PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-726

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 726

MAY 2013
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-726 - Page 5 of 33
6
PS 726
MAY 13
warning:
If contents of water tank was other than potable water, the
water tank must be Fushed out with clean potable water and drained. Do not
allow trailer to sit for extended periods of time with any amount of liquid in it.
Standing water will result in contamination and food poisoning. KEEP WATER
TANK CLEAN AT ALL TIMES. ±ailure to follow this warning may result in
serious injury or death to personnel.
If you’ve eyeballed TM 9-2320-267-14&P (Jul 91), you’ve probably seen this
warning. It lets you know it’s not a good idea to wait ’til the last minute to clean your
water trailer’s tank. And it’s not a good idea to leave water in the tank for months at
a time!
Cleaning the tank improves the taste of the water and keeps the tank safe to use.
The TM says to clean the tank annually or when the medics tell you the tank is
contaminated. But why wait? You have to drink the water, too!
•± When± you’re± done± using± the±
water± trailer,± empty± the± tank±
completely.± Water± left± in± the±
tank±
causes±
rust,±
mineral±
deposits±and±algae±buildup.±Put±
the± trailer± on± an± incline± with±
the±rear±slightly±lower±than±the±
front±so±that±all±water±will±drain±
through± the± drain± plug.± Then±
open±the±faucets±to±let±out±any±
water±still±in±the±pipes.
•± Close±the±manhole±cover±tightly±
when± the± water± trailer± is± in±
storage.± That± keeps± out± dirt,±
sand±and±rain.
•± To±stop±deposit±buildup,±every±
three± months,± pour± in± eight±
gallons± of± vinegar,± NSN± 8950-
01-079-3978,± and± leave± it± for±
5-6±hours.±Then±empty±the±tank±
and±flush±it±with±clean±water.
•± Clean±the±tank±more±often±during±the±summer±since±you’ll±be±drinking±more±water±
then.±Make±sure±you±drain±the±tank±completely±between±uses.
Rusty±Stainless±Steel
If the water from a stainless steel tank
has a rusty, metallic taste, check the weld
joints in the tank for rust.
Scrub away rust with a solution of
water and scouring powder, NSN 7930-
01-294-1116. Always use a nonmetallic,
nylon brush. You can get one with NSN
Flush the tank thoroughly with clean
water. Scrub it again if you still see rust.
You’re done when the rust is gone.
Eyeball TB MED 577,
Sanitary Control and Surveillance of Field Water Supplies,
for more on cleaning.
M149-Series±Trailers…
water tank cleaning tips
Here are some
PM tips to
keep you from
drinking
slimy, rusty,
or
metallic-tasting
water!
Drain tank on
slight incline
Keep manhole
cover closed
Check welded joints
inside tank for rust
my tank is
clean,
so I’m
good
for you to drink!
don’t mess around with
a trailer that’s
dirty!
don’t listen to
mr. prissypants
over there!
my
trailer’s
not
that
bad!
C’mon!
drink
up!!
don’t
take a
chance!
the
health of
everyone
in your
unit is at
stake!
726 06-07.indd
1-2
3/25/13
1:33 PM
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