Can I Drinking Water From My Camper Holding Tanks?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Yes, it’s safe to drink water from your RV fresh water tank as long as you regularly maintain and sanitize the tank and water system

. Your RV fresh water tank holds fresh water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and more.

How do you keep water fresh in a holding tank?

Mix one cup of bleach to four gallons of water for a 40 gallon tank, one and a half cups of bleach to six gallons of water for a 60 gallon tank, and two cups of bleach to eight gallons of water for a 100 gallon tank. Add the bleach solution to your tank, then fill it up all the way with fresh water.

How long is water good in a holding tank?

Why You Shouldn’t Keep Water in Your Fresh Tank for More Than

2 Weeks

Without Using. Since your tanks are plastic, water sitting stagnant inside the tank can assume a plastic smell and/or taste. Worse, it can also grow mold, algae, and bacteria.

How do I sanitize my RV fresh water tank?

Can I drink RV water?

Is It Safe to Drink from Your RV Fresh Water Tank?

Yes, it’s safe to drink water from your RV fresh water tank as long as you regularly maintain and sanitize the tank and water system

.

Can you put non potable water in an RV?


You will be fine

. Chances are the water, though non-potable, wasn’t all that bad to begin with. Most water spigots marked non-potable water are from shallow wells not “certified” for consumption.

How long can black water stay in RV tank?

You should not leave matter in your black water tank for more than

a week

. Your black water tank should be emptied once it’s 2⁄3 full and/or at the end of every trip. If that isn’t possible, make sure to add water to the tank and add a holding tank cleaning chemical to avoid odor and backup.

How long should RV fresh water hose be?

There are a few different lengths, but most standard hoses come in

25- or 50-foot

options. The two most common diameters for RV water hoses are 1/2′′ and 5/8′′. Most water pipes in RVs have a 1/2 inch diameter, so either 1/2′′ or 5/8′′ water hoses should provide sufficient water flow.

How much water can a RV hold?

A class A RV will hold the most water, averaging between

75-100 gallons

. Class C RVs will hold 35-60 gallons, Class Bs will hold around 20-40, and fifth wheel trailers hold about 60-80 gallons. Smaller trailers hold 40-60 gallons.

How long can water sit in RV fresh water tank?

As a general rule, you should only keep water in the tank for

two weeks

before changing it. However, there is a multitude of factors that can affect how long your water will stay fresh.

Can you drink water from a JoJo tank?

A JoJo tank does not cause any damage to the water; the quality of the incoming water however may well be an issue. Please remember that water collected from the roof of a building will not be clean.

If in emergencies you need to drink the water from the tank, it must be purified

.

How often should you drain your RV fresh water tank?

There are a couple times you should sanitize your RV fresh water tank. The first one is

every six months

. This is the recommended amount of time for any full-time RVers. The second is when you take it out of storage.

Why does my camper water smell like rotten eggs?

A common cause of why your RV smells like rotten eggs is that

anaerobic bacteria in your RV water heater tank reacts with the sulfur and magnesium of the anode rod

. This interaction produces hydrogen sulfide gas – your rotten egg odor.

How much bleach do I add to my RV fresh water tank?

Most RVers recommend

1 full cup of bleach for every 50 gallons of water tank capacity

. Thus, if your water tank can hold 100-gallons of water, use 2 cups of bleach. If your tank holds 25 gallons, use 1/2 cup.

Can you put bleach in a RV holding tank?

The best way to clean and sanitize your RV waste holding tanks is to

fill the tank with a bleach and water solution

. To make the solution, mix one-quarter cup of bleach with one gallon of water.

Can you drink city water in an RV?

For RV’ers who consume water from their RV tanks, the most important fact to remember is that

potable water doesn’t stay potable for long

. By the time city water reaches the tap, the chlorine level is already reduced. An RV water tank is like a large petridish on wheels.

What can I put in my RV fresh water tank?

How long can you shower in an RV?

If water conservation is a priority because you’re dry camping, 5 minutes or less in the shower is recommended. If you have water hookups and conserving water isn’t necessary, you can technically take a shower for as long as your hot water will last. When RVing, a

10-minute shower is reasonable

.

How do you make non potable water drinkable?

1. Boiling. If you don’t have safe bottled water, you should

boil your water

to make it safe to drink. Boiling is the surest method to kill disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

How does an RV fresh water system work?

The pump is set to keep the pressure in your RV plumbing lines at a certain pressure, usually about 40 PSI (pounds per square inch). When the pump senses that the RV water system pressure drops below that (when you open a faucet, use the toilet, or take a shower) it turns on to maintain water system pressure.

Should you leave water in black tank?


Most guides suggest you leave the black tank valve open, so that water doesn’t back up and end up flooding your RV through the toilet

! If your RV doesn’t come with a built-in black tank flush system, it is possible to install one aftermarket.

How often should I dump my black tank?

You should dump your black water tank

every 3-5 days or when it gets to be two-thirds full, whichever is first

. The steps to emptying your black water tank are listed below: Put on gloves. Connect the hose to the black tank water drain.

Can I put bleach in my black water tank?

Cleaning your black water holding tank is best done when you’re fully hooked up and have both a water and sewer connection.

Avoid using bleach or antifreeze for your deep clean

, as both of these can dry out rubber seals and ultimately ruin your sewage system.

Why do RVs have white hoses?

Water doesn’t stay in your hose for very long, so

contamination from lead and other chemicals is probably limited

, but really there isn’t any price difference between drinking-safe hoses and those that aren’t tested, so it’s inexpensive peace of mind to just buy the white hose. And your water will taste a lot better.

Can you poop in RV toilet?


RV toilets are designed to handle all human waste, including your poop

. If you are properly maintaining your black tank and RV toilet, plus using plenty of fresh water when flushing, you will be able to poop in your RV without experiencing clogs or smells.

Is Aqua Joe hose drinking water safe?


Yes, AquaJoe® FiberJacket Max is drinking water safe

and is free of harmful toxins, inlcuding BPA, lead and phthalates. What is the Aqua Joe® FiberJacket Max Hose?

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.