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Old 25-09-2009, 14:43   #1
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Water Purification

What do you guys recommend for water purification if you're collecting rain water or getting water from a dubious source and you're storing it for awhile in your tanks?
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Old 25-09-2009, 15:13   #2
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From a previous thread:

How to Sanitize Your RV Fresh Water System
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Old 25-09-2009, 16:34   #3
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Do not collect. Do not store.

If hard pressed go through the watermaker. If not available, go thru standard filter (debris) then the carbon filter. Then (not instead), there are two types of tablets / drops that may help - based either on silver or on chlorine (?) - gods know which will destroy your liver faster. Then boil the obtained thing.

For real life data contact Jacob at wildworks (Canning Stock Route by Bike 2005) - he biked the CSR of Australia with no outside help and purified his drinking water from iffy and brackish sources for 30 days on end - and he IS still alive.

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Old 26-09-2009, 11:22   #4
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This is what I used to treat both my watermaker water and shore water before storing in my tank.
Water Filters And Purifiers
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Old 26-09-2009, 13:58   #5
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Do not collect. Do not store.
Well, actually I do, as does the rest of the human race.
My boat has storage for 2000 gls of fresh water and I can collect rain water from a 800 sq ft deck to refill the tanks. Drinking water is stored in a separate 300 gl tank. I have heard that some trawlers with tanks add bleach to kill off any stray bacteria, and I'm wondering what concentration to use and if anyone knows of other products to use.
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Old 26-09-2009, 14:09   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lorenzo b View Post
... I have heard that some trawlers with tanks add bleach to kill off any stray bacteria, and I'm wondering what concentration to use and if anyone knows of other products to use.
For chemical disinfection to be effective, the water must be filtered and settled first
Household bleach, like Clorox brand, is typically about 5.25% chlorine. Mix thoroughly and allow to stand for at least 30 minutes before using (60 minutes if the water is cloudy or very cold). The treated water should have a chlorine odour. If the treated water has too strong a chlorine taste, allow the water to stand exposed to the air for a few hours or pour it from one clean container to another several times.

- 1/2 teaspoon Regular Clorox Bleach per five gallons of water
If water is cloudy, double the recommended dosages of Clorox Bleach.

More info’ ➥ Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water | Safewater | Water | US EPA
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Old 26-09-2009, 14:22   #7
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Thanks dude
just what I needed to know
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Old 26-09-2009, 14:42   #8
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Please note the EMERGENCY word in the post per Gord. Read the link and you will find the proper order:

- drink bottled water, in not available then:
- drink boiled water, in not available then:
- filter, settle and desinfect,

In this order.

So, if your trawler in not in emergency, it is advisable not to use chlorine in your tanks. Just get the amount you will need, fresh, from the tap, and use it.

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Old 26-09-2009, 15:02   #9
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I think you guys worry too much.
I collect and store water in a 250 litre and a 60 litre stainless steel tank..been doing this for 10 years......the 60 is the back up and the water has been in there over a year ...its fine, there's nothing wrong with it, and we don't use chlorine or silver whatsit, but we will empty it and refill it this summer.

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Old 26-09-2009, 15:25   #10
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collecting using a special or designated tarp or other device is better than using your deck-----as long as you wait for 15-30 mins after the start of the rain then you will supposedly have fresh water of a clean nature. if you merely collect all the water that comes off the deck you will have lots of dirty water to purify.
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Old 26-09-2009, 18:11   #11
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Absolutely. I plan to wash down the deck first, let it rain for at least on hour, and then collect the water through a filter, and that's shower and laundry water. Drinking water is a separate tank.
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Old 26-09-2009, 18:16   #12
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We realy drink bottled water because thats the most energy inefficent way of providing water - its killing the earth!

We can't catch rain water cos the drops move too fast

We bung in, and drink, most marinas tap water.



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Old 26-09-2009, 21:03   #13
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Catch rain water, go up rivers and streams, fill up when we fuel up and/or water in marinas (sediment filtered).
Add bleach more or less as GordMay suggests as it is going into the tanks. Filter it as it is being used through a large particulate filter, then a carbon filter (hate the smell and taste of chlorine) then a seagull filter to pick up anything which may have been missed. After all that it is more or less bottled water.
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Old 28-01-2010, 09:46   #14
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have you ever thought of using PUR
That is what we are planning on using
Here is the link
Clean Drinking Water for the World - PURwater.com
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Old 29-01-2010, 06:57   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lorenzo b
I plan to wash down the deck first, let it rain for at least on hour...
An hour seems excessive to me, especially if you wash the deck first. Rain water is pretty clean. Boat decks really aren't all that dirty either, unless maybe you've been cleaning fish over them. I have in the past (and will in the future, without hesitation) collected rainwater off the decks after letting them rinse for about 10-15 minutes or so. This water is fine for drinking.

Really, didn't any of you eat dirt when you were kids? Or have children who did? I did. My parents tell me that I went through a period when I was about 3-5 when they had to keep a constant eye on me or I would eat dirt, mud, whatever. Grew up to be a perfectly healthy adult. How is that possible?

As long as you're not consuming dangerous chemicals, a little bit of dirt in your water is completely harmless. Rain water doesn't contain dangerous chemicals, unless maybe you are collecting it in the middle of a seriously polluted city. Don't think that's going to be happening when you're out at sea! And your deck isn't going to be covered with dangerous chemicals unless you are doing something very odd during your cruising!

So relax. Collect and drink that rainwater. It is probably better for you than the bottled water that you buy!
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