I have two water coolers and the bigger, older one tends to get a slight green fungus buildup inside the receiving cup and cooler just before the bottle needs replacing. I usually wash this out with warm, soapy water and purge the system before adding the new bottle. The half-sized, newer water cooler doesn't have this problem at all. I refill my bottles via a 2-stage faucet filter so I am looking for a source of the water-conditioning tablets that backpackers and campers use for their expeditions. I believe they are chlorine based. Anyone seen these in the Pattaya area? I was going to get some in the UK but ran out of time.

They had a brand on amazon where a tablet was good for 20 liters.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007MMEPTG/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3DPXDA0BD33CE

Why not flush the system with a chlorine mix, bleach can be bought at any convenience store ?

I think there's a difference between Chlorine tablets and Chlorox no? I mean people don't pour bottles of laundry bleach into their swimming pools do they?

Go to Tesco and buy "Milton sterilizer tablets you'll find then in the Baby section .any baby sterilizing solution should do though

Yes they do, they only don't use the perfumed one.

Bleach is liquid chlorine. What I would suggest is that you use a high concentration and let it soak overnight, then flush with a lot of clear water until the chlorine smell is gone. That is also how they clean the water tubes in a house or the deep bore hole

http://www.ehow.com/way_5549946_can-tank-keep-turning-green.html

Chlorine bleach, 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite, is more commonly used to keep stock water tanks clear. While this is common laundry bleach the unscented variety is recommended by the University of Missouri Extension Office. Rate of application is 2 to 3 ounces of bleach per 100 gallons of tank capacity each week.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/way_5549946_can-tank-keep-turning-green.html#ixzz2shBmSqX6

I think there's a difference between Chlorine tablets and Chlorox no? I mean people don't pour bottles of laundry bleach into their swimming pools do they?

But the main reason is cost ! Chlorox is highly deluded, I think only 3% chlorine ...

Pool chlorine is 90% chlorine and it usually takes a few pounds (depending on pool size).

luudee

OK, I appreciate that there some chlorine in Chlorox and that is the cheap alternative to fixing a swimming pool.

I am trying to prevent some fungus build up inside a water cooler and thought that conditioning the water in the 5 gallon bottle BEFORE sticking on the cooler would be a lot easier than cleaning the bottles and cooler every time I change a bottle.

Those steriliser tablets for baby bottles almost sounds like a solution but reckon they may be pricey. I guess there's no backpacker or camper style stores in LOS that would stock the simple steriliser tablets that I could have bought overseas.

Thanks for the tips and advice though, much appreciated.

If you want a cheap option ....consider using Iodine ....add a few drops onto the water container allow to stand for a few hours and slowly drain out the water to flush out the pipe work ......I've used iodine as a water purifier whist travelling in the wilderness .

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Purify-Water-Using-Iodine-Tincture/

If you want a cheap option ....consider using Iodine ....add a few drops onto the water container allow to stand for a few hours and slowly drain out the water to flush out the pipe work ......I've used iodine as a water purifier whist travelling in the wilderness .

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Purify-Water-Using-Iodine-Tincture/

I remember that being an 'old fashioned' remedy so will see how it goes.

Thanks!