Plastic Flavored Water

[tager]

I have just installed new potable water tubing, it makes the water taste like plastic. It is reinforced vinyl, white on the inside. I thought that it would transport the water without changing it's taste, but boy was I wrong!

Will this flavor go away in time or only get worse? Should I just install copper now? What about HDPE tubing? HDPE water containers seem to be the safest plastic for water, and they definitely don't impart a bad flavor.

I am seriously considering using a glass carboy as a fresh water tank, and copper tubing, just to make the flavor better. ICK!

Also, I have a brass galley spout. Does anyone know whether fynnspray uses lead-free brass?

I know you all think I am being paranoid, but you only get one body!


After all of this I think I am just going to stick to glass bottles.

[scottyt]

you could try a mild bleach, peroxide, vinegar flush ( not all at once ). that might get it out.

or if you are on a dock with running water you could rig a shore hose to the tubing and run it all day with a slow trickle into a sink to try to flush it.

i would guess its some sort of manufacturing aid that you are tasting and it should get better

[sailingdog]

Was the hose you bought designed for potable water use? It doesn't sound like it. The non-potable water use hoses often have plasticizers that will impart an odd taste to the water, since they're not designed for potable water use, it usually isn't a problem.

[nickmerc]

You can also get a point of use filter that helps. Plus it will help with mineral laden water from questionable sources. As sailingdog said verify the hose is for potable water.

I typically carry bottled water for drinking and use the onboard water for dishes and washing stuff.

[RichH]

It takes some time for the free/unbound monomers in plastics used in potable water service to extract or leech out.

Suggest you do several 'aliquot' washings (with HOT water) of the system where the new tubing is installed. Aliquot washing is *many 'small' washings* that rapidly dilute the residuals/extractables. Therefore, I suggest that you wash out the new tubing at least 8-10 times with a 'small amount' of HOT water - inject, let soak for an hour, then remove, etc.
THEN ... sanitize the WHOLE system with chlorine (5% clorox) @ 50 fl. oz. per 100 gallons of tank capacity .... then flush with fresh water to clear, etc..

Forget vinegar, perfumed soaps, etc. ... will only 'mask' the taste. You want the final product water to be 'neutral' - to your WIFE'S nose!!!

The use of 'charcoal filters' can be a problem:
1. they will continually remove any chlorine from the water, thus removing any residual 'stability sanitization' (normal/standard recommended is ~5oz. clorox to 100 gal of tank water).
2. bacteria can use the carbon as a nutrient source during long term exposure, thus will multiply ON\IN the carbon filter.

If you think you need a carbon filter:
1. put one on the end of the hose that you fill the tank from a the dock; and, fill the tank AS SLOW AS POSSIBLE through the 'charging' carbon filter.
2. Recirculation carbon filter - If the water later returns to noticable/foul plastic taste, continually pump water FROM the tank then BACK to the tank ***through a carbon filter*** for several hours ... the slower the water through the filter the better. When done, empty/dry the carbon filter.

This implies that the hose that you installed is *NSF/FDA RATED FOR POTABLE WATER*. If not, then RIP IT OUT and reinstall with the proper **POTABLE WATER SERVICE** hose.

hope this helps
:-)