Sanitize your RV fresh water tank before it's too late

SUREflo is a name RVers are familiar with because they make water pumps. I was talking with SUREflo rep Wendell Sheldon at an RV rally about the issue of sanitizing fresh water tanks. He shared the following photos showing how bacteria will contaminate a fresh water system when not sanitized on a regular basis.Failure to sanitize your fresh water system will result in bacteria contamination with a rotten egg or sulfur like oder. If you drink it you're jeopardizing your health and compromising your water pump components. If you keep your fresh water tank, lines and faucets sanitized on a regular basis you'll extend the life of your water pump.

SUREflo recommends sanitizing your fresh water system prior to storage and before using the RV again after a long period of storage. If you're a full-timer I recommend every six months. Before you start this procedure I recommend removing any filters and cleaning the water pump catch screen.

The procedure for sanitizing is as follows:
1. Multiply gallons of tank capacity by 0.13 (liters of tank capacity by 1.0); the result is the ounces (milliliters) of bleach needed to sanitize the tank.
2. Mix into solution the proper amount of bleach within a container of water.
3. Disconnect from city water and pour the solution into the fresh water tank (using a funnel with a flexible hose attached) and fill the tank with potable water. Note: wear old clothes as bleach has a tendency to ruin new clothing.
4. Open all faucets (hot and cold - including the exterior shower) allowing the water to run until the distinct odor of chlorine is detected. Close the faucets and allow the solution to remain in the pipes.
5. The standard solution must have four (4) hours of contact time to disinfect completely. Doubling the solution concentration allows for contact time of one (1) hour.
6. When the contact time is completed, drain the tank. Refill with potable water and purge the plumbing of all sanitizing solution by opening all faucets until you do not detect the smell of chlorine.

This procedure is approved by RVIA ANSI A119.2 and the U.S. Public Health Service and by Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing.

Contaminated water pump photos courtesy of SHREflo.

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