How old can 'Fresh' Water be?

[wildebus]

This is a question for maybe those part-time/intermittant campers rather than full-timers, I would think.

So the question ... How long do you leave water in the containers/tank unused before you empty and replenish?
I went away the weekend before last and filled both my 25L containers before I went away on the Friday. Back home on the Sunday and I returned with around 40L of water (I really don't seem to use a lot of water on these Festival weekends!).
Going away in a couple of days time for around a week - would you empty the water out (will have been sitting in the containers for around 2 weeks) and refresh, or just leave it and use it?
On my previous Camper I just had a 13L container so typically had little water carried home so not a question that often came to mind really.

And what about you guys with big 100L odd underslung tanks? use or refresh if untouched in a fortnight?

 

[Full Member]

This is a question for maybe those part-time/intermittant campers rather than full-timers, I would think.

So the question ... How long do you leave water in the containers/tank unused before you empty and replenish?
I went away the weekend before last and filled both my 25L containers before I went away on the Friday. Back home on the Sunday and I returned with around 40L of water (I really don't seem to use a lot of water on these Festival weekends!).
Going away in a couple of days time for around a week - would you empty the water out (will have been sitting in the containers for around 2 weeks) and refresh, or just leave it and use it?
On my previous Camper I just had a 13L container so typically had little water carried home so not a question that often came to mind really.

And what about you guys with big 100L odd underslung tanks? use or refresh if untouched in a fortnight?

If I plan to drink the water I leave it for up to a week if it's not too warm. The water in the main moho tank is only used for hot drinks, washing up and showers. I only empty that one when I prepare the moho for winter.
I hope this helps.

Colin

 

[mark61]

I carry a spare 10 litre container and a 25 Litre of water in addition to tank. The 10 litre one is used to top up main tank so gets refreshed frequently. The 25 litre one get used when I remember, so every few months or so. I use tank water for tea/coffee.

 

[wildebus]

If I plan to drink the water I leave it for up to a week if it's not too warm. The water in the main moho tank is only used for hot drinks, washing up and showers. I only empty that one when I prepare the moho for winter.
I hope this helps.

Colin

Thanks.
I use the tap water (ie from containers) for washing up, brushing teeth and the like. I would only specifically consume it after boiling e.g. Tea, Coffee or Cooking (no shower, so just can do basic wash)
Didn't consider the weather aspect, so thanks for bringing that to mind

So I think I will replenish the tanks on Thursday and use the existing water for washing the van or watering the plants :dog:

 

[harrow]

Just use the old water to flush the toilet at home, and fill the containers up with fresh tap water.

 

[wildebus]

....If I plan to drink the water I leave it for up to a week if it's not too warm. ....
Colin

This point also reminded me of something I was thinking off, thinking back to seeing the water coolers in offices with the blue cosys on, mainly I think to prevent algae due to light as well as warming up in direct sun?

So in best Blue Peter style, using duct tape and the remains of some foil bubble insulation, I made a cover up for one of the containers ...

Cover by David, on Flickr

Now not being either Clark Kent or Ray Milland (extra points given for working out the second reference WITHOUT Google), I would not be able to see the water level though
So using some more Bubble Wrap, but this time of the clear variety, I made a Water Level Window on one side...

Cover with Level Window by David, on Flickr

And in place ...

Cover In Place by David, on Flickr
Where I am usually parked, when there is sunlight, it is hitting the rear water container whenever the door is open, which is why I had those initial thoughts of water coolers and algae, but keeping the water cool will also be a plus as well (and maybe help stopping it freezing up in winter time as well?)

I might make another for the 2nd Container if I can find enough left-over bubble-foil, but that one doesn't get the sun in the same way (as you can see from the last photo) so not quite as imperative.

 

[witzend]

Considering where water comes from ours from a borehole how old is it before I get it and consider it Fresh?

An eldery neighbour used to have our son amongst other garden duties empty her coal bunker every summer to have fresh in for the coming winter? When we tried to explain how old the coal was before she got it she just couldn't grasp it

 

[vwalan]

best use the black jerrycan type containers . ex army style . black stops the light so keeps algie down and it can be kept months or years in these containers .
shame when m,home converters etc build the m,homes black plastic water tanks are the way. i was told by scientists in our local water board that black plastic also gives off a kind of chemical that also helps water stay ok.
but to be safe boil water and let it cool if you want to drink it . or get a good filter system .
British Berkefield HBA MK11 Filter
and these filters ,Ultracarb 10 Inch Short Mount Filter
same scientists told me i couldnt get a better system if i tried .
i didnt buy from that company i bought off brownchurch landrovers , they build expedition vehicles .
but good prices to be had.

