The Mystery Water Tank Drain Material

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77 Sunset Strip View Drop Down

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Topic: The Mystery Water Tank Drain Material
Posted: 07 Jun 2022 at 12:40am

2019 Model 189

Getting ready to take maiden voyage. Filled water tank and added chlorine for a good disinfecting. When I drained the water tank, out comes a bunch of like plastic bag pieces. In many years of draining water tanks on 12 different RV's - I have never seen this. How would plastic pieces get into the water tank ? Going to try and post a picture of what I found.

2019 Rpod 189
2022 Nissan Frontier

jato

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Posted: 07 Jun 2022 at 5:13am

Sloppy or poor cleanup after constructing the unit. This should have been taken care of at the factory - obviously wasn't. Am surprised you haven't had any issues with either the screens at any of the faucets or shower head plugged or the screen on the inlet side of the water pump with the same issue. May be a good time to check those areas as well.

Years ago I did see a similar instance where an individual left the drain to the FW tank open during winter storage. Unfortunately mice got in, made quite a mess, chewed up a lot of the plastic tank and the result was small plastic debris, similar to what you have shown. Hopefully that isn't the case for you as this individual had to replace the tank. They used it for drinking like many of us do and couldn't get rid of the 'mouse pee smell' from the tank.

God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Colonel Podder View Drop Down

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Posted: 07 Jun 2022 at 7:50am

We had the same thing happen when our camper was new. But I see yours has been around for a little while, so not sure what would cause that? But if this is the first time the FW tank was drained, may be completely normal.

2021 R-pod 196

77 Sunset Strip View Drop Down

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Posted: 09 Jun 2022 at 2:14am

Update-

Re-filled water tank and drained water into some buckets. There was an opaque goo floating around in the buckets in small amounts. I think what I thought was plastic bag scraps from the day before was actually this goo that had dried on the blacktop.

Could the bleach used to sanitize the water tank have turned like this after being in the tank for 4 days ? A friend of mine thinks it might be RV anti-freeze, but I am used to seeing that colored pink ?

Obviously a little concerned now about using water from the tank even if just for cooking or showering.

Posting a new picture of what this stuff looks like while still wet. The dark flakes are just small debris that was in the bucket and attached itself to this goo.

2019 Rpod 189
2022 Nissan Frontier

offgrid

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Posted: 09 Jun 2022 at 6:23am

Looks like maybe uncured silicone or other sealant. Possibly excess left over from when the tank fitting were installed? If that's what it is it won't disolve and the water should be safe.

But if you're concerned for whatever reason about the tank water, as we were, you can bring along a couple of 2.5 gallon water dispensers and use that water for cooking, drinking, and toothbrushing. That's what we did.

Extends your water supply for boondocking too. The tank water is fine for external use (showering, dishwashing, and flushing), which together use the vast majority. Just don't sing in the shower.

1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

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77 Sunset Strip Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 27 Apr 2022 Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Post Options Post Reply Quote 77 Sunset Strip Report Post Quote Reply Topic: The Mystery Water Tank Drain Material Posted: 07 Jun 2022 at 12:40am
	2019 Model 189 Getting ready to take maiden voyage. Filled water tank and added chlorine for a good disinfecting. When I drained the water tank, out comes a bunch of like plastic bag pieces. In many years of draining water tanks on 12 different RV's - I have never seen this. How would plastic pieces get into the water tank ? Going to try and post a picture of what I found.
	2019 Rpod 189 2022 Nissan Frontier

jato Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3223	Post Options Post Reply Quote jato Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jun 2022 at 5:13am
	Sloppy or poor cleanup after constructing the unit. This should have been taken care of at the factory - obviously wasn't. Am surprised you haven't had any issues with either the screens at any of the faucets or shower head plugged or the screen on the inlet side of the water pump with the same issue. May be a good time to check those areas as well. Years ago I did see a similar instance where an individual left the drain to the FW tank open during winter storage. Unfortunately mice got in, made quite a mess, chewed up a lot of the plastic tank and the result was small plastic debris, similar to what you have shown. Hopefully that isn't the case for you as this individual had to replace the tank. They used it for drinking like many of us do and couldn't get rid of the 'mouse pee smell' from the tank.
	God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Colonel Podder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 25 Sep 2020 Location: Lexington, SC Online Status: Offline Posts: 68	Post Options Post Reply Quote Colonel Podder Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jun 2022 at 7:50am
	We had the same thing happen when our camper was new. But I see yours has been around for a little while, so not sure what would cause that? But if this is the first time the FW tank was drained, may be completely normal.
	2021 R-pod 196

77 Sunset Strip Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 27 Apr 2022 Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Post Options Post Reply Quote 77 Sunset Strip Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jun 2022 at 2:14am
	Update- Re-filled water tank and drained water into some buckets. There was an opaque goo floating around in the buckets in small amounts. I think what I thought was plastic bag scraps from the day before was actually this goo that had dried on the blacktop. Could the bleach used to sanitize the water tank have turned like this after being in the tank for 4 days ? A friend of mine thinks it might be RV anti-freeze, but I am used to seeing that colored pink ? Obviously a little concerned now about using water from the tank even if just for cooking or showering. Posting a new picture of what this stuff looks like while still wet. The dark flakes are just small debris that was in the bucket and attached itself to this goo.
	2019 Rpod 189 2022 Nissan Frontier

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Post Options Post Reply Quote offgrid Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jun 2022 at 6:23am
	Looks like maybe uncured silicone or other sealant. Possibly excess left over from when the tank fitting were installed? If that's what it is it won't disolve and the water should be safe. But if you're concerned for whatever reason about the tank water, as we were, you can bring along a couple of 2.5 gallon water dispensers and use that water for cooking, drinking, and toothbrushing. That's what we did. Extends your water supply for boondocking too. The tank water is fine for external use (showering, dishwashing, and flushing), which together use the vast majority. Just don't sing in the shower.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold