Gunge in water container !!

[colyboy]

Was having an issue with the cold water in our van. So I thought that I would look into the cold water tank, unscrewed the inspection cap and was surprise and worried, When I put my hand in the tank on the sides and bottom of the tank there was a lot of thickish black gunge. Best way to clean this tank?

Colyboy

ps we never drink water from the tank

 

[Phill D]

That’s a bit strange, is this not a relatively new van?

 

[colyboy]

Phill. Yes about 18 months.

colyboy

 

[PP Bear]

Do you fill from a regular water source. Must admit that I’d be a tad worried too.

You could use citric acid and clean it out then monitor it. Only way it could get in is from the fill up locations.

You say you had an issue, why was it? And if there’s gunk in the tank, I wonder what the pipes and pump are like. Maybe more reason to get some cleaner in there, run through the pipes and heater etc and leave for 24 hours if this possible.

 

[RM_Marine]

Do you leave water in for long periods when not in use

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[Figaro]

Without sunlight the bacteria growths shouldn't occur in a water tank as they should always be protected from light in a properly designed van.
I think a full scale clean and sanitation is needed and investigation into what caused it, whether you drink from tank or not, it shouldn't be like that

 

[Bobbydaisy]

Cheap Cola from Aldis , 2 large bottles, leave for a while and if possible go for a short run in the van to swish it around the tank , then drain down , surprised at how much gunk came out . Basically the citric acid in the cola cleans it out , cheap and easy to source. Used it in the grey tank too , even more gunk!!

 

[siiva]

Cheap Cola from Aldis , 2 large bottles, leave for a while and if possible go for a short run in the van to swish it around the tank , then drain down , surprised at how much gunk came out . Basically the citric acid in the cola cleans it out , cheap and easy to source. Used it in the grey tank too , even more gunk!!

Could I use this method to "purge" the water lines as well? Leave the taps running until close to empty, then refill with water and let the taps run some more...

 

[TDub49]

Worth a read . . . https://www.buildingbetterhealthcar...ting_water_tanks_from_bacterial_growth/140269

 

[Riverbankannie]

Could I use this method to "purge" the water lines as well? Leave the taps running until close to empty, then refill with water and let the taps run some more...

I would not run cola through through, just adding more sugar for any bacteria to feed on.
Get some Puriclean from Amazon. I would only use cola in the grey tank.
Amazon product ASIN B00ENFXK5A

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[Langtoftlad]

I would not run cola through through, just adding more sugar for any bacteria to feed on.
Get some Puriclean from Amazon. I would only use cola in the grey tank.
Amazon product ASIN B00ENFXK5A

Also, if it's the citric acid in Cola that does the cleaning - then why not just buy some citric acid?

 

[Southend]

We use Purisol to sterilise our tanks every six months. https://thecampercoshop.com/product...6k9kW794hxVvmV9ymE6Re1zzqR_zW9hBoCh3QQAvD_BwE
We fill the fresh water tank for 24 hours take the van for drive then drain through all the taps and shower and leave in the grey tank for another 24 hours, including a second drive before draining down.
Possibly a bit over the top, but we've never had a problem with smells or gunk.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Worth a read . . . https://www.buildingbetterhealthcar...ting_water_tanks_from_bacterial_growth/140269

Flushing was done weekly in Southmead Hospital when I was there. The new build hospital building is so poor! One of the ward assistants had the job of starting one end of the ward (all single rooms with a sink with a washroom too) and turning on all taps until he got through all the rooms and then going back to the beginning and turning them off.

 

[donkey]

Was having an issue with the cold water in our van. So I thought that I would look into the cold water tank, unscrewed the inspection cap and was surprise and worried, When I put my hand in the tank on the sides and bottom of the tank there was a lot of thickish black gunge. Best way to clean this tank?

Colyboy

ps we never drink water from the tank

Are you sure that isn't the grey tank?

Geoff

 

[Riverbankannie]

Are you sure that isn't the grey tank?

Geoff

Good thought, much more likely.

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[Figaro]

Flushing was done weekly in Southmead Hospital when I was there. The new build hospital building is so poor! One of the ward assistants had the job of starting one end of the ward (all single rooms with a sink with a washroom too) and turning on all taps until he got through all the rooms and then going back to the beginning and turning them off.

What a waste, that really shouldn't be necessary if the rooms are in use .
Flushing through is usually used as a legionella preventative measure in unoccupied rooms / building to prevent stagnation occuring.

 

[Riverbankannie]

What a waste, that really shouldn't be necessary if the rooms are in use .
Flushing through is usually used as a legionella preventative measure in unoccupied rooms / building to prevent stagnation occuring.

Absolutely, but the tales I have heard about the things going wrong and of course we are paying through the nose for it as it is PFI (private finance initiative).

 

[chaser]

What happened to the ops tank?

 

[Figaro]

Ahh PFI, those horrendous ongoing costs never get a mention now do they. At one time they were all over the media.
They seem to have been swept away out of sight now.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Without sunlight the bacteria growths shouldn't occur in a water tank as they should always be protected from light in a properly designed van.
I think a full scale clean and sanitation is needed and investigation into what caused it, whether you drink from tank or not, it shouldn't be like that

Agree with the second paragraph but bacteria formation in a dark tank is quite common. I need to clean mine regularly.

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[kev54]

Once a year we add a good lot of white vinegar (cheaper than chips in France) to a third of a tank and slosh it around for a while before running through the pump and taps. It helps clean the grey water tank too. It really doesn't take much more water through to clear the aroma - anyway, the vinegar isn't bad for you, I just don't want it in the kettle for the hot whiskey, ahem, tea.