Eighty-five percent of Saudis get their daily drinking water from the community water system. Approximately 15% of domestic water use is partially or completely relied on private wells. But almost everyone has seen and drank water in a storage tank or trailer. They come in various shapes and sizes. Many are permanent; others are temporary, such as those used in large-scale outdoor activities and the “buffalo” used by the military.
In emergencies, from wildfires to interruptions in water services, it is often necessary to obtain basic water supplies quickly. Sometimes these emergencies require the use of tankers and water tanks that have never been (or have not been recently) used to transport and store drinking water. These must be cleaned and disinfected before use.
In addition, if you suspect that your water storage tank or well may be contaminated, you should immediately obtain an alternative source of drinking water.
Before you clean and disinfect the storage tank, commercial bottled water and boiled tap water are safe choices.
One of the things that caught my attention when I was in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was the keenness of citizens to clean tanks on an almost daily basis through the use of a Cleaning tanks in Jeddah to carry out the work of cleaning tanks with care and mastery.
Why clean and disinfect the water storage tank?
Even frequently used water storage tanks can breed microorganisms over time. They should be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a year or according to local and state regulations.
Proper care and maintenance will kill or prevent the survival of bacteria and viruses (pathogens) that may cause stomach problems or more serious illnesses. These measures also help prevent scale and mucus (called biofilms) that can contaminate water and harbor pathogens. They also help control the growth of sediments and algae, which can also cause unpleasant tastes and odors. The water tank should be sealed to help prevent contamination and be screened to avoid mosquito breeding.
The University of Arizona provides detailed information about household storage tank types, potential contaminants, and water and tank disinfection options and procedures.
Various international, state, and county resources related to the disinfection of storage tanks (and tankers) are also available. Most people call for the use of liquid sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) because its effectiveness, usability and affordability have been proven. Less common options include calcium hypochlorite, ozone gas, and ultraviolet light.
This article provides simple instructions for routine (non-emergency) cleaning and disinfection of water storage tanks using household chlorine bleach. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides online resources for cleaning, disinfecting, and maintaining reservoirs and other rainwater harvesting systems.
Water tanks used for drinking water must be designed to store liquid food or drinking water, and cannot be used for sewage, fire fighting chemicals, fuel, or pesticides (etc.).
How to Clean Water Storage Tanks
The first step is to empty and clean the water tank from the outside. Use a mixture of detergent and hot water to scrub all internal surfaces. Use a brush or electric washing machine mounted on the pole to remove any sediment, algae, corrosion or biofilm. It is also important to clean and flush all hoses, pumps and pipes used to fill and empty the tank. Only trained professionals who use all necessary personal protective equipment and extraction devices can safely enter the confined space!
Next, clean and rinse the water tank until there are no traces of detergent in the water. It is best to use an electric washing machine. If there is no high-pressure hot water, you can fill the water tank (preferably hot water) and let it stand for several hours. Drain all water from the water tank and related pipes. Use a portable pump to remove dirt or flush water from the storage tank.
Adding Disinfectant to Water Storage Tanks
If not known, calculate the volume of the tank. Fill a few feet (quarter full) with treated drinking water. Add and thoroughly mix household chlorine bleach. 1 Online description of the amount of bleach added according to the tank capacity. We recommend using the table below to prepare free chlorine at a concentration of 50 mg/L (parts per million or ppm). Mix thoroughly while filling the tank to the normal operating level.
To disinfect the connected pipes and fixtures, turn on all taps until each outlet emits a clear smell of chlorine. Turn off the faucet and let the chlorinated water stand for at least 12 hours to ensure sufficient time for disinfection. Do not consume this 50 ppm concentrated solution!
Drain the storage tank and connected pipes to the ground away from plants, rather than into a septic tank system (which can kill the necessary “good bacteria”), stream or pond. This may kill fish and plants. This may also be illegal, so be sure to check local and state regulations. Ideally, Chlorinated wastewater should be legally discharged into the sewer network. Refill the cleaned and disinfected water tank with drinking water.
Next, open the valve of the distribution line and drain the water from the faucet until there is no chlorine smell. Now you can enjoy safe water from the cleaned and disinfected water storage tank.
Cleaning Storage Tanks
Disable any floats in the water tank or use other methods to manually control the water supply of the water tank.
2. Empty the water tank to at least 1/4 full.
3. Working from outside the tank, scrub the sides and bottom of the tank with a long handle.
Spray with treated brushes or high-pressure cleaners using drinking water sources.
4. Focus on the air/water interface, because this is the part where the water level in the tank is
Changes and bacterial growth are most likely.
5. Rinse the water tank with a source of drinking water.
6. Empty the water tank completely. Use hoses to bypass the septic tank system to direct the water flow away
Vegetation, lakes and other areas that may be destroyed by chlorine solution. Don’t drain
The tank enters your distribution system or septic tank system.
7. Use a wet/dry vacuum to suck out the remaining water or sediment at the bottom of the water tank.
8. Fill the water tank 3/4 full with the drinking water source, and then continue to disinfect the water storage tank.
Sterilize storage tank
1. Disable any floats in the water tank or use other methods to manually control the water supply of the water tank.
2. If the water tank is full, empty it to at least 3/4 full.
3. Close all valves leading to the distribution system pipeline.
4. Add fresh, odorless chlorine bleach directly to the water tank to supply and maintain
The minimum is 50 parts per million (ppm). See the chlorine concentration in Table 1 below, based on
Full tank volume.
5. Fill the water tank with a source of drinking water. This is to make the chlorine full
Mix with the water in the water tank.
6. Let the chlorine solution remain in the tank for 24 hours. No one is allowed to enter
Contact with chlorinated water!
7. Use chlorine test paper to check the residual chlorine regularly. Measurable residual chlorine
Should be maintained within 24 hours. If the residual chlorine cannot be detected
During my visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I found that the people there never dispense with the help of house cleaning companies and they call a Cleaning company in Jeddah to do all the typical daily cleaning tasks.
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