Bailey Caravans TCP water system

[Danny_5134221]

If any of you own a new Bailey like me and your water system gives you water like TCP be it hot or cold, Bailey are aware of the problem.

Today I spoke to Bailey direct through their tech dept and explained the problem on my 2006 Ranger and how the taste and smell has got gradually worse from new. They told me they are experiencing a " few " faults like this and are advising to return the van to the dealer and have the internal water pipes replaced under warranty.

Spoke to my dealer and they were unaware of this ! But after they spoke to Bailey the caravan is going in to have the pipes replaced in June. Later in the conversation with the dealer they admitted to the problem and told me that Bailey were quite worried about this and the amount of vans that need rectifing. Some vans might have to go to the Bailey factory and there is 6 month wait at least for the work to be done.

Looks like they bought a faulty batch of pipe..........

 

[ANN_374233635]

Hi Danny

we have a July 2006 Senator Indiana, and the water tastes just like the system had been flushed through with sterilising solution. We now take water (for drinking) from the site tap in a bottle. Will contact our dealer (Harringtons, nr Chester) to see where we stand.

Do you have name of anyone in Bailey Tech Dept we could quite to dealer ?

Ann

 

[Danny_5134221]

Hello Ann,

Sorry no names, I just phonned Bailey and asked to be put through to their Tech Dept. The chap was quite helpfull but did not give too much away about the problem, it was like I hit a raw nerve !

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

Check my posts under general "Bailey Senator Arizona, Cheeky Daelers, is it me or them? "

I have exactly the same problem, if you phone Bailey ask for Alan Danks, but don't be surprised if you get a very frosty reception, I think you will find this is a problem that they do not want to own up to, and they certainly do not want the public to know for fear of escalation.

 

[JimC1]

We have a 2007 Pageant which occasionally has the same water taste, funny though it was ok last time out 2 weeks ago. Will keep an eye on this though.

Jim

 

[Marc1]

If the manufacturers do not like talking to the public about this problem then perhaps this might be a good subject for an article in practical caravan, or is investigative journalism not in fashion anymore.

Marc

 

[rob_jax]

Hi guys,

As a chemist / chemical engineer, people reporting a TCP like taste or taint to water is not an unknown phenomenon.

But you should be aware that individual susceptibility to the taint is genetic - some people (like me and I guess the other posters in this thread) can be very, very sensitive to the chemical compounds that cause this taint. I'm capable of tasting these compounds in water at a level of 1 part in 1 billion - so can never drink water from a caravan water system. Whereas other people can be one thousand or one million times less susceptible and never notice a problem.

The cause:

Food grade plastic pipes contain a very low level of residual monomers (simple compounds that are joined together to make the plastic polymer) and plasticizers (to make the piping bendable).

These compounds slowly leach out into the water - and have no taste - and I certainly can't taste these even at quite high levels.

Add a standard bleach / sterilising solution (Sodium Oxychloride solution) and the tubing is now nice and clean - and I still can't taste anything.

However if the water is slightly acidic (Scotland - peaty soils and granite rocks is a good example), then a side reaction in the bleach happens and a small amount of free Chlorine is released - reacts with the leached compounds - and then I can taste them at that fantastically low level.

And they taste like TCP (good description of the characteristic taste) because many of these compounds are structurally very similar to TCP (before the chlorine is added at the factory to make TCP) - so a bit of free Chlorine in the water - and hey presto - you have TCP like taste compounds in the water.

And outside of the caravan, this taint problem can happen anywhere you have organic compounds in water (like Scotland with peaty soils where natural organic compounds are released by plant decay) and someone inadvertently adds bleach and a little acid.

Flushing with clean water will remove the taint (eventually) but like the time we were in France when the local water engineers repaired a water main break, but then used a burst of Chlorine to sterilise the water - it tainted the whole water supply to the camp site and our van - and it hasn't improved yet.

Robert

 

[catherine2]

Hi Danny

We've had the same problem with our Bailey Ranger 2006 model since new. Until today we have put up with it and just collected water for drinking in a kettle.

