Date:         Fri, 21 May 2010 06:43:20 -0400
Reply-To:     Michael Snow <slowmachine82@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Snow <slowmachine82@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Sanitizing water tank in Vanagon
Comments: To: Jack Reynaert <jack007@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To:  <001e01caf87a$46bd7380$d4385a80$@net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On Thu, May 20, 2010 at 8:12 PM, Jack Reynaert <jack007@comcast.net> wrote:
> Well, my van has been in "winter storage" and getting ready for my first
> camp-out this weekend.  I've always drained my water tank completely in the
> fall to avoid freeze damage, and I leave the cap off.
>
> Is it necessary to Sanitize the tank when I refill it in the spring?  I know
> the standard procedure is to fill with water and ounce of bleach, let it sit
> for a couple hours, drain it and refill with fresh "city water" as it
> contains a safe level of chlorine.
>
> So, what do most of you do?
>

This was the first below-freezing winter for my Westy.  I completely
drained, then poured a 750 ml bottle of cheap vodka into the tank and
ran the pump until the alcohol smell came out of the faucet.  It
didn't freeze, and still smells strongly of alcohol now.  There are no
signs of algae, etc. in the tank.  I'll still disinfect with a bit of
chlorine bleach in a full water tank before drinking from it.

-- 
Michael Snow
1987 Syncro TiiCo
1982 Westfalia 1.9TD
http://slowmachine82.blogspot.com/