Water tank Help

[Goingontour]

Hi. We’re heading off on our first camping trip tomorrow and have yet to fill the water tank. We’re going give it a clean today but have no idea how much we will need for a couple of days away. Don’t wait until arrival at the I met a couple who had a camper (transporter) and they said they never use the water tank at all. Do you use it for making tea/coffee etc or just for washing up? I will take bottled water for general water drinking.
We’re looking forward to staying in the Cali, bought way too much stuff but we’ve no idea what we will need until we try it out, but windy weather on the way may not make it the best experience!

 

[pchmlk]

Whenever I go away, I fill it. I’d rather have too much and why not?
We use it for hot drinks, cooking and brushing teeth but not for drinking (just not keen on flavour).

 

[lohr500]

As above.

We always fill it before setting off and then use it for hot drinks and washing up.
We also take a 5 litre bottle of our own spring water for cold drinks as we too don't like the taste of chlorinated mains water.

When we get home, I drain down the tank, run the tap until it just runs dry and then leave the drain tap open until after the next drive to let any remaining traces of water slosh around and find its way out.

 

[dspuk]

Depends for us. If it’s just a night away it’s too much faff so we just fill a 10L collapsable container we have. More than one we use the tank. We paid for it, so why not. Works fine.

We rarely wash up with it, site facilities better and water hotter, but use for tea, coffee, cooking and general. We have no issue “drinking” it if we have to as we disinfect the tank annually but generally use our own water bottles when out and about.

 

[sticky1]

My advice is to use the California app as you fill the tank, it is nearly real time. I tend to put 20 litres in.
I like the option of having water for hosing down boots, dog etc. as others have said if I’m on a campsite I’ll use their facilities. I take water bottles for drinking water, which I keep in the fridge.
When you head home I pop some disinfectant into the main tank and let it slosh around when driving and then pull a litre through to the sink.
I then drain off the main tank and run the sink tap until it’s no longer pulling any water (apparently the water pump can be run dry briefly) and then I’ll empty the waste tank knowing that both have been disinfected.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Hi. We’re heading off on our first camping trip tomorrow and have yet to fill the water tank. We’re going give it a clean today but have no idea how much we will need for a couple of days away. Don’t wait until arrival at the I met a couple who had a camper (transporter) and they said they never use the water tank at all. Do you use it for making tea/coffee etc or just for washing up? I will take bottled water for general water drinking.
We’re looking forward to staying in the Cali, bought way too much stuff but we’ve no idea what we will need until we try it out, but windy weather on the way may not make it the best experience!

Owned our California for 16 years. Family of 4. Have always drank water from the tank. Clean it with a liquid cleaner every two years. Empty it at the end of summer.

That’s what it’s for. UK drinking water is excellent and won’t make you ill.

 

[sticky1]

Owned our California for 16 years. Family of 4. Have always drank water from the tank. Clean it with a liquid cleaner every two years. Empty it at the end of summer.

That’s what it’s for. UK drinking water is excellent and won’t make you ill.

It sounds like I may be paranoid as I clean and disinfect my tank far more regularly than others appear to.
My logic is that if water sits for a couple of weeks in a warm plastic container there’s a risk after a couple of weeks. The tank isn’t properly sealed as I think the blue lid acts as a breather to release air pressure.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

It sounds like I may be paranoid as I clean and disinfect my tank far more regularly than others appear to.
My logic is that if water sits for a couple of weeks in a warm plastic container there’s a risk after a couple of weeks. The tank isn’t properly sealed as I think the blue lid acts as a breather to release air pressure.

There has been an awful lot of discussion about this. I can only recall one person ever claiming to have been ill after drinking old water and I don't think it was even Cali related. Warm plastic container?? The one with an ice cold gas canister in the middle?? It is paranoia.

Most people complaining of odd taste I think are complaining about the taste of the tank cleaner.

 

[WelshGas]

It amazes me that people are fearful of using domestic tap water in the California tank but happy to drink commercial bottled water that may be days/weeks/months old and being eau naturelle has a higher bacterial count than domestic tap water.

 

[sticky1]

It amazes me that people are fearful of using domestic tap water in the California tank but happy to drink commercial bottled water that may be days/weeks/months old and being eau naturelle has a higher bacterial count than domestic tap water.

Welshgas we agree on so many things!
I treat water in the water tank as I would standing water in an open container.
I’ll see if I can find an image from my endoscope of a friends fresh water tank, admittedly he would leave his water in all year and just top it up, but the black sludge around the bottom of the tank and pipework may convince you that tap water ages.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

The black sludge to which you refer occurs in all water mains pipework also.

This is why after the water company has done work they tell you to run the tap until the water flows clear.

In an old house with a header tank do you drink the water from the tap in the bathroom upstairs? Do you clean your teeth with that water? How often have you flushed and cleaned that header tank?

The black sludge comes from the muddy bottom of the local reservoir!

 

[WelshGas]

Welshgas we agree on so many things!
I treat water in the water tank as I would standing water in an open container.
I’ll see if I can find an image from my endoscope of a friends fresh water tank, admittedly he would leave his water in all year and just top it up, but the black sludge around the bottom of the tank and pipework may convince you that tap water ages.

I have nothing against emptying the tank between journeys, cleaning it, sterilising it as often as owners want, but refusing to use the water from the tank which has been filled from a domestic water supply is not based on any scientific reasoning. Bottled water in the fridge is a valid reason, but you could refill bottles from your tap.
If the water tastes then you are using the wrong cleaning agent or using it incorrectly.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Welshgas we agree on so many things!
I treat water in the water tank as I would standing water in an open container.
I’ll see if I can find an image from my endoscope of a friends fresh water tank, admittedly he would leave his water in all year and just top it up, but the black sludge around the bottom of the tank and pipework may convince you that tap water ages.

In the Cali the pump is clicked in place at the bottom of the tank. That’s where the water comes from!
I suppose if I was buying a ten year old Cali and it was a bit shabby, I would worry about the tank and want to look inside as well as clean it.
I am fortunate that I bought a 1yr old Cali.

There has been a lot written about this. Enjoy your Cali!

 

[sticky1]

In the Cali the pump is clicked in place at the bottom of the tank. That’s where the water comes from!
I suppose if I was buying a ten year old Cali and it was a bit shabby, I would worry about the tank and want to look inside as well as clean it.
I am fortunate that I bought a 1yr old Cali.

There has been a lot written about this. Enjoy your Cali!

You’ve motivated me to stick the scope in the tank and see if all the water drains out when you open the tap. If the pump is mounted at the bottom I’m hopeful it fully drains out.