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I found a link on another site refering to a taste and smell of TCP in the water system in the Bailey Senator range of caravans.

I have that same problem so I telephoned Baily to ask about this and was told that I should make arrangements with my dealer to have all the water pipes changed and that it would be done under warranty.

I did not have to give my name or state the year of my van.

We have had this problem since the van was purchased new and tried all kinds of cleaners such as Milton and many other types advertised by caravan magazines it cleared for maybe 10 minutes after flushing rinsing and putting fresh water in then it returned..My van is 2 years old now..I met another baily Senator owner today who has exactly the same  problem on a Series 6 model, so it looks like the problem still exists. So if you are having a problem with the water taste I suggest you also ring Bailey and ask about this problem.

Hi Michael,

If you still suffer with this problem I suggest you give Bailey a ring and tell them its only a phone call and they can only refuse at worst.

I have tried curing this problem for 2 years without success changing filters and using all kinds of cleaners. They didn,t even query it so they must know of the problem or they wouldn't of told me to ring my dealer and tell them to change all the water pipes under warranty.

I have been caravanning since 1972 so I am not a novice at cleaning out the water system.There is definatly a fault with the type of pipes fitted to the Baily range Mine are being changed in a weeks time.

thanks but our caravan is a 2003 bailey so any warranty is out of the window.we only use boiled anyway.

We always carry a couple of empty (clean) 2 lts milk cartons which we fill directly from the mains. This is used for drinking, cooking & the kettle. Personal choice. Although we clean the pipes I can't help wondering what could be stilll lurking in there.

Like Cath we use 2ltr bottles for drinking water. We just use the aquaroll water for washing etc. I can see your point though. Must be annoying.

Hi Tentmad we live not to far away from Catterick but don't camp there we use the whitewater barrage site mostly or otherwise we spend a lot of time in France.

We have had this problem only with the New Senator we have caravanned with our other van without a problem. The problem is there all the time right from new exept just after cleaning the system when for a few minutes the taste is clear.

We had a Compass Rallye for 10 years and never had a problem. We don't even use the built in water tank at all, and the water taken directly from the barrel is clear no taste it is only after it has passed through the pipes.We have changed the filter on the pump and even removed the pump filter as well. Still I will let you know how it goes after Monday when the pipes are being changed. I see no sense in carrying water in bottles after paying out £14,000 plus on a new van.

I have caravaned since 1972 and never had a problem with bad water taste until now.

PS I don't have to take my van in for the work to be done they come to me as part of my service agreement.

Well I went to the caravan today to see the pipes changed.

What a pure waste of time they told me that the pipes never arrived you would think they would notify me  before I paid and sited the van for the day ready for the job to be done they say they tried to notify me of the delay in parts arriving but couldn't get through so I wasted the day waiting on site .

Now I am told the pipes will be changed in approximatly a months time.

Dont hold your breath waiting for Bailey!!! 

Bailey says that the problem was caused by a new EC directive allowing water companies to add as much Chlorine into the water system as they thought were needed
some counties added to much causing a breakdown of the pipes inner walls which caused the bad taste so the new pipes are a different type now.

thats a good one,good job they dont run a brewery,lol

What a load of B******s!

I'm a water treatment process engineer and I've posted the same reply on other threads.  The TCP taste is the reaction of chlorine in the water with residual phenols in the pipes.  Chlorine plus phenols = Trichlorophenol...TCP for short.

The problem is not chlorine in the water (that's always been there by law) but the material that is used for the pipes ie excess phenols.

There is another poor taste that has nothing to do with pipes and that is in certain areas where there is a reaction with the chlorine in the water and naturally occuring organics in the water.  This gives off a taste which is more diffucult to remove and is specific to an area.  The best bet there is a carbon filter jug or put some in an open jug and leave in the fridge overnight.

I was recently on a site in Scotalnd where the water tasted awful, from the tap, therefore nothing to do with pipes.  We bought bottled water for making tea.

Buy a bottle of Aqua Sol from your dealer and follow the directions on the bottle - basically you add a small quantity to your full aqua roll. This has worked for us in 2 folding campers and a caravan. Sometimes (no doubt dependent on the chemicals in the water supply) one treatment does the trick and water OK for rest of time on site. Occassionally have used more frequently. If you have a problem with the idea of adding something to your water use a seperate container as has already been suggested. We do this if the weather is hot(!) and cold drinks are required. Most of the water we drink goes via the kettle but boiling alone does not remove the yuk taste.

From an advert

Aqua Sol - is a complete water treatment that treats 625 litres of water. It is tasteless and odourless and easy to use. Simply add 1 capful (10ml) to every 25 litres of water. Aqua Sol kills bacteria and viruses, removes tastes and odours caused by plastics, chlorine and metals and helps keep water fresh.