1. “Shock” the tank with a high dose of bleach. 1/4 cup regular bleach per 15 gallons tank. Fill to top. Turn on all faucets to get bleach in
plumbing. Let sit for two hours. Drain and flush several times. It will take about 4 flushes to get all the bleach smell out.
2. Check fill and vent hoses. Very common for stuff to grow in a dip in the hose. Clean
screen at inlet to
water pump.
3. City water has 1ppm chlorine This will keep a clean tank clean.
4. At least once a month completely empty and refill with fresh city water.
5. If using Watermakers water, add bleach to get to 1ppm (part per million) chlorine, Buy pool test strips to measure. You will only need to add about a teaspoon of bleach. In a vented tank like on a
boat all chlorine is gone in about 48 hours. If you’ve gone a long time without new city water, add a bit of bleach to get back to 1ppm
6 Always use your own hose to fill the tank. Empty it before storing away. Put a filter on it.
7. Put a
drinking water spigot on the
galley sink. There are better choices now than Seagull for much less
money. I use a Pentex Flo-plus 10 that meets the newest ANSI 53 standard. Costs $15.
8. A bottle of bleach in a locker has
lost most of it’s strength in six months. Instead of liquid bleach try a powder known as Sodium Dichlor. Get a 1lb container for $10 at a store selling hot tub chemicals.
If you do all of the above, your water will taste better than bottled water. I no longer have plastic water bottles on the
boat - which saves a lot of
money and my back from lugging it aboard.