"Polishing" the Water Tank - has anyone done that?

Over the last 6 months or so I've started getting a good bit of "grit" coming through both the galley and head fresh water faucets. For the life of me, I can't imagine where it got in, in the first place, but it's definitely coming out.

I'm thinking of trying to flush the tank out by repeatedly filling it, and then suctioning it out rapidly - much like polishing a fuel tank. Access would be the top of the tank, through the opening where the tank-level sensor is.

I realize I can't snake a suction want around every place in the tank, because of the baffles, but I can't help but think getting as much grit out as possible would be a good thing.

At the end of the day, I may have to wind up installing a filter on the pick-up line, before the pressure pump, but that seems like a redundant solution to me.

Has anyone ever polished the water tank? Any suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

IP-32, #102 "Whimsy"

I really don't like to reply to my own posts, but in this case it's appropriate. I just saw an older thread on this exact topic. Good info. Sounds like a filter before the pressure pump is the definitive solution.

Nevertheless, I'd surely like to hear comments from others that have done this.
THANKS.

Hey PlumBob, here is a good video of a huge fuel tank problem and how they fixed it via fuel polishing. You may find it helpful.

Can't help with the polishing but some observations for IPY. Firstly a blue water boat with a single huge water tank is not a great idea. the same thinking applies to fuel tanks. Fitting two, tanks in the same space would hardly reduce capacity but would make a huge difference in terms of options. We have been forced at times to use fuel or water from a questionable source (e.g. bio-diesel) and to be able to isolate with back-up is a huge benefit. Secondly why oh why is there no inspection hatch on either water or fuel? on our 465 access is pretty awful. the pick-ups on the fuel tank are welded in so any blockage has to be blown back rather than cleaned. Finally on our last boat (a Vancouver 38P built by Northshore in the UK) all tanks had an additional pick-up built in to the deepest point on the tank. By attaching a simple brass hand pump you could draw off any sediment to inspect or attach an electric pump to drain from the lowest point.

Real simple solutions with a small cost and huge benefit.

Assuming you have an aluminum tank, that grit is most likely calcium that has formed inside. I have fought that battle for nearly 27 years on my IP35. You definitely need a filter between the tank and the pump, which will help a lot. To reduce (but not eliminate) the formation of the calcium, try using an active charcoal filter on the hose whenever you fill up. Adding ordinary peroxide will help keep the water fresh. Water tanks should never be made of aluminum.