However, upon reading the comments today I was spurred on to contact my dealer. He was vey helpful and straightaway said that they've had a few problems like this and they would replace the water pipes. He said this had worked in the other vans and hopefully would in ours. He said no-one really knows what the problem is exactly but as long as this works I don't really mind.

The work can be done by the dealer and the van does not need to be returned to Baileys - mine is being done in 2 weeks time.

Based on this, my advice is to telephone your dealer if you have a problem and it should be rectified without any arguement.

 

[will2]

I agree with rob_jax about the food grade hose.

We had this problem with our Avondale. We tried everything to get rid of it. We sterilized everything but this made no difference.

The last time we used the caravan we got water straight from the tap that tasted ok then i took some water from the aquaroll this had the TCP tasteand a very strong smell. I then took off the food grade hose,rinsed out the aquaroll,then used a normal hosepipe. The taste had gone and remained ok for the rest of the stay.

 

[rob_jax]

Will,

If flushing clears the taint then fine, but be aware that keeping the same water in the Aquaroll for days at a time just gives these compounds a chance to build up in the water.

If you have (or had) a taint problem, it's probably a good idea to flush the Aquaroll each time you fill up.

Robert

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

Our water at home is perfect no taste, smell etc, fill the Aqua roll still no taste, pump it through our 2007 Bailey Senator and you don't have to taste it you can smell it a mile off! Good for waking you up first thing in the morning. All previous four caravans that I have stored at my present home address have not suffered with this problem, only the Bailey, so with my limited knowledge it does not seem to be the water supply, and with my first contact with Bailey they immediately agreed to have the caravan returned to them to replace the entire water system,(pipes tanks etc) but since having collaborated with the supplying dealer they have now changed there minds. So needless to say this matter + other quibbles with the Bailey are now in the hands of trading standards, read the full thread in General, under Baily Senator Arizona.

Allan & Gill.

 

[stuart_5107319]

Hi Rob

Any chance of a bit more detail ;-)

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Stuart,

Yes indeed - I'll draw the 3D chemical structures of the taint compounds and of the olfactory and taste sensors so you can see how the chemicals fit and trigger the response. And there will be a test.

Robert

 

[stuart_5107319]

I will only submit to the test after 6 cans of Old Speckled Hen !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Robert_374304685]

I will only submit to the test after 6 cans of Old Speckled Hen !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robert;

Are these residual monomers when mixed with chlorine poisoness? I askd because the TCP taste that results from Trihalomethanes (THM's) caused by chlorinated water mixing with vegetable matter is said to be carcinogenic especially in the area of bowel cancer.

I have just purchased a new 2006 Swift Conqueror 645 caravan from Barrons on the 10th May 2007 and it polluted the water drawn from our chlorinated municipal water supply with compound(s) tasting foul as if it has been contaminated with TCP.

The pump involved was a Truma Crystal Maxi pump model/serial numbers: 21/2005 - 022406.

I also purchased a replacement Truma pump 2006 series at my own expence and still have the same problem with an overnight soak test in my sink in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

It is documented that chlorinated water can react with organic material and produce Trihalomethanes (THM's) which in turn produce cancer risks in the area of bowel cancer and make the water taste foul as if contaminated with TCP.

Last month a caravanning friend of mine also purchased a new 2006 caravan, a Compass Omega from Harringtons with the 2005 series Truma Crystal Maxi pump and had the same TCP taste problem. Harringtons in Washington replaced it after a couple of visits complaining and the replacement had the same problem.

My prime concern in all of this is that if two independent people bought two different new caravans, three different Truma pumps from two different dealers in two different towns but both with the same foul tasting (TCP) water and this foul taste is associated with Trihalomethanes (THM's) and bowel cancer. This then poses the questions is this a national health risk and how many other caravaners are affected.

I have asked the respective Trading Standards departments to send these pumps to the Government Laboratory of Health for testing.

Barrons and Harringtons stated they have never heard of this problem ever before and Barrons stated that;

"I have been discussing the matter with the technical team of Truma UK and have been advised that there are no known materials or compounds used in Truma water products that would produce the effects you claim. Truma have been manufacturing this type of water equipment for a good number of years now without any adverse effects."

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