Poor Tasting Water in Camper
Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 13, 2007 at 23:05
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Brian B (Brisbane)
Hi Folks,
We recently got into a new Goldstream Camper and we are happy with it.
When we are either hooked up to mains water or drawing our supply from the tank the initial burst of water is always tainted. After a while it goes away and the taste is good.
I fill with a food grade hose and the supply is clean so I am thinking it may be coming from the new plumbing fittings Goldstream have used.
I had a look through the archives and couldn't find much on this specific problem.
Does anyone have any experience with this type problem and are there any solutions out there?
Thanks in advance.
Reply By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Wednesday, Jun 13, 2007 at 23:14
Wednesday, Jun 13, 2007 at 23:14
6 to 8 drops of bleach per gallon.
There are also drops available from boat shops.
Regards
Derek.
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Follow Up By: Brian B (Brisbane) - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 09:42
Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 09:42
Thanks Derek
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Reply By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Wednesday, Jun 13, 2007 at 23:17
Wednesday, Jun 13, 2007 at 23:17
Water Treat
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Follow Up By: Brian B (Brisbane) - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 09:42
Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 09:42
Ok mate thanks for the info.
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Reply By: Ian from Thermoguard Instruments - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 08:18
Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 08:18
A teaspoonful of sodium bicarbonate (bicarb soda) in plastic tanks is supposed to help a lot. I suppose you could flush a weak bicarb solution through your mains pipes as
well.
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Follow Up By: Brian B (Brisbane) - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 09:43
Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 09:43
Thanks for the info Ian.
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Reply By: traveller2 - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 08:21
Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 08:21
Just don't ever put Puritabs or similar in the tank as you will never get the taste out, it seems to get into the plastic. BTDT.
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Reply By: Brian B (Brisbane) - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 09:44
Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 09:44
Hi,
I will steer clear of Puritabs.
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Reply By: Member - Matt M (ACT) - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 10:31
Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 10:31
Brian,
We had similar problems with the KK and there is no point in treating the water in the tank, because it is fine. The initial bad taste comes from water that has been sitting in the pipes leading from the tank to your outlet. Once you get to the tank water, the problem goes away.
Aside from completely re-plumbing with stainless or some material guaranteed not to leave a taste, there is not much you can do about it.
The good news is that it gets better over time, but you will still find that, left sitting for longer periods, the taste will still be there. We got around it by putting the first half a dozen or so pumps into the washing up bucket or to rinse clothes, etc.... Don't try to fill the billy with it, because the taste can beat coffee easily. You just learn to work around it without wasting water.
That said, I would still go back to the manufacturer to see what they can do about it (take a cup of the water with you).
Cheers,
Matt.
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Follow Up By: Russ n Sue - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 11:03
Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 11:03
Interesting observation Matt. We have a similar problem with our KK. I contacted them and they insisted that it was the water going into the tank that was tainted. I dumped the water, flushed the system with solution of Sodium Bicarbonate and refilled through a food grade hose.
It still tasted like plastic. So I figured that maybe they were right - the local water isn't the best and maybe the dissolved salts in it were reacting with the plastic hoses and fittings to give the taste.
So I repeated the flushing proceedure and this time I filled the tank with water I had run through a Reverse Osmosis plant. This water was perfect! It was tested and only had 3 ppm of impurities. I then pumped it through the pipes of the KK and guess what? It STILL tasted yucky!
I had that water tested and it was 60 ppm dissolved matter. So obviously the problem is coming from the pipes and taps in the KK. I'm not happy about this because one of the things they make a big deal about in their promotional material is how good the water is - stainless steel tank yada, yada.
We have taken to carrying plastic jerry cans of water for drinking and use the tank water for washing, showering etc. Disppointing really.
Cheers,
Russ.
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Follow Up By: Brian B (Brisbane) - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 22:50
Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 22:50
Hi Matt,
Thanks for the info.
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Reply By: Member Boroma 604 - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 11:58
Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 11:58
Gooday,
Have a look at this site first ( best water filters) can't work out how to add the link !!!!!!, he gave a talk at ACC Musteer a couple of weekends ago, sounded convincing, bought an inline one to fit after tanks, have not yet fitted it but maybe others have tried them .
Cheers,
Boroma 604
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Follow Up By: Brian B (Brisbane) - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 22:51
Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 22:51
Hi,
Thanks for the advice.
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Reply By: Redback - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 13:17
Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 13:17
My suggestion is to get a water filter, dual filter ones are the best.
The proper household ones are the go for around $200 there abouts.
I put this in my camper, i can now fill from any water source.
The 2 filters are for germs and taste.
Then you'll only need to flush and clean your tank once every 3mths or so.
Baz.
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Follow Up By: Brian B (Brisbane) - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 22:51
Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 22:51
Hi Baz,
Sounds a good idea.
Thanks
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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 15:21
Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 15:21
Had exactly the same problem with my undertray tank (Goughs plastic tank). The clear plastic hose was bad. The shiny light blue Pope brand drinking water hose was also bad. But once I changed all hoses (incl breather and filler) to the half inch Nylex brand braided light blue drinking water hose, everything was perfect. Now get absolutely no plastic taste.
Just because a hose is food grade or drinking water hose, doesn't guarantee that it won't leave a taste.
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Follow Up By: Brian B (Brisbane) - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 22:53
Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 22:53
Hi Phil,
Thanks for the info.
All that I know so far is that the taste is only in the camper. I can fill other things with the same filler hose and no taste.
I am guessing it is plumbing fittings or hose on the camper.
I will have a talk to the agent as it is only a couple of months old.
Thanks
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