Howard
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Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Drinkable water in the RV
OK, here is the $64,000 question.
I recently drove my RV down to Loreto where it will be until May and then it makes it way back to the States. I will be flying down several times to
utilize it b-4 it comes back to the U S of A. When I left the States I filled up the fresh water tank with water from California and have not put
water in it since it is been down to BCS. I have traveled many, many times to Baja and know the rules of thumb for drinking the tap water. (or not
drinking it in 99.9% of the cases) When I do fill it up with tap water in Mexico, drink the bottled water and use the tap water for doing the
dishes, showering, etc. , how do I clean the fresh water tanks when I get back to the States?
I have heard different stories how to do it so I can just fill it up in the states and drink from that water without fear of it mingleing it with the
Mexico contaminated water.
In summation, how do you clean and sanitze the fresh water tank and pipes after Mexico so I can feel comfortable drinking out of the tap, brush my
teeth, etc?
Will be at Augies for the 2nd 1/2 of the game tomorrow.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 11-5-2002
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Pour in a gallon of bleach, fill your tanks and then flush 'em. That oughta do it.
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Howard
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Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Hi Dave
So is what you are saying is, when I get back to potable water, empty the tank, put the bleach in the empty tank, fill it with water and then flush?
Or is it better to put the bleach in a full tank , flush repeat etc.?
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woody with a view
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i'd drain it. pour the bleach, fill with water and let it sit (maybe not needed) and run the water thru your pipes for awhile. drain, fill.
edit: spell chek
[Edited on 1-31-2009 by woody in ob]
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
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Location: Yes
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Put in bleach.
Fill up tank.
Drive around block three times.
Empty tank.
Refill.
MAGA
marooons Are Governing America
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mulegemichael
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one word of caution...DONT use an entire gallon of bleach!....or your water will taste like bleach for a long, long, long time....use at the most, a
quart...then follow above instructions...
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
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while the bleach is in the tank run plenty through your sink faucet (where you get your drinking water from), same when you put in the rinse cycle.
Ken
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dtbushpilot
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Don't forget the hot water heater.
When I'm in Mexico I always re-fill at the purified water stores. Most of them have some sort of hose to fill your tanks. I always drain my tank when
I get home but the last time I waited till winterizing to drain the hot water tank. It stunk (stank, stinked?).
Apparently using the "purified water" doesn't keep you from getting bacteria......dt
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
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We continuously fill our camper with Augua Peruificado.
You can pull right up in San Ignacio or Mulege.
We use 5 gsllon bottles and a siphon tube is we can't get to the water.
I drain the tank after each trip.
Before each new trip I add about 2-3 oz of bleach and refill the tank then run water into all of the pipes and the heater and let it sit for a few
hours.
Then redrain the tank and refill to 1/3 and reflush the pipes.
Then drain again and refill - or you will have chlorine taste.
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BajaNuts
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from another post-
From a Clorox document-
Ratio of Clorox Bleach to Water for Purification
2 drops of Regular Clorox Bleach per quart of water
8 drops of Regular Clorox Bleach per gallon of water
1/2 teaspoon Regular Clorox Bleach per five gallons of water
If water is cloudy, double the recommended dosages of Clorox Bleach.
Only use Regular Clorox Bleach (not Fresh Scent or Lemon Fresh). To insure that Clorox Bleach is at its full strength, rotate or replace your storage
bottle minimally every three months.
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the above ratios are for making water pure for drinking. I'd double it for flushing the system. If you do use bleach, put bleach in tank, fill with
water until it overflows out the spout, flush some through the faucets until you smell bleach, LET IT SIT FOR 30 MINUTES! then flush, rinse, flush.
Bleach needs a few minutes to work on the germs. Also, don't use a whole gallon and let it sit in the lines. Bleach is corrosive and can eat plastic
lines, fittings, gaskets, etc. For that reason you may want to consider RV sanitizer tablets.
RV supply stores sell water sanitizer tablets for exactly this purpose. They're not that expensive.
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Pescador
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Never put pure clorox in an empty tank. Add some water, like half, then add your chlorine dose, then fill up. Wait awhile and then drain. Diver has
the best idea which is to use purified water and then you do not have to do anything and life goes on like it should.
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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ClaroQue Si
Thanks everyone for your imput
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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