1. Drain and flush the fresh water tank; leave empty.
2.
Using a mix ratio of 1/4-cup of liquid household bleach (sodium hypochlorite)
with one gallon of fresh water, make up one gallon of chlorine-water solution
for every 15 gallons of fresh water tank capacity.
3.
Pour the chlorine-water solution directly into the fresh water tank through the
gravity fill. Note: If the RV is not equipped with a gravity fill for the fresh
water tank, use a funnel to pour each gallon of the mixture directly into the
fresh water hose prior to connecting it to the city water source.
4.
Top off the tank with fresh water.
5.
Remove or bypass any water purification equipment and/or filtering cartridges.
6.
Turn on the water pump and open every faucet in the RV, including the exterior
faucets and showerheads.
7.
Allow the solution to pump through the system to the toilet, through the water
heater, and to every hot and cold faucet at each sink until the distinct odor
of chlorine is present at every fixture. (You can open one faucet at a time or
all at once.)
8.
At the city water inlet, using the eraser end of a pencil, push in on the check
valve spring, allowing the solution to pump out through the city water inlet
until the chlorine odor is detected in the discharge.
9.
Close all the faucets and turn off the water pump.
10.
Allow the chlorinated water to remain in the system for four hours. This should
chlorinate and disinfect the fresh water tank, the water heater, the faucets,
the complete piping system, and all fittings to a residual level of 50 ppm
(parts per million).
11.
Once you reach four hours, drain and flush the system once again and top off
the water tank with fresh water.
To
avoid damage to delicate plumbing components found in some water pumps, do not
allow the chlorinated solution to sit longer than four hours in the fresh water
system. If 100 ppm residual concentration is required or desired, use 1/2-cup
of bleach instead of 1/4-cup with each gallon of the solution and let it stand
for one to two hours.
If the odor of the chlorine is still very strong after you have drained and flushed the system, drain, flush, and refill the tank again until you are satisfied. This process should be performed after any extended period of nonuse, such as after storage; whenever stale or distasteful water is experienced; or at least once per camping season.
