mlts22
Austin, Texas
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Joined: 11/15/2010
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This is just a random idea, but I've wondered why nobody has put in a system in fresh water tanks that would circulate water past a well-shielded UV light. It likely wouldn't take much energy (UV LEDs are not that energy intensive), and it would almost completely get rid of issues like mold/algae forming in the tank. Even without a circulation system, it would do some good. My humidifier uses a single UV LED, which does a decent job at keeping the water clean.
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Dutch_12078
Great Sacandaga Lake, NY
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The water used to fill RV fresh tanks is typically chlorinated and resistant to mold/algae formation. Even when it isn't, in normal usage the water in the tank is depleted and refilled often enough that again, mold and algae are not generally a problem. I think what we have here is a solution looking for a problem. 
Dutch
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dons2346
Sioux Falls, SD, formerly of So. CA
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Hate to tell you but there are systems out there that do exactly what you are talking about. http://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/index.htm
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Hi,
Why a shielded UV light for the tank? The tank is not normally something that one would look at, so UV light within the tank is OK, unless the tank material is not able to handle UV and ozone exposure.
UV light will make ozone IF there is oxygen present, (so not in a full tank, but if any air is in there, it will make ozone). Ozone will not last very long, and in the presence of bacteria, Ozone will kill the bacteria while also neutralizing back into oxygen.
If there is a UV light present in the tank, care should be taken to not breath the vent air, as high levels of ozone are not good for people. Yet don't panic over it either, just don't intentionally breath it in.
I would imangine that a couple of LED UV light can be installed in the tank by melting in a LED halfway into the top of the tank, or cutting a hole about 3" diameter and putting in a patch that has the lights and covers the new hole.
GOogle LED UV lights and I am sure you can find something.
Fred.
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ksg5000
Oregon
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UV used in fish tanks are far from fool proof (bulbs age, get dirty etc) --- not needed and likely not dependable enough to eliminate std sanitation measures that RVers typically use.
Kevin
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WyoTraveler
Powell, WY
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I am on a well and have a UV system before the water comes in the house. My RO also has a UV system installed on it so water going through the RO gets the second treatment. Inexpensive device to keep you safe.
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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ksg5000 wrote:UV used in fish tanks are far from fool proof (bulbs age, get dirty etc) --- not needed and likely not dependable enough to eliminate std sanitation measures that RVers typically use.
AMEN, I used to inspect various RO/DI/WFI water systems in pharmaceutical plants and the maintenance of the UV light systems was always an issue. In a RV it is more a placebo effect IMHO. need too strong a light in a very close proximity to be of real value.
bumpy
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shum02
Burlington ON CDA
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Joined: 04/22/2005
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Dutch_12078 wrote:The water used to fill RV fresh tanks is typically chlorinated and resistant to mold/algae formation. Even when it isn't, in normal usage the water in the tank is depleted and refilled often enough that again, mold and algae are not generally a problem. I think what we have here is a solution looking for a problem.
x2!
Let's just sterilize the planet and outlaw dirt 
My kids have no allergies and I put part of that down to not being paranoid about being super clean and sterlizing everything they ever came into contact with. It's good to allow some of this stuff into your system.
If you put potable water in your tank and use it on a regular basis you'll not have any trouble.
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Hi,
Check ebay for uv based water systems. To keep costs down, standard filter sizes ought to be used. That causes some problems in an RV. One is space, another is winterizing, water use is high with 3 gallons wasted for each gallon treated.
My "home" system sends water through a water softener, a 20 micron filter, a 5 micron filter, a carbon filter, a 2 micron filter, a reverse osmosis membrane, a deionizer, a high gauss magnet, and finally a uv treatment lamp. Where would I find room for all that in an rv?
I change the filters every three months.
Regards, Don
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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UV rays will dissipate the chlorine in the water and this chlorine already does what you're trying to do. UV rays are the REASON you need to continually add chlorine to swimming pools to keep algae blooms from happening.
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