Re: Potable water tank best practice: full or empty?
I keep mine filled, usually. IMO, a small supply of stagnant water 'pollutes' itself more quickly than a large supply.
Most important is to maintain the system and keep bacteria growth under control. Every 3-4 weeks I run the tank dry, pour in 1/2 cup of laundry bleach and refill the tank. I run the faucets until I smell bleach coming out of them, then leave everything alone for 12-24 hours. That'll purify the tank, lines and faucets. Run all the water out of the tank again, then refill it with fresh.
Also, think about your dockside water supply- the piping is filled with water that's stagnated for some period of time. Anytime I fill the boat tank, I let the dockside water run for 5 minutes or so before the nozzle goes into my tank.
Although I don't generally use mine for drinking, I do use it on occasion when bottled water runs low, and to make coffee. I never need to worry about it making me sick.
