Fresh and Gray water additives

JP2558

Two weeks ago, when I emptied my gray water, it smelled awful, similar to rotten eggs. So I poured a half cup of bleach down the sink then filled the fresh water with about 3-4 gallons of water and then drained it again, and the odor was gone and the only smell was the bleach.

Is there any tablet type product that I can buy that will basically do the same and prevent the gray tank smelling so bad?

Also, outside of bleaching the freshwater tank, which we do every spring, is there another product that we can use during the camping season to assist with keeping the fresh water fresh?

Denny16

Many campers here use Happy Camper tank treatment additive in both gray and black tanks. 

Cheers

Sharon_is_SAM

@JP2558 - make sure to wipe off any food thoroughly from dishes before washing.  How long are you waiting to dump your tank?  I would not let it sit in between camping trips.  We use Happy Camper in both gray and black tanks during and after camping.  You can also use the GEO method using Dawn and Calgon or Borax.  

VictoriaP

Never ever ever leave water in the fresh tank to sit unused for more than a day or two. It grows bacteria, especially in the summer. People have gotten Legionnaire’s disease from RV tank water. When you’re headed home, empty the fresh water into the grey and black tanks for rinsing those out, then open the fresh water line drain under the trailer.

Happy Campers is the most brilliant product on the market. No odor and no nasty cover fragrance. Always mix with some water first, then pour down the drains.

JP2558

@Sharon_is_SAM, @VictoriaP, We wipe down plates before washing so very little residue goes down the drain. I dump gray water either before we leave camp or during the unpacking when we return home. Mainly it is Dawn dish detergent, dirty dishwater, and maybe some toothpaste. I typically clear any remaining fresh if it won’t get used within a few days. We don’t drink the fresh water, but only use it for washing dishes and hands, but I would like to be able to ensure it is safe for consumption even if we don’t intend to ingest it, we might cook with it or rinse the dishes.

Sharon_is_SAM

There are fresh water tank products out there.  You may want to read this:  https://www.rvtravel.com/does-your-rv-need-drinking-water-freshener/

Also, are you filling your fresh water tank with chlorinated water, well water, campground water?  Are you using a filter when you fill your fresh water tank?

VictoriaP

Anything that goes down the drain—microscopic food residue, soap, body oils, bits of skin—it all ferments in the grey tank. Happy Campers will break down these substances and the bacteria created and in the process, eliminate the odor. After dumping, you mix half a scoop to a full scoop depending on tank size, into a gallon of water and pour it down the drains. Easy peasy and no more smell, without using bleach.

As for the fresh tank, something like Camco’s TastePure can help: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BQLQYM/ It’s really just a more expensive form of bleach, but as you said, it will help keep the water safe for consumption in all ways, including inhalation via water vapor produced by the sink or shower. Again, it’s not meant for storing water for longer than a few days between trips and isn’t a substitute for sanitizing periodically, but it does freshen things a little.

Denny16

Victoria, you can store fresh drinking water, if it is treated (city water) or well water that has been treated and filtered, in proper food safe purpose built tanks for much longer than a few days.  Your bottled drinking water is stored in plastic bottles, not much difference.

We have gone a week, no issues.  We have water storage tanks on our property with 4,000 gallons of water, but it is processed with an ozone system.  We then add this water to our TaB.  We use the water for cooking, washing and drink it of needed.  A good filter system like the Berkey takes care of anything that might get into the water.  Using the Camco product you referenced should be all that is needed to keep the water safe for several weeks.  

That stored, we are discussing a water storage system that is being used daily, including the TaB water system.  If you are storing your trailer and it is not being used, than you should drain the tanks to keep them clean.  It takes time, some heat, and tanks that are not being used, no water circulation, to allow for growth of mold, algae, etc.  

Properly treating the water is the best course of action, of course, and using common sense.  If it smells bad, do not drink it.  If getting and drinking bottled water makes you feel safer,  good.  But both are stored water in
 a closed container.  

