Drinking water

[FiveInAVan]

Ok, sorry with the 100 questions but this is something that has troubled me since talking about getting a caravan. Does everyone drink from their taps and if so do you do anything to maintain the water? Do you leave your tanks empty or full. Do you have or do you think a water filter is needed and if you have one do you still need to maintain the tanks to keep the water safe. I can't quite fathom how the water can be drinkable if left in the tanks in the heat between trips. Cheers!

 

[FiveInAVan]

Thanks so much @Holden_man I must have missed that post! I usually do a search but didn't think I had seen anything posted recently. So do people mainly drink bottled? Wondering if a water filter is a waste of money now.

 

[davemc]

Where got three tanks.. When we go off for the big trip I will move one tank to a drinking water tap just in case.
We use a filter going in although even with the filter some of the water the kids do not like the taste off.
You do get used to what you drink at home, I think @Crusty181 likes to take his Melbourne water with him although I think he would of ran out by now

 

[FiveInAVan]

@davemc and @Holden_man what do you use to filter the water going into the tanks? I am assuming this is something I can buy at a caravan store?

 

[davemc]

We use a Best Filter inline we also leave connected to the mains tap at parks.
As remember you use tanks normally if no mains or water crap. Or pressure bad and you can get it higher using tank and mains at once
http://www.bestwaterfilters.com.au/

 

[Dobbie]

Want a quick, easy and safe solution?

Keep tanks filled...less bacteria to grow in a full tank....but use that water for non drinking purposes and use a filter if you're worried. Filter only needs to be attached to inlet filling hose, not plumbed in.

When the tank is new...fill, add one or two boxes of bicarbonate .....and slosh it around ....we usually just tow the van around the block. Let the solution settle then empty and flush the tanks several times. Refill and keep filled unless van is sitting unused for a few months. If you forget, just empty and flush again before departure.

For drinking, carry water you know is safe.. Our approach now is to grab a slab of water from Costco, Coles or such and carry in vehicle. We know that water is fine to drink and is easy to stow in nooks and crannies in the car so is always accessible. We also carry a couple of empty 20 litre containers and fill with water we're happy with if we're staying for a few days. We also have a water testing kit...marine use..which is easy to use so that lives in the van.

So....the bicarbonate will take the taste of a new plastic tank away
The water in the tanks in the van can be used for washing up, showering etc etc
You always have good safe drinking water

And you haven't spent a fortune...

But we sometimes forget to use our drinking water for making ice blocks and use onboard water. What the hell, no problem so far and I'd rather have my scotch at the end of the day with ice.

 

[davemc]

@Dobbie the scotch take care of anything in the ice anyway

 

[Dobbie]

I figured that but didn't want to encourage the drinking habits of others.

I guess those ice blocks could be an issue in kids' drinks....unless you encourage them to drink scotch!

Scrub that.

I reckon if you're relatively careful, or as careful as possible, the van water would be fine but defiantly recommend testing it every now and again. We don't get too precious with it and usually taste the water before we refill. If we don't get the runs in a short space of time, we consider it safe (ish).

 

[davemc]

good idea clip ends of filter short hose I will use that now thanks mate

 

[Matt - VK1MT]

I found that all the water piping under the van was clear.
Yes, you can see the water inside. But this also allows sunlight in and potential nasties to start growing in the tubes.
I thought I may have to replace the lot, but a smart friend with a swan said he grabbed a can of black spray paint and painted the water pipes.
I did it to our panda without any regrets.
I also keep the 2 x tanks full when not in use.

 

[Bellbirdweb]

We had an under bench filter tap installed at manufacture, and usually drink via that filtered tap from the tanks.

If there is any suspicion about the water we have to fill the tanks with on the road, we will drink bottled water until we can flush the tanks and refill with good quality town water.

 

[Hubble80]

We have an under sink filter and drinking water tap, so we drink from that either on mains or on tank. In our old Expanda, we used to drink bottled water. I like the filter idea, having the 24 packs of water bottles takes up beer room!

And when you have kids that like to squirt their water at stuff, you go through 24 bottles fairly quick!!!

 

[Crusty181]

Where got three tanks.. When we go off for the big trip I will move one tank to a drinking water tap just in case.
We use a filter going in although even with the filter some of the water the kids do not like the taste off.
You do get used to what you drink at home, I think @Crusty181 likes to take his Melbourne water with him although I think he would of ran out by now

Not quiet ... i carry an emergency stash. Like good wine, packed away in a climate controlled environment ... just in case

 

[Crusty181]

Your most welcome
Isn't that nice a Qlder helping a Victorian, who said the federation wouldn't work

90% of QLD were originally Victorians

 

[Crusty181]

For whats worth we havent had any issues with water quality at all so far on our Big Lap. You have to read that in conjunction with the fact we come from Melb which is not only the greatest city in the world, it has the best water in the world so we are spoilt rotten with water quality.

Dont get too hung up on water quality and water availability. One of the biggest surprises for us was the great quality of water and the ample availabilty of it. Ive got the BEST filter and in 8 weeks only used it a handful of times and only to fill the drinking water tanks and that was only for slightly more chlorinated water than were used to.

Although i could all change for here on in, so far we could quiet comfortably not bothered even buying the filter, and the worst it would have resulted in slightly chlorinated coffee. To put all that into perspective, The Princess is particularly whingy about anything less than primo water ... and she hasnt mumbled a word yet

Some of the biggest surprises were great water in places i would have expected the worst.

 

[Dobbie]

That's been our experience as well.

As said, we carry an in line filter..Guest...but have never used it. At least it's there if we need it with all the fittings, piece of extra hose etc.

The only place we were doubtful as to availability was along the Murray in a drought so asked the servos we frequented and they were very hospitable...obviously used to vanners needing refills but appreciated being asked.

 

[iadizajy]

We have only used the tanks once in the 6 years we have had the van and haven't had an issue other than Xmas '14 when the caravan parks pump failed and their tanks ran down. Used the water for washing and showers until it ran clear but wasn't an issue.
At the moment we have a stack of slabs of bottled water as I use the Coles fuel vouchers at Shell and buy the slabs to get an extra discount on the fuel if you spend over $20 in store. 3 slabs of water $7 each end up costing under $4 total on top of the fuel, and the kids drink them at home during sport anyway.
And as @Hubble80 noted, it takes up beer storage....... And yes Crusty181, we have the emergency stash of several bottles of vino that travel with us in an appropriately hidden place .

 

[Dobbie]

I'm still trying how to turn water into wine...any suggestions?

 

[Crusty181]

I'm still trying how to turn water into wine...any suggestions?

Well Jesus, just do what you did last time. Seemed to work fine then

 

[Dean81]

What do you use water for??

don't they sell Beer for all of the above?