How long to keep fresh water in the RV tank
If you are new to the campervan lifestyle, how long to keep fresh water in the RV tank might have crossed your mind. Being a beginner in anything leaves you full of questions you need answers for. This is a fundamental question. Good quality safe water is an absolute must when you venture out on the road. Therefore you must know the water in your freshwater tank is safe to use. Any facilities in the camper that use water will use the water that comes from here. So whether you are taking a shower or cooking up some food, it’s this water that will be getting used. This article will give you guidance on how to ensure you have the safest possible water supply.
Empty the fresh water tank
This is particularly important if you are renting an RV. If you own an RV, you will know how long the water has been in the RV. The opposite is true. In a rental vehicle, you won’t have a clue. Therefore as a place to start, you must empty the water you are carrying. To do this, run the tap or shower until the water stops flowing. If the holding tank is accessible, go and find it to take a look to ensure all the water is gone. Holding tanks are around 50-100litres, so they will empty relatively fast equally they fill relatively fast. When doing this, you take away any risk of knowing what could have been in the water. It really is important to do this before any RV trip.
How long does it take for water to go off
This is something you’d google after a drink or two. Have you actually ever considered how long it takes for water to go off. The truth is water doesn’t go off. It just becomes increasingly riskier to drink over time. Therefore the longer you leave it, the more chance you have of getting ill if you were to drink it. It’s not so much that water goes off. It’s more that it is a product of its environment. Stagnant water is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. So when you are parked up in your RV, this is exactly what happens. However, when you are driving, the water will move, which is a good thing. When water moves and flows, it makes it hard for bacteria and germs to grow and spread. Another environmental factor that can affect water is heat. The tank itself can be underslung with some freshwater tanks, so it’s exposed to the elements. Therefore a sweltering day could warm the water up. Warm water is heaven for germs and bacteria, and this, of course, could make the water a breeding ground for harmful germs and bacteria that should never drink—the fresher the water, the better its quality.
Looking after the water system
Environmental factors can affect how long water can be drinkable. The condition of the water system can have an equally detrimental impact. Starting with the holding tank itself. With regular maintenance and cleaning, the freshwater tank won’t harbour the likes of mould and harmful bacteria. Therefore it would be good practice to clean the holding tank and the water system. There are RV specific tank cleaners that are designed for this very purpose. The following video gives you all the information you need to know to have a healthy water tank.
Clean the taps
How often have you cleaned a tap? In particular, the actual part where the water comes out. Limescale and mould can sometimes grow here, particularly if the RV has been in storage for a while. Regardless of the water quality, it’s likely to pollute the water source if the tap is in bad shape. The same goes for the showerhead. This could do with a good clean too. This tip is convenient as taps often get neglected.
Fill with freshwater
If you have done all the previous steps, you will be left with an empty, clean water system. This is the perfect environment to now fill with fresh water. There are various sources of water to fill the tank with. Ranging from the tap outside the house or bottled water from a shop. This decision is totally up to you as an RV owner. Obviously, water from a natural spring g would be the best water going; however, your geographic location may limit your water quality.
So how Long to Keep Fresh Water in the RV tank?
The simple answer is the fresher, the better. In the RV world, you will often find most campers will refill the freshwater weekly. This is a combination of the water running out fast and the practice of staying safe on the road. Particularly if you get off the grid, a safe water supply is important. The last thing you want is to get ill miles away from civilization. Following the tips in this article, you will give yourself the best chance of having a safe water supply that won’t cause you any issues.