 

[n brown]

we used underslung tanks , backed up by as many 10 ltr containers as we could stash. we sprayed them all black and never worried about how old any of them were ,having seen how quickly water turns green in a clear container, we felt we'd notice if there was a problem

 

[phillybarbour]

i wouldn’t keep water in the tank longer than a week. Bottled water filled in sterile conditions is totally different obviously.

 

[vwalan]

i wouldn’t keep water in the tank longer than a week. Bottled water filled in sterile conditions is totally different obviously.

but is bottled water filled in sterile conditions ?
thats a different question.
mind can never be sure if bottled water is only tap water.
if you arent on mains water and have a bore hole in the ground it only extracts water from under ground pools etc . might never be trreated water .
lots of country houses etc use bore holes .
mind many collect water from natural springs and fonts .

 

[Trotter]

Ray Milland (extra points given for working out the second reference WITHOUT Google), I would not be able to see the water level though

The only film I can think of is "The Long Weekend". I don't think he was drinking a great deal of water in that. Ray Milland was the Sainted Doris's pin up.

 

[Deleted member 52918]

With reference to Ray millands film "The man with XRAY eyes"

Was this before or after he "plucked" them out after they offended him?

I had a white parasol base weighted with water, I left it in a corner of the garden for over 10 years & when I emptied it I thought it would be well stinky, but no, it came out as fresh as it went in, I even tasted a little & it was fine.

So as long as the container isn't clear it might be ok.

Phill

 

[slider]

I use 25ltr container fortunately where my sink is sun doesn't get to it. Normally empty mine on return. Went away two weeks ago only this time didn't empty eventually got to it today was surprised what I found. The pipe which was in the water had gone slimey no green on it just slimey. Not saying water would definitely have been harmful but think I will stick to my normal routine and empty on return.

 

[wildebus]

I use 25ltr container fortunately where my sink is sun doesn't get to it. Normally empty mine on return. Went away two weeks ago only this time didn't empty eventually got to it today was surprised what I found. The pipe which was in the water had gone slimey no green on it just slimey. Not saying water would definitely have been harmful but think I will stick to my normal routine and empty on return.

Interesting. When I moved over my supply 'drop' pipe from the container on Wednesday evening I noticed it was a touch slimey as well.

Quick Google and just saw this .... What's Behind the Slippery Sensation of Soft Water?
Is your water soft? The water I fill up with is very soft and from article above might explain the 'slimyness'?

 

[slider]

Interesting. When I moved over my supply 'drop' pipe from the container on Wednesday evening I noticed it was a touch slimey as well.

Quick Google and just saw this .... What's Behind the Slippery Sensation of Soft Water?
Is your water soft? The water I fill up with is very soft and from article above might explain the 'slimyness'?

Wish my water was soft but no it's quite hard. Was thinking along the lines of it was a combination of van been stationery and hot weather.
So think I will definitely make sure I empty out left over water. Just to be on the safe side.

 

[Deleted user 48797]

As I tell my grandson....all water contains dinosaur pee

 

[Deleted member 22077]

We tend to go for a week or so. That said, I sterilise it a few times a year, it's in a well insulated van and sits in a secondary insulated box, wrapped in 4 layers of pond-liner.

Spot the guy with OCD!!!! Or possibly as a result of having to rip out the previous leaking tank in a small village in Austria, with the doors closed (cos you're not allowed to undertake any work on a Sunday).

 

[gsullymorgan]

It’s always odd to see use by dates on bottled water.

 

[sunnyboy]

Old water

Most of the water we drink is billions of years old. The problems with drinking it are contaminants, as pointed out. Tap water and eau potable has traces of chlorine added to kill bacteria that might cause disease, so it is best to be aware if you are considering refilling from an oprn source. My van has 100 litre tank but I never travel with more than 25 l because of the weight, and top up as needed. A bucket and funnel is needed. Also, the tank is plastic and all plastics do leak tiny amounts of materials that affect the taste, and may be harmless or possibly not. So, I empty the tank at the end of each, trip.