Sanitising water tanks

dundreamin · Veteran Member

Sanitising water tanks

Possum3 · Guru

Don't let bleach stand in lines - sanitise with chlorine bleach then empty and rinse - lime cordial will remove bleach taste. Most Cities sanitise with chlorine.

-- Edited by Possum3 on Sunday 26th of September 2021 04:48:28 PM

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

I manage our water on the basis that what is important is the quality of water that comes out of the tap.
The quality of the water in the tank is of minor importance.
We add chlorine to all water we fill the tanks with. Chlorine will provide the best assurance that the water is biologically safe. We have done this for 16 years and there has been no detrimental effect on any "rubber seal" any where. 99.9% of all town water is treated with chlorine.
We then filter our water after the pump and just before it comes out of the taps using a twin 10" cartridge filter. The first cartridge is a 10um sediment filter. The second cartridge is a 0.5um carbon block filter with silver. The carbon block filter removes most pathogens and also removes any remaining chlorine (which breaks down and disappears quite quickly anyhow and needs to be replenished regularly).
Cheers,
Peter

watsea · Guru

Heed Possum's and Peter's advice, they are correct.
You could try this if you wanted. www.google.com.au/search%3A1632638898029&source=hp&ei=sRdQYbP0O-ujqtsP7_-gyAQ&oq=camec+ta&gs_lcp=ChFtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1ocBABGAAyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDILCC4QgAQQxwEQrwEyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDoHCCMQ6gIQJzoECCMQJzoRCC4QgAQQsQMQgwEQxwEQ0QM6CAgAEIAEELEDOgsIABCABBCxAxCDAToOCC4QgAQQsQMQxwEQowI6CAguELEDEIMBOg4ILhCABBCxAxDHARDRAzoLCC4QgAQQsQMQgwE6DggAEIAEELEDEIMBEMkDOgUIABCSAzoICC4QgAQQsQNQy0ZY7X5g-pkBaAJwAHgAgAHlAYgByg6SAQUwLjEuOJgBAKABAbABDw&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-hp

Flush the tank and lines afterwards, too.

-- Edited by watsea on Sunday 26th of September 2021 05:01:52 PM

Mike Harding · Guru

Milton (baby section of the supermarket) use at 1 part to 2000 to purify water or, maybe, 2 or 3 parts to 2000 for a tank clean *do not* use more.

Keep in mind that none of the normal purifying techniques will remove dissolved chemicals from water so use caution when choosing your water source.

dundreamin · Veteran Member

Hi Mike
Yes I think I remember hearing about Milton but had no idea of the proportions. Thanks for the reminder. smile

dundreamin · Veteran Member

Hi Watsea
I did do a little research into the options from caravan stores etc but thought they were a bit expensive & was looking for a cheaper option.
Might give it a try though. Thanks. smile

dundreamin · Veteran Member

Hi Peter & Margaret

I forgot to mention that I have no filters inside my current MH & can't see anywhere they could be installed with easy access. I had them in my old one & ripped them out because they were such a pain in the ***. Had to get down on my hands & knees in the very back dark corner of a cupboard to access them as well as the time I went away & the water coming out of the taps was absolutely putrid. I hadn't been away recently but the filters were still in date, just didn't last as long as they should have.
So now I just use an inline filter before filling the tank & carry a separate water container for drinking, cooking & the dog which I refill with good water where I can or again use the inline filter. As I practically live on rainwater when at home, I didn't actually think about town water containing chlorine which I guess is the same as household bleach. Perhaps the time I used the bleach the volume given to me was too strong. Thanks so much for your response.

oldbloke · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
Milton (baby section of the supermarket) use at 1 part to 2000 to purify water or, maybe, 2 or 3 parts to 2000 for a tank clean *do not* use more.
Keep in mind that none of the normal purifying techniques will remove dissolved chemicals from water so use caution when choosing your water source.

Yep, they provide chlorine. Try white King. Lol. Same stuff.

dundreamin · Veteran Member

Hi Possum 3
Thanks for the tip about the lime cordial. smile
I've recently read somewhere about lime cordial but from memory (which is very bad) I thought it said you could use a bottle of lime cordial as a sanitiser.

dundreamin · Veteran Member

Thanks to all for your very quick responses. Much appreciated

oldbloke · Guru

Plenty of info in attached. NT gov

dundreamin · Veteran Member

Thank you for the link, will take a look.

Mike Harding · Guru

oldbloke wrote:
Mike Harding wrote:
Milton (baby section of the supermarket) use at 1 part to 2000 to purify water or, maybe, 2 or 3 parts to 2000 for a tank clean *do not* use more.
Yep, they provide chlorine. Try white King. Lol. Same stuff.

The cheap or own brand bleaches are usually fine for this application (check for additives) but are almost always four times as strong as Milton so if you use them then only add them at a ratio of 1:8000 or dilute the bleach first at 4:1 with water (4 water, 1 bleach). If you are not using a lot then it's easier to just buy Milton.

Milton has been used for washing babies feeding bottles and teats for over 100 years - it's safe and it works.

watsea · Guru

Usually some of the caravan fittings and pipework is tolerant to short term contact of the higher Chlorine concentrations. But it is then necessary to flush them out and introduce the water with the typical drinking water Chlorine concentration.

Long term affect of excessive high Chlorine concentration can cause damage. One year, I covered my swimming pool with a floating pool cover during winter. The Chlorine concentration became very high, even with low run times of the salt water chlorinator. Ok, I thought, until after removing the pool cover, I noticed the autopool cleaner has its poly/rubber parts weakened and damaged.

