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I’d like to
install a water filter on my boat that will remove the bad taste from
my aluminum tank. What are my options, and what do you recommend?
D.N., via e-mail
I’m assuming
yours is an older boat, as polyethylene or stainless steel are now the
preferred materials for water tanks. The first problem is that your aluminum
tank is prone to pitting and corrosion. And unless it’s lined with
a potable epoxy coating (unlikely), corrosion will build up on the inside.
(Lined aluminum tanks have problems as well, as any interior crack can
also lead to corrosion.) Such deposits can take the form of anything from
sand-like grains to pebbles. If either get into your water pump, the result
can be a pump failure.
Another problem is that
standing water in the tank naturally develops an unpleasant odor and taste.
You can remove much of the taste and odor by adding bleach to the tank,
but use no more than a capful or two, and completely flush the tank with
fresh water after letting it sit for a few minutes. (Make sure to fill
your tanks with a hose made for potable water. It should be white, not
green, and the package should state that it is designed to carry drinking
water.) If you put too much bleach in or let the mixture sit too long,
the bleach can form aluminum oxide on the inside of the tank. Once it
is clean, you may want to think about draining your water tank when it’s
not in use.
An in-line filter will
also help, but keep in mind that while it may remove sediment, dirt, odor,
and some chemicals, it won’t remove germs and bacteria. The only
way to do that is with either a water treatment system that includes an
ultraviolet sterilizer or a reverse-osmosis watermaker that contains one.
As far as how to go
about picking an in-line filter, West Marine offers a helpful chart in
its catalog that explains the different kinds of filters and the types
of impurities that each filter removes. The free catalog is available
online at www.mastercatalog04.westmarine.com/intro2.asp.
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