I will take the 100 ltr pillow type reserve tank out and give it a good cleaning through the larger filler hole as I think that is where the remaining dead scum is coming from. Also intend to replace clear filler pipes and breather pipes with opaque in due course. So thank you all for your advice and I look forward to a scum free system from now on.

 

[JohnTH]

Good to hear that your water is as scum free and clean as mine now.

My filler pipe is Marly drain pipe, the type used to drain the sink, bath etc.

It is cheap, there are plenty of fittings available and it is rigid so requires less (than hose pipe) fixing. It is possible to cement the parts together once the correct fit has been obtained. Oh, and there is some flex to aid alignment. Use new pipe rather than reclaimed !

Plastic pipe (the sort used to replace copper in the building trade) is good too. Plenty of push fit fittings, it is better with hot water than hose. It can be used on the lift side of a pump as the wall is rigid.

73s de
Johnth