On Wed, May 18, 2011 at 9:12 PM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:

> I trust the Westy container/hoses, but there are times when I fill it
> up at a gas station. Asking the clerk or attendant if the water is
> potable (or "drinkable") usually nets a shrug for a response.
>
> If I'm not certain of the source, I do my best not to consume it
> unless boiled. So as a habit, I don't drink it. (though as someone
> kindly pointed out via p-mail, even brushing your teeth with bad water
> can lead to trouble)
>
> Neil.
>
> On Wed, May 18, 2011 at 9:47 AM, David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net>
> wrote:
>
> > At 01:26 AM 5/18/2011, neil n wrote:
>
> >> That said, if I'm low on drinking water, tank water
> >> is boiled for coffee or tea.
> >
> > Why?  The Westy water tank is a big polyethylene bottle.  You buy milk in
> > the supermarket in a big polyethylene bottle (you buy little bottles of
> > water in PETE bottles that aren't nearly so chemically
> >  benign, according to stuff I've heard on PBS lately).  It uses
> food-grade
> > hoses to the faucet.  It's nicely sealed up.  Sanitize it occasionally,
> put
> > clean water in it, it will stay clean for a long time.
>

  You would not be happy campers in Mexico, if you like 100% Certified pure
water..only.  Heck, it is even difficult to find a place that even has a
hose.  Ever try to fill your Westie tank from a 5 gallon water bottle?...me
neither.  Drinking only beer is a good safe bet, but brushing your teeth
with it..or putting it on your Wheaties...not so good.

  What I do is I try to leave my tank about 1/4 full so it sloshes around,
inhibiting fungus growth because I drive my van daily.  Then when I plan on
camping or if I am going to need the water capacity...I drain the old stale
water out and refill with a dilute clorox mix and drive around for a day.
Drain that and re-fill. Drive another day,drain and fill and everything is
good for a while.  I do drink my Van water, but after a week or so, I prefer
to bring milk jugs of fresh well water from home along for my main drinking
source...