Date:         Sun, 29 Dec 2002 18:04:40 -0500
Reply-To:     David Brodbeck <gull@CYBERSPACE.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Brodbeck <gull@CYBERSPACE.ORG>
Subject:      Re: Cleaning the water tank!?
Comments: To: Jason Weisberger <jweis@WHY.BOTHER.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <Pine.LNX.4.44.0212290659530.25410-100000@hunter>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Sun, 29 Dec 2002, Jason Weisberger wrote:

> Bleach seems to not be in keeping with "potable" - are you suggesting not
> use the internal water tank for drinking/cooking water on camping trips?

Well, some people don't, but I have.  Don't worry about the bleach -- as
long as you use chlorine bleach, it's the same basic chemical used in
city water systems.  Just rinse thoroughly to get rid of the chlorine
taste and smell, and you'll be fine.  If the tank is slimey or has visible
growth inside, you should take out the plug on top and scrub it first,
since chlorine can't disinfect if there's dirt in the way.

Incidentally, when storing the van between trips I like to take out the
big plastic plug on top of the tank, lay a clean rag over the hole, then
snug the plug down on top of the rag. I figure this will allow enough air
in to keep condensation from forming in the tank.  If it stays dry,
nasties can't grow in it. ;)

             _ _
  __ _ _   _| | |  | David M. Brodbeck (N8SRE)              Ypsilanti, MI
 / _` | | | | | |  +-----------------------------------------------------
| (_| | |_| | | | @ cyberspace.org
 \__, |\__,_|_|_| "To the optimist, the glass is half full.  To the
 |___/             pessimist, the glass is half empty.  To the engineer,
                   the glass is twice as big as it needs to be."