Hi all

I happened to glance in my sisters cold water tank last weekend, as you do.
I saw what I can only describe as 6 or 7 clumps of blue-ish white mould
under the water, along the sides and bottom of the tank. The clumps were
quite large, each one being at least a couple of inches square. Anyone know
what this might have been as I'm sure it can't be mould...can it?

While I am here, anyone know if there is any way of testing your water
supply for toxic substances? A link to a comprehensive testing kit would be
great. Our water has a foul chemical taste, which is almost metalic. We use
use a carbon filter and a scum removal filtration system from pureflo but
this has no impact on the taste at all.

Thanks

Haymish

Haymish wrote:

While I am here, anyone know if there is any way of testing your water
supply for toxic substances? A link to a comprehensive testing kit would be
great.

Such a 'kit' would consist of two fairly large labs, one for chemical
analysis and one for bio analysis.


--
Grunff

I happened to glance in my sisters cold water tank last weekend, as you do.

Is the tank covered ? (i.e. could something have fallen in & died...)

--
Please add the word "newsgroup" in the subject line of personal emails
**** My email address includes "ngspamtrap" and " ****

Haymish wrote:
Hi all

I happened to glance in my sisters cold water tank last weekend, as you do.
I saw what I can only describe as 6 or 7 clumps of blue-ish white mould
under the water, along the sides and bottom of the tank. The clumps were
quite large, each one being at least a couple of inches square. Anyone know
what this might have been as I'm sure it can't be mould...can it?

While I am here, anyone know if there is any way of testing your water
supply for toxic substances? A link to a comprehensive testing kit would be
great. Our water has a foul chemical taste, which is almost metalic. We use
use a carbon filter and a scum removal filtration system from pureflo but
this has no impact on the taste at all.

Thanks

Haymish

I trust she's no longer drinking it. Its not something I would leave.

NT

On Sat, 04 Feb 2006 20:40:29 GMT, Haymish wrote:

I happened to glance in my sisters cold water tank last weekend, as you
do.

It's not covered then? And are we talking about the cold water storage
tank for the HW system?

Anyone know what this might have been as I'm sure it can't be
mould...can it?

Probably not a mould as such but could well be some rather nice colonies
of bacteria...

I'll assume that your sister and her family are well, don't suffer from
upset tummies or lower digestive tract troubles any more than the odd
occasion that the rest of us do.

If it is the CW storage tank for the HW system. I'd plug the outlet, turn
off the supply, siphon out the contents leaving about an inch in the
bottom. Slosh a bit of bleach on the sides where the growths are, give
the whole tank a good wipe around with the dilute bleach, siphon that
out, refill a bit, rinse the tank, siphon that out, maybe repeat if it
still niffs a bit of bleach, unplug the outlet refill. Finally get and
fit a proper cover.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sat, 04 Feb 2006 20:40:29 GMT, Haymish wrote:

I happened to glance in my sisters cold water tank last weekend, as
you do.

It's not covered then? And are we talking about the cold water storage
tank for the HW system?

To my knowledge it's the only cold water tank in the house and it feeds
everything, certainly refills when you use a cold tap, will check on the hot
taps etc.

Is it more of an issue if it is for the hot water system then?


Anyone know what this might have been as I'm sure it can't be
mould...can it?

Probably not a mould as such but could well be some rather nice
colonies of bacteria...


It looks just like mould though.

I'll assume that your sister and her family are well, don't suffer
from upset tummies or lower digestive tract troubles any more than
the odd occasion that the rest of us do.


No history of illness other than the norm.

If it is the CW storage tank for the HW system. I'd plug the outlet,
turn off the supply, siphon out the contents leaving about an inch in
the bottom. Slosh a bit of bleach on the sides where the growths are,
give the whole tank a good wipe around with the dilute bleach, siphon
that out, refill a bit, rinse the tank, siphon that out, maybe repeat
if it still niffs a bit of bleach, unplug the outlet refill. Finally
get and fit a proper cover.


Well access to the tank is a nighmare. The only reason I spotted it was that
she wanted me to fit a new ballcock as the old one keeps dripping and
eventually overflows. This causes a problem as the overflow pipework leaks
and causes damp. The last time this happened someone ripped down the
paneling in the main bathroom and exposed the tank. It currently has no lid
and is inside the main bathroom.

Not really a DIY person, I gave up on the ballcock as I could only just
reach the nuts and was worried about leaving them without water.

How serious is this? Should she pay for someone to clean it out
immediately?

Is it common?

Surely there is a good chance of it coming it come straight back?

Can you buy tanks which are guaranteed microbe free?

Help!

Thanks

Haymish

Haymish wrote:
Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sat, 04 Feb 2006 20:40:29 GMT, Haymish wrote:

I happened to glance in my sisters cold water tank last weekend, as
you do.

It's not covered then? And are we talking about the cold water storage
tank for the HW system?

To my knowledge it's the only cold water tank in the house and it feeds
everything, certainly refills when you use a cold tap, will check on the hot
taps etc.

Is it more of an issue if it is for the hot water system then?

no, the other way round. Cold water is drunk, and not steriilsed first.


How serious is this? Should she pay for someone to clean it out
immediately?

Tell me youre kidding. Youve got a pound or so of mould. bacteria or
decaying flesh in your drinking water and youre asking how serious it
is! She's not still drinking it is she? I've got the Darwin award right
here ready for you.


NT

On 4 Feb 2006 18:03:48 -0800, wrote:

Is it more of an issue if it is for the hot water system then?

no, the other way round. Cold water is drunk, and not steriilsed first.

So what is sterilsing the ho****er? Heating it to 60C or so will not
sterilise it, indeed some bugs will love it.

How serious is this? Should she pay for someone to clean it out
immediately?

Tell me youre kidding. Youve got a pound or so of mould. bacteria or
decaying flesh in your drinking water and youre asking how serious it
is! She's not still drinking it is she? I've got the Darwin award right
here ready for you.

The fact that he reports no particular illness in the family shows that
what ever this growth is it's not particulary harmful. The cold water
storage tanks, again feeding both hot and cold taps (mains water only
arrived here about 20 years ago), were not well covered and there was a
good layer of brick dust and lumps of stone in them together with many
dead wood lice, a large dead centipede and a dead mouse. We didn't suffer
any ill effects for the couple of years all that lot was up there. I have
since cleaned the tanks out and put proper covers on them.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

Dave Liquorice wrote:
On 4 Feb 2006 18:03:48 -0800, wrote:

Is it more of an issue if it is for the hot water system then?

no, the other way round. Cold water is drunk, and not steriilsed first.

So what is sterilsing the ho****er? Heating it to 60C or so will not
sterilise it, indeed some bugs will love it.

How serious is this? Should she pay for someone to clean it out
immediately?

Tell me youre kidding. Youve got a pound or so of mould. bacteria or
decaying flesh in your drinking water and youre asking how serious it
is! She's not still drinking it is she? I've got the Darwin award right
here ready for you.

The Darwin award trophy is now sitting on the table, looking shiny.


The fact that he reports no particular illness in the family shows that
what ever this growth is it's not particulary harmful.

I dont think thats true. Its equally possible the blue stuff is harmful
but not with enough virulence that the family has yet succumbed. Yet.
But more to the point, if theres a colony theres a food source, and
thus other bugs will be growing in the mix, and some of those can be
very nasty. If not dangerously infected now, it may be at any time.
Bugs do always show up when theres something for them to eat. They may
be fine now, that doesnt make it safe though.


The cold water
storage tanks, again feeding both hot and cold taps (mains water only
arrived here about 20 years ago), were not well covered and there was a
good layer of brick dust and lumps of stone in them together with many
dead wood lice, a large dead centipede and a dead mouse. We didn't suffer
any ill effects for the couple of years all that lot was up there. I have
since cleaned the tanks out and put proper covers on them.

yes, more often people dont, but also many have paid the price. Its
like wiring your lights on bell wire, you can do it and usually itll
work ok, but I still dont recommend it.


NT

wrote:
Haymish wrote:
Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sat, 04 Feb 2006 20:40:29 GMT, Haymish wrote:

I happened to glance in my sisters cold water tank last weekend, as
you do.

It's not covered then? And are we talking about the cold water
storage tank for the HW system?

To my knowledge it's the only cold water tank in the house and it
feeds everything, certainly refills when you use a cold tap, will
check on the hot taps etc.

Is it more of an issue if it is for the hot water system then?

no, the other way round. Cold water is drunk, and not steriilsed
first.


How serious is this? Should she pay for someone to clean it out
immediately?

Tell me youre kidding. Youve got a pound or so of mould. bacteria or
decaying flesh in your drinking water and youre asking how serious it
is! She's not still drinking it is she? I've got the Darwin award
right here ready for you.


Yes, she's still drinking it, along with my 4 year old nephew and 8 year old
niece.

Anyone recommend a firm in Birmingham who specialise in this sort of thing?
I found these people but they are too far away.
http://www.thetankdoctor.co.uk/visual.html

Thanks

Haymish



NT

Haymish wrote:

Yes, she's still drinking it, along with my 4 year old nephew and
8 year old niece.

Anyone recommend a firm in Birmingham who specialise in this sort
of thing?

Just find a reputable plumber and have the tank replaced. Shouldn't be
especially expensive - £50 for parts, and a few hours of work.

In article .com
wrote:
snip
Tell me youre kidding. Youve got a pound or so of mould. bacteria or
decaying flesh in your drinking water and youre asking how serious it
is! She's not still drinking it is she? I've got the Darwin award right
here ready for you.

Until recently people were used to drinking water from tanks with all
sorts of interesting stuff in them, via lead pipes, and most of them
came to no harm whatsoever. In fact it's likely that cohabiting with
stuff like that made our immune systems more robust in times past, and
the recent hysteria for sterilising everything is causing more problems
than it solves in the long term.

On Sun, 5 Feb 2006 18:03:30 -0000, Rob Morley wrote:

In fact it's likely that cohabiting with stuff like that made our
immune systems more robust in times past, and the recent hysteria for
sterilising everything is causing more problems than it solves in the
long term.

Quite agree, there is mounting evidence that the rise in allergies is
related to the rather too clean enviroment many now live in. Trouble is
the media and advertertisers play on peoples worries about "germs". There
is something currently advertised, "Bug off" or similar, that so
blatently uses this concern that it is laughable, at least to anyone with
half a brain cell.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

On Sun, 05 Feb 2006 00:24:02 GMT, Haymish wrote:

Is it more of an issue if it is for the hot water system then?

Not really, some bugs may grow a bit (or even a lot) quicker in the
ho****er.

Well access to the tank is a nighmare. The only reason I spotted it was
that she wanted me to fit a new ballcock as the old one keeps dripping

Well I think it's time to bite the bullet and get the tank cleaned and
sorted out properly with new ball cock, non leaking over flow pipework,
and bring it up to full Byelaw 30 insulation/cover/overflow compliance.

Is it common?

Surely there is a good chance of it coming it come straight back?

Depends how it got in there. If the tank isn't covered the chances are it
came from the air or something falling in. Mains water is pretty damn
clean so not likely to have arrived by that means. Clean the tank with
some bleach and I'd say you'd be very unlucky to have it return.

Can you buy tanks which are guaranteed microbe free?

Not that I know of and I wouldn't recomend that anyway, just like I don't
like taking antibiotics without very good reason. MRSA and the like are
the direct result of the overuse of antibiotics. I'd rather we didn't
provide the circumstances in which even worse bugs could evolve.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

Haymish wrote:

To my knowledge it's the only cold water tank in the house and it feeds
everything, certainly refills when you use a cold tap, will check on the hot
taps etc.

Surely it doesn't feed the tap in the kitchen though? It's been a
byelaw for yonks that the kitchen tap comes directly off the mains.
That's why historically people were always advised only to drink water
from that tap, precisely to avoid risks from stored water such as you
describe. Although these days, it's very common for other cold water
taps to be fed direct too (especially on the bathroom basin, as it gets
used for night-time glasses of water and teeth-cleaning).

Check out the system by turning off the main stopcock - any cold taps
fed direct from the mains will instantly be shut off, whereas any fed
from the offending tank will be unaffected until it runs dry.

The least you can do is ensure that nobody actually drinks water from
taps emanating from this tank...!

David

Lobster wrote:
Haymish wrote:

To my knowledge it's the only cold water tank in the house and it
feeds everything, certainly refills when you use a cold tap, will
check on the hot taps etc.

Surely it doesn't feed the tap in the kitchen though? It's been a
byelaw for yonks that the kitchen tap comes directly off the mains.
That's why historically people were always advised only to drink water
from that tap, precisely to avoid risks from stored water such as you
describe. Although these days, it's very common for other cold water
taps to be fed direct too (especially on the bathroom basin, as it
gets used for night-time glasses of water and teeth-cleaning).

Check out the system by turning off the main stopcock - any cold taps
fed direct from the mains will instantly be shut off, whereas any fed
from the offending tank will be unaffected until it runs dry.

The least you can do is ensure that nobody actually drinks water from
taps emanating from this tank...!

David

Will check this, thanks.

Haymish

On Sat, 04 Feb 2006 20:40:29 GMT, Haymish wrote:

I saw what I can only describe as 6 or 7 clumps of blue-ish white mould

The builders probably took a dump in the tank.

--
Nigel M

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Nigel Molesworth
saying something like:

On Sat, 04 Feb 2006 20:40:29 GMT, Haymish wrote:

I saw what I can only describe as 6 or 7 clumps of blue-ish white mould

The builders probably took a dump in the tank.

Probably the same *******s who laid the insulation.
--

Dave

On Sat, 04 Feb 2006 20:40:29 GMT, "Haymish" wrote:

Hi all

I happened to glance in my sisters cold water tank last weekend, as you do.
I saw what I can only describe as 6 or 7 clumps of blue-ish white mould
under the water, along the sides and bottom of the tank. The clumps were
quite large, each one being at least a couple of inches square. Anyone know
what this might have been as I'm sure it can't be mould...can it?

While I am here, anyone know if there is any way of testing your water
supply for toxic substances? A link to a comprehensive testing kit would be
great. Our water has a foul chemical taste, which is almost metalic. We use
use a carbon filter and a scum removal filtration system from pureflo but
this has no impact on the taste at all.

Thanks

Haymish

Is it an old galvanised tank?

EricP wrote:
On Sat, 04 Feb 2006 20:40:29 GMT, "Haymish" wrote:

Hi all

I happened to glance in my sisters cold water tank last weekend, as
you do. I saw what I can only describe as 6 or 7 clumps of blue-ish
white mould under the water, along the sides and bottom of the tank.
The clumps were quite large, each one being at least a couple of
inches square. Anyone know what this might have been as I'm sure it
can't be mould...can it?

While I am here, anyone know if there is any way of testing your
water supply for toxic substances? A link to a comprehensive testing
kit would be great. Our water has a foul chemical taste, which is
almost metalic. We use use a carbon filter and a scum removal
filtration system from pureflo but this has no impact on the taste
at all.

Thanks

Haymish

Is it an old galvanised tank?

From memory, it did looks like a galvanised tank, why?

Haymish

On Sun, 05 Feb 2006 19:18:41 GMT, Haymish wrote:

From memory, it did looks like a galvanised tank, why?

You often get salts building up on the sides of galvanised tanks, so
that could be the problem. I think it may be a sign that the tank is
disintegrating, so closer inspection may be an idea.

Your sister would be better off with a modern water tank anyway.

--
Nigel M

On Sun, 05 Feb 2006 19:18:41 GMT, "Haymish" wrote:

EricP wrote:
On Sat, 04 Feb 2006 20:40:29 GMT, "Haymish" wrote:

Hi all

I happened to glance in my sisters cold water tank last weekend, as
you do. I saw what I can only describe as 6 or 7 clumps of blue-ish
white mould under the water, along the sides and bottom of the tank.
The clumps were quite large, each one being at least a couple of
inches square. Anyone know what this might have been as I'm sure it
can't be mould...can it?

While I am here, anyone know if there is any way of testing your
water supply for toxic substances? A link to a comprehensive testing
kit would be great. Our water has a foul chemical taste, which is
almost metalic. We use use a carbon filter and a scum removal
filtration system from pureflo but this has no impact on the taste
at all.

Thanks

Haymish

Is it an old galvanised tank?

From memory, it did looks like a galvanised tank, why?

Haymish

The description of the mould you have given and the description of the
wate rtaste.

The galvanising has gone and the mould is chemical corrosion,
producing the taste.

Time for a nice new plastic one, before it perforates and things get
wet.

On Sun, 05 Feb 2006 19:18:41 GMT, Haymish wrote:

Is it an old galvanised tank?

From memory, it did looks like a galvanised tank, why?

Pretty obvoius what a tank is made of I would have thought. Did it going
"thud" or "boing" if you hit it? Galvanised go boing...

If it is galvanised definately swap it out for a plastic one. The
"growths" may well be corrosion salts tainted blue by dissolved copper
salts from incoming pipe work. That much corrosion is a Bad Thing, as
others have pointed out.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

On Sat, 04 Feb 2006 20:40:29 +0000, Haymish wrote:

Hi all

I happened to glance in my sisters cold water tank last weekend, as you do.
I saw what I can only describe as 6 or 7 clumps of blue-ish white mould
under the water, along the sides and bottom of the tank. The clumps were
quite large, each one being at least a couple of inches square. Anyone know
what this might have been as I'm sure it can't be mould...can it?

While I am here, anyone know if there is any way of testing your water
supply for toxic substances? A link to a comprehensive testing kit would be
great. Our water has a foul chemical taste, which is almost metalic. We use
use a carbon filter and a scum removal filtration system from pureflo but
this has no impact on the taste at all.

The drinking water supply should not come from the tank but directly from
the mains. That's standard practice, water regs etc.
Her landlord's not called Rachm^H^H^H^HVan Hoogstaten by any chance?

John Stumbles wrote:
The drinking water supply should not come from the tank but directly from
the mains. That's standard practice, water regs etc.

Has that always been so? The only taps in very many houses
that are mains fed ar the kitchen and outside ones.

In article
Chris Bacon wrote:
John Stumbles wrote:
The drinking water supply should not come from the tank but directly from
the mains. That's standard practice, water regs etc.

Has that always been so? The only taps in very many houses
that are mains fed ar the kitchen and outside ones.

Which is why you were always told not to drink from the bathroom tap -
it's not drinking water.

Rob Morley wrote:
Chris Bacon wrote:
John Stumbles wrote:
The drinking water supply should not come from the tank but directly from
the mains. That's standard practice, water regs etc.

Has that always been so? The only taps in very many houses
that are mains fed ar the kitchen and outside ones.

Which is why you were always told not to drink from the bathroom tap

Nope. Never heard that before a year or two ago, possibly here.


it's not drinking water.

I don't see a lot of people brushing their teeth in the kitchen,
or outside.

In article
Chris Bacon wrote:
Rob Morley wrote:
Chris Bacon wrote:
John Stumbles wrote:
The drinking water supply should not come from the tank but directly from
the mains. That's standard practice, water regs etc.

Has that always been so? The only taps in very many houses
that are mains fed ar the kitchen and outside ones.

Which is why you were always told not to drink from the bathroom tap

Nope. Never heard that before a year or two ago, possibly here.

Maybe you're not old enough. How about running the water in the morning
to flush away the lead that leeched into it overnight?

it's not drinking water.

I don't see a lot of people brushing their teeth in the kitchen,
or outside.

I don't drink water when brushing my teeth - do you?

On Sat, 04 Feb 2006 20:40:29 GMT, "Haymish" wrote:

While I am here, anyone know if there is any way of testing your water
supply for toxic substances? A link to a comprehensive testing kit would be
great. Our water has a foul chemical taste, which is almost metalic. We use
use a carbon filter and a scum removal filtration system from pureflo but
this has no impact on the taste at all.

Personally I wouldn't want to drink water stored in such a tank! I
would suggest drawing your drinking water straight from the mains.

Mark

Haymish wrote:
While I am here, anyone know if there is any way of testing your water
supply for toxic substances?

Ask the local water supplier what they would charge to test
your domestic supply.