Yukky water Please help!!!

[carol_374470575]

We have just returned from our second caravan trip, but whilst away we noticed particles in the drinking water, they look like glitter particles ...but black in colour!!

i am quite concerned as i had used the water for my grandsons bottles and didnt notice straight away.

what is wrong and it is dangerous?

Carol

 

[Damian]

They were probably carbon granules from the water filter.

If you have not had it replaced recently, then it may be breaking down, however, if you have had a new filter fitted, then it is small particles that wash out the first use .

Is it dangerous? if it is an old filter, may be more chance of a stomach upset, new filter, no,just dosent look good.

 

[JTQ]

If they are hard more like sugar granules but black they are almost certainly bits of an activated carbon filter and not in themselves dangerous. In this case the filter has been left unchanged for far too long.

If they are soft flecks then they are most likely to be bacterial and fungal slimes; virtually impossible to avoid unless the van has very little use and when not in use the systems are well drained after each trip out.

Its not desirable to consume unboiled but any adverse effects are going to be evident within 4 to 8 hours as a tummy upset.

It can be controlled to some extent by a using a normal concentration of Milton in the system for about 2 hours followed by a good flush.

Don't leave in any longer or use an over concentration as this can result in damage to your water boiler and is against the boiler makers recommendations.

Flushing the system with clean water regularly is also helpful, as this has some purifying ability.

The advice I give however is not to drink unboiled water from the vans system but keep a bottle of freshly drawn water in the fridge for cold drinking.

 

[carol_374470575]

We have only had the caravan a couple of weeks..95 elddis typhoon GT, we have never changed any cartridges etc...where is it located please?

am i now to never drink water from the caravan tap?? must i always carry bottled water?

The particles are hard but look simmilar to cigarette ash! They are also in the kettle when i pour that out into the sink when getting ready to leave the van.

Carol

 

[carol_374470575]

If they are hard more like sugar granules but black they are almost certainly bits of an activated carbon filter and not in themselves dangerous. In this case the filter has been left unchanged for far too long.

If they are soft flecks then they are most likely to be bacterial and fungal slimes; virtually impossible to avoid unless the van has very little use and when not in use the systems are well drained after each trip out.

Its not desirable to consume unboiled but any adverse effects are going to be evident within 4 to 8 hours as a tummy upset.

It can be controlled to some extent by a using a normal concentration of Milton in the system for about 2 hours followed by a good flush.

Don't leave in any longer or use an over concentration as this can result in damage to your water boiler and is against the boiler makers recommendations.

Flushing the system with clean water regularly is also helpful, as this has some purifying ability.

The advice I give however is not to drink unboiled water from the vans system but keep a bottle of freshly drawn water in the fridge for cold drinking.

How do you actually flush out a system, please do bare with us, we are new to this and know absolutely nothing.

we have had 2 outings in the van and with lots of assistance from other caravaners we are learning and getting there.

Carol & James

 

[Parksy]

The water filter will be either on the inlet where the water hose goes into the caravan or underneath the bench seats on the water pipe.

We never drink from the caravan water system but carry a couple of empty plastic bottles to fill from the sites tap. No black bits or yukky bacteria and no stomach upsets, we use the caravan system for showers and washing up etc.

 

[carol_374470575]

The water filter will be either on the inlet where the water hose goes into the caravan or underneath the bench seats on the water pipe.

We never drink from the caravan water system but carry a couple of empty plastic bottles to fill from the sites tap. No black bits or yukky bacteria and no stomach upsets, we use the caravan system for showers and washing up etc.

Thanks for your helpfull replies, we shall try to change the filter this evening after work.

I didnt realise that it wasnt adviseable to drink the tap water well we are learning so much from here.

Outing 3 this coming w.end!! we are loving this caravan lark!!

Carol

 

[Damian]

Depending on what water inlet you have, if you have the Crystal 2, then just above where the pump plugs into the van is a clear round screw in "plug", the water filter is there.

If it does not have this filler system, then as Parks says, it may be under a seat where the water comes into the van, or it may be under the sink, attached to the cold water pipe.

Personally we always use the water from th evan, or aquaroll, and have never had any ill effects, neither do we have any filter apart from the grit filter built into the pump.

Unless you cahnge filters regularly, then they can become more of a health risk than not having one, as you end up with stagnant water sitting in the filter all the time the van is not in use.

As you have granules coming out of the taps, then it is probable that the pipes have the granules in them and are being held in the pipes by the strainers on the tap spout.

If possible, remove the strainers (they should unscrew)and pump water through until all the granules are cleared.

Sterilising the system requires removing the filter, using an aquaroll with the corerct dilution of Milton, filling the system until you know the fluid is coming out of the taps( you should smell it)and leaving for no more than 2 hours, then fresh water in the aquaroll, and flush at least two full containers of water through.

Then replace the filter with a new one, or dispense with the filter completely.

If it is the Crystal 2 , then the filter just pulls off the clear screw cap and use the cap as a blanking plug.

If the filter is in line on one of the pipes, just replace th efilter with a length of the same pipe.

 

[JTQ]

How do you actually flush out a system, please do bare with us, we are new to this and know absolutely nothing.

we have had 2 outings in the van and with lots of assistance from other caravaners we are learning and getting there.

Carol & James

Damien's recent reply covers this flush as I would do it.

The freshly drawn water from a utility supplier's main has a trace of chlorine ions in it and this there to give biological control. It however depletes from the moment it leaves the tap so needs using to flush within an hour.

I also fully endorse his view that for most of us it's better without the filter as we often leave the van out of use and there is no sensible way of drying out the filter. Wet filter, stagnant water = bacteria and fungal activity. Usually not hazardous but undesirable, unpleasant and unappealing.

 

[carol_374470575]

Depending on what water inlet you have, if you have the Crystal 2, then just above where the pump plugs into the van is a clear round screw in "plug", the water filter is there.

If it does not have this filler system, then as Parks says, it may be under a seat where the water comes into the van, or it may be under the sink, attached to the cold water pipe.

Personally we always use the water from th evan, or aquaroll, and have never had any ill effects, neither do we have any filter apart from the grit filter built into the pump.

Unless you cahnge filters regularly, then they can become more of a health risk than not having one, as you end up with stagnant water sitting in the filter all the time the van is not in use.

As you have granules coming out of the taps, then it is probable that the pipes have the granules in them and are being held in the pipes by the strainers on the tap spout.

If possible, remove the strainers (they should unscrew)and pump water through until all the granules are cleared.

Sterilising the system requires removing the filter, using an aquaroll with the corerct dilution of Milton, filling the system until you know the fluid is coming out of the taps( you should smell it)and leaving for no more than 2 hours, then fresh water in the aquaroll, and flush at least two full containers of water through.

Then replace the filter with a new one, or dispense with the filter completely.

If it is the Crystal 2 , then the filter just pulls off the clear screw cap and use the cap as a blanking plug.

If the filter is in line on one of the pipes, just replace th efilter with a length of the same pipe.

Gosh , that seems so complicated...remember we are complete novices!! only had the van 3 weeks and been out twice!!!!

i shall print off this page and offer it to the other half!!!

Many thanks

Carol