Fresh clean water is one of the four necessities you need in life for survival. You might wonder, how do houseboats supply fresh, drinkable water to their residents? Especially when you live aboard and in a place where there’s no municipal supply.
There are no 2 ways around it. You either hand carry bottles onboard or pump them through water hookup lines at the marina. Pumping water and storing them in freshwater tanks are not any different from a traditional house. The only difference is traditional homes are hooked up to a permanent water supply.
So, this article looks at how houseboats get and store freshwater to ensure an uninterrupted supply of water.
Table of Contents
What Is a Freshwater Holding Tank System?
Most, if not all, houseboats are equipped with a freshwater system that supplies clean water for cooking, bathing, and drinking. Your main source of water comes from a freshwater storage tank that is connected via hoses/pipelines to different areas of the houseboat.
Whether you reside on freshwater or saltwater bodies, a freshwater holding tank system is just the solution to make sure the water is stored properly without contaminating it.
Although the water from the tank is clean, it is still best to install a water purifier to filter and disinfect the water you are drinking from. After all, the water has run through a series of pipes and your water tank. This will ensure that the water coming out from your tap is clean enough for consumption.
A freshwater holding tank system for boats typically consists of a few parts: a large water storage tank, a drinking filtration system, an accumulator tank, and a pump.
The water storage tank can come in all ranges of sizes, as small as 10 gallons to a few hundred gallons. It usually depends on how large the vessel is or how many people the vessel can accommodate. A typical 150 gallon-freshwater tank can last a couple of days for a 2-person household, considering if you have a ‘save water’ plan in your head.
How Does Freshwater System Works?
Isn’t it great to get water immediately when you turn on your faucet? -Instead of waiting for your pump to kick in, draw water from your tank and pump it to the point of use. Your freshwater system hoses are pressurized with accumulator tanks or pressure tanks to a certain psi. When you turn on the faucet, you’ll get water immediately.
As you keep the water running, the accumulator tank pressure drop will start your pump running to build the pressure back and supply a constant flow of water. Once the pressure has reached the desired value, the pump will cut out. Without any pressure tanks, your pumps would have to work extremely hard as the pressure drops each and every time you turn on the faucet. This might cause the pump lifespan to shorten due to cyclical on-off throughout the day.
Freshwater System Guide and Maintenance
Installing a water tank:
The first thing to consider is how much space you have available for a freshwater holding tank. If you got a tight room space, you can consider having 2 or more smaller tanks between 20 and 50 gallons (75-175 liters). When choosing a freshwater tank, it is important that you know exactly how much water you will use. This can be calculated by finding out how many people will be living on your houseboat and the total amount of time that they will be using the water. It is also necessary to consider what activities you will be doing with the water.
It is important that the tank is installed under the main deck and secured so that it will not affect the stability of your houseboat. If you are wondering how heavy and bulky items affect the stability of a vessel, you might want to check out this post here.
Freshwater system care and maintenance:
Many neglect the need to clean up their freshwater periodically, thinking freshwater system does not need much cleaning. Well, quit thinking that. Firstly, your tank and system are not entirely airtight. This means bacteria, algae and contaminants might still be able to thrive especially in humid climates. And do not be surprised to find sediments deposits in your tank.
So, you’ve got to start cleaning your tanks and flush your system if you have not done it. Let’s start with the storage tanks.
Storage Tanks
Cleaning frequency: 6 months – 1 year
Start by diluting non-detergent chlorine bleach with water and pour into the tank. If you can reach the internal wall and bottom, give it a good scrub. Otherwise, the bleach solution will be good enough. Give it a good stir and leave it for a couple of hours. Subsequently, flush through the system by opening the faucets and taps. Make sure the bleach solution is out of your system before filling it with fresh water.
Filters and Strainers
Cleaning frequency: 6 months – 1 year
These are often overlooked as well. Your strainers which are located near the tank inlet or pump inlet need to be serviced periodically. Do not wait until it is choke full before you give it a good cleaning. The same goes for your drinking water purification system as they are equipped with different types of filters, like carbon filters. So, change them out before the stipulated date.
Quick tip: Use a permanent marker to mark the installation or servicing date on the filters/strainer.
Other fittings
As you perform your tank cleaning, these fittings are already flushed. What you might want to take note of is their functionality. If it is leaking, get it replaced immediately.
- Check valve: A check valve will allow the water to flow into the system but prevent the water from back flowing.
- Tank level indicator: To indicate the water level of your tank.
- Hose clamps- Ensure hose clamps are used on the inlets and outlets of any hose that is not leaking.
Although it is a simple system, there might also be other issues associated with it. Pressure tank faulty, pump faulty and water tank leakage are some other problems that might come in due time. We would recommend contacting a professional if you face similar issues that you could not troubleshoot.
Final Note
Clean water is one of the most important things in life and it’s easy to take for granted. But living out there in the ocean, clean water is considered more valuable than gold!
We all have watched too many ‘I shouldn’t be alive’ documentaries to know that out there in the ocean, dehydration is a very real thing. Fighting for that last drop of drinkable water is crucial.
If you happen to have access to lakes or river waters, you might want to keep a survival straw (Lifestraw) with you in case you run out of water.
All in all, a freshwater tank is a great way to keep your houseboat’s water supply safe and clean. What about wastewater? Do you know how are they handled? If not, then I suggest you read through this post too.
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