Also, my previous work had been involved with drinking water supply. A diver had been engaged to enter a reservoir. At the end of a particular day's task, he accidentally dropped his mask into a deep well structure of the reservoir. It was decided to leave the mask overnight until the next day when he was to do further work. In hind sight, it seemed the hypochlorite in the reservoir did not mix as well as thought and there was a higher concentration of the hypo, in the deep well structure. The diver retrieved his mask the next day, but its rubber was all wizened, like it was perished from being in the high concentration overnight.

-- Edited by watsea on Monday 27th of September 2021 04:02:02 PM

dundreamin · Veteran Member

Thanks for that watsea.

dundreamin · Veteran Member

Thanks for that Mike.
My preference was for the Milton's as you said it's been used for decades for baby's bottles etc so must be pretty safe as well as effective.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Just keep it full . Replace water or cycle water often . If left unused I just add a little pool liquid chlorine . Drive around the bloke then empty and replace with fresh water !! I think we worry too much about water . But I find if you top it up every month or so the fresh water keeps water safe . Keep in mind chlorine dissipates over time . I grew up out in country with storage water tanks ! Nothing Wong wuth mi !!

dundreamin · Veteran Member

I'm with you there Aus-Kiwi - too much worry about water. I can remember having a drink straight out of my horse's water trough when I was a kid & that didn't have any after effects. I also raised a baby for 2yrs on just tank water & I don't remember having any filters anywhere on the system & didn't put anything in the tanks either that I can recall.

I was only looking into it because everyone else seems to do it so I thought maybe I should. Glad there's someone else out there that thinks the same as me. I think the best thing is also if it tastes or smells funny, don't use it. I only use the water in my tank for dishes & showers anyway and for everything else I carry a 10L container of fresh water for cooking & drinking which I refill at town water taps.

Mike Harding · Guru

My long dead Irish grandfather use to say:

"You'll eat a peck of dirt afore you die".

Possum3 · Guru

dundreamin wrote:
I can remember having a drink straight out of my horse's water trough when I was a kid & that didn't have any after effects.

I well remember getting down off the horse at a dam and gently sweeping the sheep pills with the back of my hand before putting my face in to have a drink. We still use tank water with half a cup of kerosine floating on top to stop mosquito larvae.

oldbloke · Guru

dundreamin wrote:
Thanks for that Mike.
My preference was for the Milton's as you said it's been used for decades for baby's bottles etc so must be pretty safe as well as effective.

But how many pill to 90 ltr tank?. Instructions suggest nearly 20.

oldbloke · Guru

White King is less than 5%%. Assume 4%. Looking at doc I up loaded earlier.

Reading the table on pg 2
100 litres or water between 2.5ml and 5ml is required.
A teaspoon holds between 4 and 5 ML of water.

Mike Harding · Guru

I did a lot of research on purifying water a few years ago and discovered the WHO recommends sodium hypochlorite at 1% (eg. Milton) in a ratio of 1 part SH to 2000 parts water or 0.5ml per litre or 50ml per 100L.

Cheap bleaches are usually 4% so the above numbers need to be adjusted accordingly. Also ensure the bleach contains *only* sodium hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide, expensive bleaches (eg. Domestos) contain all sorts of other stuff.

I use a lot of river and dam water in the bush for everything except drinking/cooking and purify it with the above - so far... so good :)

dundreamin · Veteran Member

Possum 3 - smile smile smile We didn't run around everywhere with water bottles back in those days. I even remember a water bag on the front of dad's ute.

-- Edited by dundreamin on Monday 4th of October 2021 07:50:05 AM

dundreamin · Veteran Member

Thanks all for all the advice/tips.
Much appreciated.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Hey ( Possum )we all know you get down from a duck ! lol

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
I did a lot of research on purifying water a few years ago and discovered the WHO recommends sodium hypochlorite at 1% (eg. Milton) in a ratio of 1 part SH to 2000 parts water or 0.5ml per litre or 50ml per 100L.
Cheap bleaches are usually 4% so the above numbers need to be adjusted accordingly. Also ensure the bleach contains *only* sodium hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide, expensive bleaches (eg. Domestos) contain all sorts of other stuff.
I use a lot of river and dam water in the bush for everything except drinking/cooking and purify it with the above - so far... so good :)

Ditto.

Some cheap bleaches are 6% free chlorine in sodium hypochlorite. Liquid swimming pool chlorine (that we use) is cheaper and typically 12%.

Cheers,

Peter

oldbloke · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
I did a lot of research on purifying water a few years ago and discovered the WHO recommends sodium hypochlorite at 1% (eg. Milton) in a ratio of 1 part SH to 2000 parts water or 0.5ml per litre or 50ml per 100L.
Cheap bleaches are usually 4% so the above numbers need to be adjusted accordingly. Also ensure the bleach contains *only* sodium hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide, expensive bleaches (eg. Domestos) contain all sorts of other stuff.
I use a lot of river and dam water in the bush for everything except drinking/cooking and purify it with the above - so far... so good :)

So Mike, how many tablets per 100 ltr

Mike Harding · Guru

oldbloke wrote:
So Mike, how many tablets per 100 ltr

What are these "tablets" of which you speak white man?

Just buy Milton in 1L containers and use as is or buy cheap bleach and water it down by 4 or so?