Freshwater for toilet

I

Irish Mist

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 25, 2012
Messages
1,175
Fluid Motion Model
C-288 C
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2922K011
Well I never understood why any one would not want to use the sea water for their toilet and use up their water supply to flush... That is until I spent 5 months in salt water.. I could not believe the smell .. Two pump outs ago we started using the shower to put fresh water into the toilet.. Huge differance, and we are almost back to no smell... I use an additive to help with the smell but that wasn't helping with the salt water.... So today I spent a couple hours and added a 3 way valve some hose and a one way inline valve and now I can chose between tank water or lake water... It was an easy mod and the biggest expense was the 3 way valve $40.00 and the one way valve $ 20.00 .. ( I am sure you could find these parts cheaper but I got them from the clothing store up the road )...About 10 clamps, a piece of hose and a "tee"
and now I can also flush while on the trailer 🙂 . Just wated to share in case this project is on anyone's radar ..it is easy and works.... As long as the water tank has water. I think our neighbours are happy as well 🙂
 
That's on my list of projects to do. I added the charcoal vent thing last year. That eliminated the smell from the vent when you flush. Now the smell from the salt water is next. It's very bad until you flush about three times. I will tee off the fresh water by the hot water heater. I will add a check valve though. I would hate to contaminate the fresh water. I was also thinking about a type of in line cleaner. Maybe a PVC pipe in line with the salt water line with some chlorine tabs inside. Maybe the bleach will kill the smelly things?
 
White vinegar used once a week will take care of the smell, cheep, simple & it works, problem solved, move on to the next one on the list!
Mike
M/V Elan
Cutwater 26
 
How much white viniger do you add every week? I tried this with out success, but perhaps if I stick with it it will eventually kick in ?
Thank you
 
I wonder why the factory doesn't offer the option of having a choice between Fresh and Sea water? Sounds like a pretty easy setup. Too much risk of contamination? Do boats built with fresh water toilets usually have separate water tanks for that purpose?

Jake
 
Two cups should do it, with a rag saturated with the white vinegar wipe under the lip of the toilet where the water discharges to clean the bowl.
This helps to kill the small kritters that give off a sulfer smell as they dye.
That should resolve the fowl oder!
Good luck,
Mike
M/V Elan
Cuttwater 26
 
Thanks Mike.. Will give it a try
Jake
I think most Rangers now come with a freshwater flush.. There is a one way valve that protects against contamination.. All comes from one tank.. And think about it... the only way water from toilet could back flow is if it filled the bowl up to the rim and it backflowed through those holes where the water comes in and then back through the pump and into the water tank.. Not impossible but pretty unlikely.. But I would never not install a one way valve ..
 
You could just move to the Great Lakes!

Actually, my old Eriksen 25 sailboat, on Lake Michigan, used freshwater from the tank to flush the head. I posted the exact same question on the Eriksen forum when I bought it, and the consensus was the same. Even lake water will get smelly.
 
We spent ten years sailing in British Columbia coastal waters, with a head that flushed with sea water, through a holding tank which we emptied at least every three days, no matter what the usage had been. In time, we learned that the only effective way way to control head pong, a result of the chemical reaction between salt water and head contents, was to add at least 1/3 gallon of fresh water and and a measured amount of Odorlos head chemical (available from West Marine) every time after emptying the head, which we also did at every opportunity. The fresh water made all the difference, and was very effective. We carried containers of fresh water, dedicated to the head, something we no longer have to do ,and are anticipating in the running of our brand new Ranger 31 with its fresh water head. Cruising friends,with a Nordic Tug , have enjoyed their fresh water head, with no head odor, for the past ten years. If you have to, don't flush as often, but enjoy the benefits of a fresh water head! And every time you use a pumping facility, take the time to thoroughly rinse the holding tank with fresh water. It's worth it!
 
I am normally in fresh water and occasionally I will get a bit of an odor, but what I was getting down here was way worse then anything I have ever experienced. I use a chemical for the tank which normally works very well ..Switching back to fresh water has made a huge improvements with each pump out . I always do a big rinse. It could also be the water temperature as well being a lot warmer and the tank being warmer. In the end no regrets it's better a little smell and no snow 🙂
 
pugtug613":2x5n04eb said:
That's on my list of projects to do. I added the charcoal vent thing last year. That eliminated the smell from the vent when you flush. Now the smell from the salt water is next. It's very bad until you flush about three times. I will tee off the fresh water by the hot water heater. I will add a check valve though. I would hate to contaminate the fresh water. I was also thinking about a type of in line cleaner. Maybe a PVC pipe in line with the salt water line with some chlorine tabs inside. Maybe the bleach will kill the smelly things?
Click to expand...

I just had a thought pop into my head about your post... The wheels in my head turn a lot slower these days 🙂 .The water line at the water heater is under pressure, that may or may not work depending on how the water pump for the toilet works... I grabbed the line from the water tank that the fresh water pump uses as a pick up and put a tee there.. If you use a pressurized line you may have water running continuously into the toilet...
 
Well I might as well sound like the old f..t that I am but a word of caution. As a retired potable water system professional I get nervous when the is any potential cross connection between potable water and a wastewater system. Understand that my fears are just years of water system operation where I saw a high pressure sewage pump connected directly into a water line among other things. Be careful. Your potable water tank is not immune to bacterial contamination from your toilet. Just a thought.

Pat
LaDYBUG, tOO
 
I'm a big time newbie, only had our boat for a month now. But to ask a stupid question, couldn't you just use the sink faucet to add some fresh water to facilitate flushing when desired? No plumbing required since the faucet is on a hose and no contamination concerns?
 
Peter you are correct.. The shower wand works perfect for that.. But it gets old quickly... And there are no stupid questions here ask away and welcome aboard 🙂
 
I do use the hand held. But the water is still sucked thru the system when you flush.
 
On our toilet if you push both buttons at the same time it flushes with no water intake... I'm sure most toilets allow a " dry " flush. Check your manual for your toilet
 
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