We have been living aboard our IP 485 since October 2003 and are move than 9 years into a circumnavigation. Over the last year we have experienced problems with our fresh water system. Specifically, the flow of fresh water to our various taps as well as to our fresh water wash-down system has slowed considerably. BACKGROUND: Originally our port and stbd water tanks were connected at the input to the variable speed fresh water supply pump. There was a check valve at each tank to prevent the water from siphoning from one tank to the other when heeling. We discovered early on that the check valves did not open at the same pressure and it was possible to empty one tank before the other. Once that occurred the pump just pumped air from the empty tank. The fix was to install on-off selector valves for each line. The commissioning broker was unable to remove the check valves so they are still in place. QUESTION: Has anyone else experienced this problem? The washdown pump draws directly off the port side supply line from the tank so it is common with the variable speed water pump. Both pumps have been replaced in the last year and this has not corrected the problem. This suggests to me that the problem does not lie in the lines to the pumps or with the lines from the pumps. Also the tank vents seem to be O.K. I am wondering if the problem lies with those check valves...
