How to tell if toilet flush comes from fresh water tank

M

msu1966

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2021
Messages
109
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2714J213
Vessel Name
MAROONED
I have a (new to me) 2013 R 27. It seems that there is very little if any fresh water that comes into the bowl from the fresh water tank when flushing. How can I confirm if it is. Also is it recommended that you pour some water in the bowl before flushing?

Thanks,
Ken
 
Taste test? To check for fresh or salt water! I'm not sure want question your asking! Bob
 
Pretty sure the 2013 R27 came with salt water flush from the factory. Ours is a 2014 R27 with salt water flush. The big advantage of a salt water flush is the saving of your fresh water. A quick spray from your fresh water faucet can be used to help the flush or wash down the bowl if needed.

Unless your boat is modified, I suspect it will be salt water flush. If you have no issue with bad odors then don’t worry about it and enjoy your boat. If odor is an issue the it can be addressed via multiple means.

Holding tank vent filter (we have one, highly recommended) we built an in line charcoal filter, like this :
http://www.tugnuts.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3921&p=29936&hilit=Waste+tank+filter#p29936.

Tank solution: We stick with the manufacturers solution (Raritan KO [knock out]).

Regular cleaning of the bowl and lines with the manufacturers recommended cleaner that is compatible with the tank solution (Do not mix dissimilar chemicals, many are designed to work positively with the bacteria/enzymes). Others just kill everything in the tank, which is a short term solution at best).

While I considered a fresh water flush at one time I am glad we did not go that direction. For long trips our fresh water supply is precious. Once we managed the initial odor via the above steps it has not been an issue for over 6 years.

I’m sure you will get plenty of opinions on this sensitive (and sometimes smelly topic!) . Hope this helps.

Curt
 
Bob,
I have a 2016, R-27 and it is salt water to the head.
Bill
 
Mr. Bill, sorry about my sense of humor (or lack of) but the question was (how to tell if flush comes from fresh water or salt/raw water!) The best way to tell if water is fresh or salt water is to taste!
I do hope no one tries this test for the toilet water but if you do I recommend a stiff drink of alcohol afterwards. Bob
 
Close all the seacocks. Try to fill the toilet bowl. If nothing happens, it's saltwater.
 
Ken, all jokes aside, turn your fresh water pump off, open sink faust to depressure system and see if you have flushing water! The most common cause of the problem you have described is a clogged filter or a crimped line in the system. Hope this helps and you get your problem solved. Bob
 
If it was plumbed for freshwater, it might come from a separate tap into the tank (not from the fresh water pump). Ours is that way and flushes even with pump off and pressure purged. So Bob’s test is worth trying but might not be definitive.

OTOH as noted, it would almost certainly have been a post-factory modification. Besides the seacock test it might also be fairly obvious by tracing the hose to see whether there is a connection other than the seacock. Because it would be post factory, that would have been done somewhere accessible and relatively easy to see. (In our case it is an obvious hose in the engine room).
 
bob daily":3q51twvp said:
Mr. Bill, sorry about my sense of humor (or lack of) but the question was (how to tell if flush comes from fresh water or salt/raw water!) The best way to tell if water is fresh or salt water is to taste!
I do hope no one tries this test for the toilet water but if you do I recommend a stiff drink of alcohol afterwards. Bob
Click to expand...

Nah, there is a much easier way to do this:

https://www.amazon.com/AquaChek-561140A ... UNV8E?th=1

I recommend every boater have these on hand (not on board, but at least on hand). They are also useful for determining whether water in your bilge is a raw water or freshwater leak.
 
Seems I recall that the 31 s are the only factory fresh water flush heads....some owners may have modified their tugs to flush fresh ......so try Bob's aqua check .....probably not the taste test...
 
I guess I should have explained my question more clearly. We have Boaterhomed a few times and it appears that there is very little if any water in the bowl when flushing when on the trailer. My wife noticed an odor even though we use the recommended additive 'Odorlos". So when Boaterhoming, is it advisable to add water to the bowl when flushing to 1. Keep the plumbing cleaner and 2. Reduce the odor factor?
 
I think you are now asking a simpler question, and here is a straightforward answer:

Never dry flush a toilet.

You must add water to the bowl in order to push everything through the plumbing and into the holding tank.
 
Thanks to those who contributed. I am absolutely more knowledgeable on a subject that's necessary but not fun!
 
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