Do You Drink Tank Water !?

[ejjawhite]

My boat came equipped with a Seagull IV water filtration system. It produces spring water quality drinking water. The filters are not cheap, but they filter out bacteria,protozoa, and even viruses that can all cause health problems. I run my tank water thru the filter and carry only a couple gallons of bottled water should my electrical systems fail. The Seagull taps off of my main water line, which we use for washing, etc. I have aluminum water tanks on my boat, so I do not use chlorine, which would attack the metal.


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[dmaher2007]

Filtered water is not noticeably safer or healthier. Most people filter their water because it makes the water taste better, and they think it removes the “bad stuff” from the water. In reality, unless you buy an expensive filtration system, your simple fridge or tap filter isn’t doing much. Most filters are just activated carbon and maybe an ion exchange resin (to reduce heavy metal ions in the water). The big sell is that they remove lead from your tap water. In the United States lead in drinking water is already limited to 15ppb. And in many places it is a lot less (i.e. undetectable). My point – the amount of lead in tap water is so low your filter isn’t doing "anything". I use 1 filter, after the water comes out of the tap, and it does the same job as some using 2,3 or even 4 filters. BUT filters MUST be changed after a couple months or your filter becomes a bacteria breeding ground.

[HopCar]

Ejjawhite, if you ever want to clean your tank, a recent Practical Sailor article said Puriclean works well and is safe for use in aluminum tanks. If your tank is clean, your expensive filter elements should last longer.
Puriclean - MFG#UPCSTD - 14 oz. Tub

[zboss]

Originally Posted by Canibul

What do you freeze the water in, as a container, I mean? Do you use plastic jugs? My wife and I have been discussing freezing several gallons to help the freezer stay cold. She's paranoid about something in the plastic leaching into the water.

We have a friend that take leftover water bottles and fills them back up with water and sticks them into the deep freezer. When its time for sundowners she takes them out and cuts them in thick slices. You get ice cubes that last multiple drinks and you cut up your trash at the same time!

Yes, we drink our fiberglass tank water. Right now we filter it through an RV filter and then always treat with a large dose of bleach. We filter through a charcoal filter that gets replaced every 30 days. At least, this is the latest method. So far we have not grown any additional limbs.

We are discovering that the trick is to keep using the water outof our 40 gallon tank so when we get our watermaker we will decommission the 100 gallon tank and put in a smaller, lighter plastic one to make room for storage.

We are replacing all our old hose with PEX.

[Pelagic]

At the Subic Marina I buy filtered/ionized water in 30 liter dispenser for drinking and use marina water only for washing.

Before we leave for long term cruising we open and clean 2000 liter tank and go to anchor to start water maker and fill/ flush system.
Then after that, only R/O water goes in tank until we finish cruising, so we can enjoy safe tap water.

I am lucky. We can climb inside tank and clean/inspect thoroughly.

Here is someone inside and recent photo after painting with potable paint.

[Neptune's Gear]

Yes, we drink water from our fibreglass tanks. We have no watermaker. We catch rainwater, and by filtered water when we need to. We use a 0.5 micron activated carbon filter, changed every 6 months or so, and the bleach treatment, with a shock dose every now and then. It has never been an issue, even in 3rd world countries.