Water tank

[ryanbermudablu]

Hi all,

I have a new to me express. I will start cruising for weekend and week-long trips. No water maker, but a 100gallon tank. I’ll bring drinking/cooking water, but want to use the fresh water tank for dishes, showers etc. what is the best practice to both initially sanitize the tank and to keep it potable for the season (in the northeast)

 

[Flatswing]

Get Peggy Hall’s book or google her advice -oft repeated on various forums especially Cruisers Forum. Once tank sanitized - your water will be fine for all your needs including drinking.

 

[socalrider]

Practical sailor also has a good series on getting good safe water from tanks. You shouldn't have to bring extra water just for drinking/cooking.

Basically you just shock treat a full tank of water with some bleach, pump it all out, then re-fill (get the full process & ratios online). I also use a carbon filter for drinking/cooking water: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IYT2E12/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Giggitoni]

Our tanks are made from aluminum. I collected a sample and submitted it to a certified laboratory. I had the lab test for “drinking water” standards and metals. As you’d expect the water contained rather high concentration of aluminum; above the recommended drinking water standards in the USA. We decided not to drink from our tanks but use the water for cooking, showers, etc. I never determined if a filtering method was suitable for metals.

 

[rwidman]

Get Peggy Hall’s book or google her advice -oft repeated on various forums especially Cruisers Forum. Once tank sanitized - your water will be fine for all your needs including drinking.

I agree. That book is something every boater should own.

https://www.amazon.com/New-Get-Rid-...=1&keywords=peggie+hall&qid=1619536890&sr=8-1