Last time we talked about using "city water" in a campground or RV park. When you're away from city water, you've suddenly become your own water utility company. How can you make sure your water is pure and safe?
First, ensure your water storage system is clean. It's a multi-step process, but not difficult. First, disconnect your RV from city water. Next, locate the drain valve for your rig's fresh water tank. It's often a small plastic valve, connected to the fresh water tank by a plastic tube or line. Usually you'll find it mounted on the siding outside the rig; in some rigs it could be in a basement storage area. Once located, open the valve, completely drain the tank, then close the valve.
Next, you'll mix up a batch of household bleach and water. SAFETY DISCLAIMER: Just like for hand tools, whenever working with chemicals, wear appropriate protective gear including goggles. Bleach also chews up clothes, so you may want to change into stuff you don't mind it looking as if it's been tie-dyed. In a clean bucket, place one gallon of water. To this add unscented household bleach in this proportion: One-quarter cup bleach for every 15 gallons of fresh water tank capacity. Now pour this solution via a clean funnel into your RV fresh water tank.
Next, top off the tank with fresh water. It's best to agitate the solution, so hitch up the rig and drive around a few blocks, generously sloshing the water in the tank. Next, turn on the rig's fresh water pump. Open and run each water fixture in the RV, from toilet to shower, sink to outside ("cowboy") shower. Run them until you smell the bleach solution, then shut them off. Allow the solution to stand in the water lines and tank for several hours, preferably overnight. Be sure to turn off the RV water pump.
Next, drain the fresh water tank, then close the drain valve. You'll now add to the tank apple cider vinegar, in the amount of 1 quart for each 5 gallons of tank capacity. Top off the tank with fresh water, and stir (don't shake!). OK, we mean, agitate the solution again by the old "once around the block," trick. Now run the fixtures again, this time sniffing for vinegar. Allow to stand for a few hours, then drain the tank, and refill with fresh water. Be sure to run all the fixtures clear of the cider solution.
evil clown courtesy spider.dog on flickr
With your tanks pure, clean, and sweetened up, be sure to keep them that way. This means always keeping the cap on the fresh water inlet port. We once found an army of ants that decided our unguarded fresh water tank was a perfect swimming hole. If that wasn't a mess, we don't know what is.
When filling your fresh tank, never trust anyone's hose, other than your own. Sometimes well-meaning folk will leave a fresh water hose hooked up to the "potable" water tap near the dump station. However, the last clown through may have decided to use that hose to clean out his sewer hose. Yech! As we suggested in part 1 of this diatribe, spray the faucet connection with sanitizer before hooking up your fresh water hose.
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