Even not drinking it, have at least a basic level of filtration can keep a bunch of "crud" out of the pipes for the domestic water (flush, shower, whatever).
I can definitely see your point on drinking water, especially for shorter trips.Â
Twice I have had serious water problems on Anonymous Source, where the water just smelled bad. I went so far as to buy those tests. But everything checked out okay.
I did the bleach trick (read up on it before you do it, because it's bleach) and it really worked. Water, tanks and lines were clean and water smelled and tasted fine. Makes me nervous, and I flush the hell out of the system before anybody uses anything. I fill and run out the tanks 5+ times. But it does work pretty well Â
I just keep using it. Even when washing the boat down after a cruise, I empty the freshwater tanks before using shorewater. Constant turnover is the thing and if you can't do that, then I think the bleach route is the best bet.
I do know a guy who donates a fifth of vodka to the tank every now and again. Frankly, that's my idea of a lousy date.
I am adding a system recommended by Culligan this winter. It involves an UntraViolet light and a filtration system. I am hoping to get away from bringing bottled water all the time.
I will let you know how it is once we get the boat in the water in the spring. Kind of cold right now in the great lakes.
I think UV and filtering is pretty much the gold standard for those of us who are bringing water aboard, as opposed to making it through RO. Will be interesting to hear how it works for you. I was afraid of the cost. Anything you can share on that score?
Apparentlly from what I have been told, it is the water sitting in the tank that is the problem, so, emptying it frequently by using it for washing down the boat is a good idea.
As for the cost of the system with installation, it is around 1800$ here in Canada. The system will do 4000 gallons before requiring filter changes and the UV light requires changing once a year is what I have been told by Culligan.
UV is really interesting. I'd like to know more about it (translation: we should write something on that).
Honestly, I have been toying with adding a watermaker. I know a guy in CA who has one on his 55 and it works wonderfully (much better than the early days, when horror stories were common).
The gem there is, if your machine is big enough, you can "make" bottled-quality water and keep that running through your system regularly, avoiding the hose altogether. Tempting. But also expensive and more complicated.
I've been using RO for the last 10 years and have not really had any problems drinking it. I wash out with diluted bleach before every use and it seems to do the trick.
After using the culligan UV system this boating season, I am very satisfied. it filters water for the entire boat with a bypass valve when I use the water to wash the boat. I have a 200 gallon fresh water tank on my boat.
I have emptied the tank every week or two for boat washing and have had the water tested three times during the season and the water coming out of it is as good or better than bottled. So far, I have only put about 2100 gallons through it, so it will probably be good for another season before I have to change filters and light.
the finish installed cost with three carbon filters and the UV light was 2300 Canadian $Â which is currently 1771 US$.Â
Joined: 2007-08-13