TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Ok to drink tank water?

Wheels up in 5 days! One quick question, though, for those of you in the know...The other family we are bareboating with next week think its not realistic to stow bottled water for 8 people x 10 days on our 48 foot monohull. I figure 1/2 gallon per person per day = 40 gallons. They think tank water could be consumed with powdered drink mix to mask the bad taste. Aside from the taste factor, are there any health concerns drinking the tank water? Personally, I think there should plenty of room to stow enough bottled water for the whole charter and not deal with the tanks.

Thank you!

I always advise against drinking the tank water unless it's your personal boat and you know the history of the tanks. Water comes in 6 gallon cases. I would get 4 cases to start and refill along the way. I can't impress enough how important it is to stay hydrated so be sure to purchase more as you go along. There used to be refill spots along the way but I don't have a complete list of locations. I think there is still a refill machine at Anegada Reef Hotel.

We usually order 2 or 3 small bottles and a 1.5liter bottle for each person and refill from the gallon jugs.

First of all, you don't need to carry all 40 gallons. Carry enough for a few days and get more along the way. I don't think you'll have any issue storing it either.

As far as drinking the tank water. It's not going to kill you. I personally prefer not to drink it though since you never know how often the tanks are cleaned out. You also never know what could grow in a tank that may go unused for a period of time. We've had charters where we could have simply used a single tank the whole trip. We end up swapping just to keep the water fresh but not everyone may do that.

Better question might be to ask what kind of storage is on the boat you'll be on.

You might want to take a look at this recent thread also.

The amount of water you drink per day varies by group. We find that we drink 1/3 gal or less. We don't cook rice or pasta. We don't drink coffee. We drink a lot of gatorades, diet cokes, and beer.

I agree with starting with 3 or 4 cases of 6 gallons and going from there. Before you buy again, you'll have a better idea of how much you need for the rest of the trip.

Not all systems are created equally.
For the systems taking on water from various hoses spread around the Virgin Islands our policy is to cook and wash with tank water, but drink bottled water.
Many of CYOA's boats now have water makers with multi-stage and anti-microbial filters. We drink that water, and make ice with it.

I would drink boat water if I absolutely had to, heck I know I brush with it, shower with it, rinse vegetables with it and have never gotten ill. But I like bottled water because it tastes better. Like Jason and Matrix said, start with maybe 3 cases and restock along the way. I know there's a $1 refill station in Trellis, wanna see it....

There's a refill station on Jost too, go down the road across from the customs dock, turn right and there's one at Paradise Jeep Rental.

Felix

You will have room to store whatever you want to store for 10 days outside of the freezer. If you have ever changed out or serviced a boats freshwater system you will never drink from one again. I am lazy so I brush my teeth with it. Our group will always have small bottles in the heads for those that want to brush their teeth with a clean water source. We always have bottled water available for those that want it plus at least one gallon per person to wash with if the freshwater system ever fails. The moment you are out of water. Here is your gallon to use until we sort this out. I would not sweat this. Have the water you want delivered and be done with it. Most groups will be getting some or much of their water when dining out. Meals ashore are a great hydration time.

No

Drink beer, wine, rum, tequila, etc. or bottled water but NOT tank water. Actually I have chartered 40 times in the BVI and sailed many more and never heard of any ill effects from tank water but also I have not heard of many people going out without bottled drinking water.

I wouldn't.

Drinking water from the tanks of a boat that you own and use exclusively is one thing. You know how those tanks have been cleaned and maintained. On a charter boat, though, you have no clue.

We always get some pint-sized bottles, and some gallon jugs. Then we refill the bottles from the jugs, and refill the jugs at Trellis, Jost, or elsewhere that we can.

Much appreciated. Thanks for backing me up. I got my chief provisioner to agree to 3 cases of 6 gallons to start. I didn't know about the refill stations because on past trips all our water was delivered from Riteway. Obviously we will save the empties to refill.

Thanks, everyone. That helps. I prevailed on our chief of provisions to order 3 cases of 6 gallons to start. Didn't know about the refill stations since on past trips we had riteway deliver enough for the whole trip on day 1. I'll save the empties to refill later on.

You can fill an empty with boat water, freeze it and put it in your cooler, works great.

As a novice charterer in the 90's who never gave it much thought, I always drank the boat water and never had any problems. I've changed my ways and provision bottled water now, but still will use boat water for coffee, brushing teeth, and a bit of drinking here and there. What doesn't kill you...