Whilst the TaB has poly resin tanks, made with FDA approved resin that complies with FDA standards 21 CFR 177.1520 (1) 3.1 and 3.2 for the storage of potable water, it is a type of plastic tank, and needs to be kept clean.  Doing the regular sanitizing procedure should keep the tank clean and safe.  I would do this at least monthly during camping season, even if using the trailer for extended times.

cheers

JP2558

@Sharon_is_SAM, We fill our fresh tank with municipal, treated, (Lake Erie) city water.

JP2558

Thanks everyone for your valuable input. @Sharon_is_SAM, thanks for the link. I guess I will just continue using city water and occasionally add bleach to the fresh water, and use it also to keep the gray water from becoming obnoxious.

Sharon_is_SAM

@JP2558 - your use of the fresh and gray tank sound identical to ours.  Not sure why the gray tank got stinky.  I don’t think it is due to your fresh water.  I would just stick to your fresh water tank routine and change only one thing at a time - like add Happy Camper or try the GEO method for your gray tank.

VictoriaP

Denny16 said:

Victoria, you can store fresh drinking water, if it is treated (city water) or well water that has been treated and filtered, in proper food safe purpose built tanks for much longer than a few days.  Your bottled drinking water is stored in plastic bottles, not much difference.

We have gone a week, no issues.  We have water storage tanks on our property with 4,000 gallons of water, but it is processed with an ozone system.  We then add this water to our TaB.  We use the water for cooking, washing and drink it of needed.  A good filter system like the Berkey takes care of anything that might get into the water.  Using the Camco product you referenced should be all that is needed to keep the water safe for several weeks.  

That stored, we are discussing a water storage system that is being used daily, including the TaB water system.  If you are storing your trailer and it is not being used, than you should drain the tanks to keep them clean.  It takes time, some heat, and tanks that are not being used, no water circulation, to allow for growth of mold, algae, etc.  

Properly treating the water is the best course of action, of course, and using common sense.  If it smells bad, do not drink it.  If getting and drinking bottled water makes you feel safer,  good.  But both are stored water in
 a closed container.  

Whilst the TaB has poly resin tanks, made with FDA approved resin that complies with FDA standards 21 CFR 177.1520 (1) 3.1 and 3.2 for the storage of potable water, it is a type of plastic tank, and needs to be kept clean.  Doing the regular sanitizing procedure should keep the tank clean and safe.  I would do this at least monthly during camping season, even if using the trailer for extended times.

cheers

Of course you can store water...to an extent. I’m actually refreshing my emergency water storage this week, and it’s been four years. Water’s fine, no smell, it’s only being replaced out of an abundance of caution. And of course your tank water is typically fine while the trailer is in use daily.

Neither of those is what we were discussing. Last summer, I left the Tab partly filled with city water, and pretreated with the same chlorine additive I posted, for just under two weeks mid summer...a fairly cool Seattle summer where we barely kissed 80°. (I know better, but it was a crazy summer and I thought I was headed back out, trip was cancelled.) The reek of sulphur throughout the trailer when I opened the faucet was nasty, and the system required sanitizing with a larger amount of bleach not once, but twice, to remove the smell completely. The difference? My emergency supply is kept in a dark, cool basement that very rarely exceeds 65°. The Tab is partly exposed to the elements...under a carport, but west facing so it gets some afternoon sun, and it’s barely insulated compared to the basement. Water will quickly grow bacteria and algae under such conditions if not circulated regularly. 

I stand by exactly what I said. Do not leave water UNUSED in your tank for more than a few days during camping season. 

The whole “to drink or not to drink from the tank” thing is one of those really polarizing issues among campers. Personally, I drink from mine, used a Brita filter last year and bought an Epic Water Nano this year that filters pretty much everything.

Denny16

OK, thanks Victoria, misunderstood.  I see what you are saying about leaving the tank partially full whilst not being used, especially in warmer summer weather.  

Cheers

DougH

We used to have world famous microbiologists weigh in on these threads...

   https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/83800#Comment_83800

Verna

Maybe if I type @Ratkity, she will respond😉

DougH

Don't we have to click our heels thrice?