Eternal422 Posted May 4, 2017 Report Share Posted May 4, 2017 (edited) Bit of a newbie question here, but wondering about whether it's safe to drink water from a narrowboat's water tank. We have just bought a share in a narrowboat having only hired before and drunk only bottled water on board. But this is a real pain to constantly be buying and carrying back to the boat that we are wondering whether to just drink the water from the boat's water tank. As far as I know at the moment there is no regular treatment of the tank, although as the boat is always out the tank will be constantly in use and refilled, so no chance of there being stagnant water in there. I know about flushing water through the filler hose each time we refill the tank as well as keeping the ends of the hose clean that fit the water point and go into the tank. So what do people think? I've only found some very old posts on here about this subject, so maybe things have changed? Any advice would be very welcome. Edited May 4, 2017 by Eternal422 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted May 4, 2017 Report Share Posted May 4, 2017 We have always used the water from the domestic tanks for drinking just as if it were tap water at home. This has so far caused no issues whatsoev............................................. Eeeeeeeeh Yakka-Boo, Yakka-Boo Eeeeeeeeh Yakka-Boo, Yakka-Boo Eeeeeeeeh Yakka-Boo, Yakka-Boo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickent Posted May 4, 2017 Report Share Posted May 4, 2017 The only water we drink from our water tank is boiled to make tea or coffee. We use bottled water to drink at other times. We have a stainless steel water tank which we treat fairly regularly with milton, so would be ok to drink directly from tank but we just choose not to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted May 4, 2017 Report Share Posted May 4, 2017 I always drank mine. I'm just fiiiiiiiine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luggsy Posted May 4, 2017 Report Share Posted May 4, 2017 If you don't want to carry bottles back from the shop/supermarket just fill your empty bottles when you fill up with water 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 On 04/05/2017 at 23:11, alan_fincher said: We have always used the water from the domestic tanks for drinking just as if it were tap water at home. This has so far caused no issues whatsoev............................................. Eeeeeeeeh Yakka-Boo, Yakka-Boo Eeeeeeeeh Yakka-Boo, Yakka-Boo Eeeeeeeeh Yakka-Boo, Yakka-Boo Me too. Blibble blibble. No but seriously, a load of old tosh is written about not drinking from tanks. It's fine unless it is full of dead rats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 I drink mine too. What's the point of a potable water system you don't use? Obviously, as you already know, you need to take some basic precautions and the odd tank treatment won't hurt. Do a search and you'll find much discussion on the subject Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuthound Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 (edited) You will be fine, as the shareboat will be in use for most of the year, the water in the tank will have a quick turnover, unlike some leisure boats. Before getting our own boat, we had shareboats for 22 years, always drank the water from the tank, and have lived to tell the tale. Edited May 5, 2017 by cuthound To unmangle the effects of autocorrect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac of Cygnet Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 I'm with W.C.Fields on this one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mross Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 8 hours ago, luggsy said: If you don't want to carry bottles back from the shop/supermarket just fill your empty bottles when you fill up with water This is not a good idea long term unless bottles are sterilised. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac of Cygnet Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 4 minutes ago, mross said: This is not a good idea long term unless bottles are sterilised. Why not? If the bottles are thoroughly rinsed from the tap before filling. We don't sterilise our glasses, etc., do we? Anyway, what do I know - as indicated in my previous post, I don't drink water. But only because I don't like the taste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mross Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 There's a risk of bacteria. Washing in very hot water can leach chemicals. I'm sure the risks are low. I drink from my tap buy the wife buys bottled water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proper Charlie Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 9 hours ago, luggsy said: If you don't want to carry bottles back from the shop/supermarket just fill your empty bottles when you fill up with water That's what we do too. No ill effects so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty69 Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 (edited) You can also leave bottled water in the sun to disinfect it, trouble is it's then too warm to drink Been drinking our tanked water for years without problem, but it is a plastic one. If it were an inbuilt steel one iwould want a filter fitted. I wonder how many use a food grade water pipe to fill their tanks Edited May 5, 2017 by rusty69 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b0atman Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 drink from my tap will often fill 5L bottles too Mains tap water has chlorine etc in it as a cleanser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taslim Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 31 minutes ago, Mac of Cygnet said: I'm with W.C.Fields on this one. Quite right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mross Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 The amount of chlorine in mains tap water is not enough to do any sterilising. In your water tank the chlorine level will drop to zero in a day or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 And so the tosh I mentioned earlier begins... Just drink the tank water. It's what most boaters do and no ill effects occur. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 9 hours ago, luggsy said: If you don't want to carry bottles back from the shop/supermarket just fill your empty bottles when you fill up with water In which case you've replaced a large and convenient system, specifically designed to store and provide potable water long-term, with a number of very small and inconvenient ones, probably designed for once-only use. If the boat engine was unable to provide enough power because of defects or poor maintenance, would we add another source of power such as an outboard to make up for it? A potable water system should provide potable water - if it doesn't, it needs fixing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 Susan simply dunked the kettle under the water of lake Coniston to fill it, to make tea. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Smith Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 If you really don't want to drink it straight out the tank just get a filter jug an keep in the fridge. Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty69 Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 9 minutes ago, bizzard said: Susan simply dunked the kettle under the water of lake Coniston to fill it, to make tea. Trouble is John and Roger had just had a pee in it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 On 05/05/2017 at 09:20, rusty69 said: Trouble is John and Roger had just had a pee in it But all the millions of fish in the water, pee in their Port Pottis. Obviously Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree monkey Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 (edited) 8 hours ago, Mike the Boilerman said: Me too. Blibble blibble. No but seriously, a load of old tosh is written about not drinking from tanks. It's fine unless it is full of dead rats. Oh are dead rats bad? Blast better get that sorted then Are you sure? Even the long dead ones jammed in the corners? Edited May 5, 2017 by tree monkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stilllearning Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 Having lived on board for 15 years, without ever thinking about sterilizing or bleaching the tank, and only once repainting it, my opinion is that there is absolutely no need whatsoever to worry. Just drink the water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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