Member -Pinko (NSW) replied:

It hasn't rained for nearly four months and we are still drinking the water out of it .
Stan

Witi Repartee replied:

I cleaned mine out with a bleach solution just after I had bought the van. Had no problems and then I holed the water tank when well and truly off the beaten track in a National Park..so I took it out, mended it and gave it a quick soak with bicarb or soda solution. After 2 years we are still alive and healthy and have been drinking water from all over Aussie and the outback. We don't even filter or treat it.
Cheers Gerard

Fiona & Paul replied:

G'day Rick

We generally just keep topping up the tank as we travel around and when at home for a couple of months during the hotter weather I give the tank a quick flush and refill. I use bicarb when each trailer was new and probably once a year when we flush it out.

We do watch the signage when we top the tank up, but I certainly would not put bleach in drinking water.

Paul

guzzi replied:

I drain mine when I get home from a trip and leave it empty until the next trip.
No problems over 3.5 yrs.
Works for me.

Cheers

Ozhumvee replied:

Just top it up on our travels with whatever is available, usually bore water in the centre and west. If it still has bore water in it when we get home I drain it and put fresh tap water in it, never treat it and never put anything in the tank except water. Now been using the tank for 18 years with zero probs.
We drink out of it on the road filling water bottles every morning.

ozjohn0 replied:

I alway drain ours after a trip away, then flush and refill before leaving on the next trip. NOTE: Use only quality 'Food Grade" hose to fill the tank.
Ordinary Garden Hose will give you foul tasting water.
If you can't get rid of the bad smells or taste then you'll need to sterilise your tank. The most common methods are of sterilisation are:
# A cup of household bleach (Non Scented like lemon) to a tank of water.
# A Half packet of Bi carb Soda to a tank of water.
# A Half Bottle of 'Miltons" baby Bottle Sterilisation fluid to a tank of water.
# There are also a few propriety brands of tank cleaning fluids available.
Allow the mix to stand in the tank for a day or two then drain the tank and and refill with fresh water. allow to stand again. Then flush and refill a second time with a Food Grade hose. If this doesn't fix the problem, repeat the process.
Along with most van dealers I've always found bleach does the job quite well.
Good luck.
ozjohn.