The water was really bad

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=chlorine+granules+for+hot+tub&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Search for ones for hot tubs instead of swimming pools. You'll get a small 2lb bottle that way. Don't worry, that bottle will last you 50 years as you use very little each time.

I had a 2lb and sanitized my motorhome 3 times, my trailer twice, and gave away baggies with enough for 3 sanitizings to about 8 people and still had about 3/4 of a bottle.

 

thank you

 

Or buy a 1lb pack of pool “shock”.
Comes in a bag like potato chips for about $4 cdn at local home center or Walmart.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/HTH-Super-Shock-Pool-Shock-Treatment-1-lb-Granule-Bags-12-ct/724330181

 

That's a total of 12lbs - way overkill for sanitizing an RV tank. Now if you could buy a single 1lb packet, that would be great. Remember, you're only using a teaspoon for up to 100 gallons.

 

12lb is just the default displayed on the page. You can also select 6lb or 1lb.
A 1lb packet is $3.92

 

Newbie here....I worked in a paper mill and I had to sanitize a hot water dispenser that the tradesmen used for their coffee and tea. They were very reluctant to use bleach and didn't want to use it at all. So I suggested I use baking soda to disinfect the 5 gallon dispenser...it worked like a charm...cleaned it to everyone's satisfaction. And no harsh taste from anything.
I'm not sure if this would work on my pu water tank but I think I'll try it to eliminate the chlorine taste.
Anyone agree or disagree about this?

 

I disagree with baking soda. 2 minute of reading, and you should as well.

Short version. Baking soda is great cleaner, horrible disinfected

https://www.treehugger.com/disinfec...aking soda is often,a disinfectant by the EPA.
Baking soda
Although baking soda is often used a household cleaner, it is ineffective against most bacteria, including salmonella, E. coli. and staphylococcus. If you suspect there has been a contamination of any of these bacteria, ditch the baking soda in favor of a product registered as a disinfectant by the EPA.

https://waterandhealth.org/disinfect/household-disinfection-101/
The researchers found that of the five products tested, only a diluted solution of chlorine bleach was effective against all three common kitchen bacteria. Baking soda had no detectable effectiveness against the trio of test microbes.

 

Jurry can is fine with us as long as you don't serve on Jerry Duty lol

 

Baking soda doesn't disinfect, but it will help eliminate bad taste.

Use the bleach (or chlorine granules) to disinfect, then use the baking soda to remove the bleach/chlorine taste.

 

Thanks for enlightening me on that, after reading 101 I'm glad I haven't had the need to disinfect anything using baking soda.
I now have the bleach in my tank waiting for 3 hours.
Thanks again
And using the baking soda for the taste

 

ooops...

just one teaspoon, eh? well my tank is going to be squeaky clean then ;-)

 

It won't hurt to use more, you just don't need to do so.

 

I guess I've been lucky with wwater so far. We have an inline filter on the water hose and we put anything we drink through a PUR water filter after that. We usually fill a 5 gallon orange "gatorade" jug at home as well.

 

so a followup - if you fill your tank on monday, for example, with home/city water, for a 4-5 day trip - does anyone worry about bacteria growing or any other bads happening? i guess the question is, does city water have anything added to it to keep it "clean" or should i add anything myself?

 

I use the tank water for cooking and washing. For drinking water we buy those 2.5 gallon jugs with a dispenser spout.

 

I never worried about it, haven't got sick yet. We drink the water , cook , etc. No issues. We do use a in lone water filter. I guess if your worried you could add chlorine to it.

 

Same here. I do not drink the water in any way shape or form. We buy bottled for that. We use it to wash and shower.

 

Check with your city - some add chlorination others don't. Mine does and I don't ever worry about growth.

When folks sanitize with bleach, they fill, wait, drain, and then refill and drain one or two additional times to remove the bleach taste. With the chlorine granules, just fill, wait and drain. Then fill for your trip. Any chlorination left will be similar to chlorinated city water. Won't hurt you but will continue to keep the tank clean.

 

yep - that's why i followed your lead on the granules. it's working well.

 

So rather than say I what I do. (I drink the water, drain between trips, and sanitize once a year)

Let's link to some sources.
https://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/f&web.pdf

• Fill the bottle to the top with regular tap water. (If your water utility company treats your tap water with chlorine, you do not need to add anything else to the water to keep it clean.)
  • If the water you are using comes from a well or water source that is not treated with chlorine, add two drops of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to each gallon of water.
• Tightly close the container using the original cap. Be careful not to contaminate the cap by touching the inside of it with your fingers. Write the date on the outside of the container so that you know when you filled it. Store in a cool, dark place.
• Replace the water every six months if not using commercially bottled water.

https://beprepared.com/blogs/articles/5-myths-about-water-storage
Paraphrasing (They sell Prepper water storage barrels) Water NEVER goes bad, but you might need to re-purify it to kill alge growth / micro-organisms.

Summary. You can store water for many weeks or months. But considering that the storage amount of our campers (26 gallons on a big guy) just dump it inbetween trips if your going more than a few weeks.