How gross is your RV fresh water tank?

RV fresh water tanks can be bacteria heaven. If you leave water in your tank for several months without cleaning it out, you may be conducting an aquaculture experiment. Green yucky stuff can overtake your on-board water system, clogging your pump and exposing you and your family to sickness. Here is an example of a contaminated water pump diaphragm. Another problem is the quality of water you put into your tank. We travel all over the country and see a wide variety of water quality at different RV parks. I usually run the water and look at it before I hook it up to the RV. I've actually seen rust, pebbles and all sorts of debris come out of standard RV park faucets. It usually clears after a minute of running, but it sure makes you wonder!

So how will you know if the water in your tank is contaminated? You need a WaterCheck Test Kit sold by Coil n' Wrap. This screening tool will detect the presence of E.coli and is easy to use.

The kit is a divided bag containing the testing agent in the bottom compartment.Turn off the shore water and flip on the switch to the water pump. I used the outside shower, letting it run for a while ensuring all the shore water washed through the system.
Fill the bag to the level indicated by a dotted line.
Remove the dividing clip after the proper amount of water is in the bag.
Mix the contents into the bag and let it stand at room temperature for two days. The principle at work is the ability of coliform bacteria to utilize specialized nutrients and reagents to form a distinctive blue-green color.
After the allotted time and with much anticipation, I checked it.The yellow color indicates no coliform bacteria detected. Had it turned blue-green I would know I had a problem.

So how should you go about cleaning your RV's fresh water tank?

In the archives is an article I wrote called, "Sanitize your RV fresh water tank before it's too late" which outlines the procedure.
Remember, you can purchase WaterCheck Test Kits from the good folks at Coil n' Wrap.

Bacteria are not the only cause for concern when it comes to water. You also need a test for detecting the presence of harmful stuff like asbestos, lead, mercury, arsenic and cyanide. For this you will need the "Digital Water Purity Tester" available at WalMart in the RV section for under $12.00.
This small digital instrument is reusable and works in hot or cold water. Carry it with you anywhere and check your water as often as you like. It runs on two watch batteries and comes with an extra set.

You simply turn it on and submerge it into a container of water for a few seconds and then push the "read" button. The digital readout is back lit and easy to see. The lower the number the better the water. The tester has a scale on the back to assist you in gauging the quality of the water sample. It turns out the sample I tested from my RV faucet was in an acceptable range. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing